Video update on the surviving melanura:
How do vieja die?
- Thread starter thebiggerthebetter
- Start date
Update.
The second melanura has called it quits today, about 3 years after its kin death, so it has been 5-6 years with us. It had been feeding less and less lately and that's the only change I noted.
The water hardness of about 16 degrees has been well within their range (their minimum is 9) for the last 3+ years.
The fins were damaged post mortem by opportunistic tank mates.
Final size is roughly 12"-13".
The second melanura has called it quits today, about 3 years after its kin death, so it has been 5-6 years with us. It had been feeding less and less lately and that's the only change I noted.
The water hardness of about 16 degrees has been well within their range (their minimum is 9) for the last 3+ years.
The fins were damaged post mortem by opportunistic tank mates.
Final size is roughly 12"-13".
A new arrival of the same melanura synspilum, this one donated by Joe Dante of Ft. Myers, named Chumlee, an adult about 12":
Just like its two predecessors, it is an exceptionally zealous feeder. It got attacked in the first 240 gal I tried by the green texas, so I transferred it to the minnow 240 gal, where it still got damaged a bit, I am not sure by whom, I blamed a polleni, which I rehomed and it seems to have stopped. Recently it got transferred to an 1800 gal:
13:50 min:
Just like its two predecessors, it is an exceptionally zealous feeder. It got attacked in the first 240 gal I tried by the green texas, so I transferred it to the minnow 240 gal, where it still got damaged a bit, I am not sure by whom, I blamed a polleni, which I rehomed and it seems to have stopped. Recently it got transferred to an 1800 gal:
13:50 min:
The newcomer Chumlee has been doing well in the 1800 gal. Still overeating, which I can't control, but at least I don't use Ziegler pellets anymore but only NLS. I do remember RD lessons that both quality and quantity has most likely been the downfall of my cichlids but can't control the quantity yet (not well but I have decreased the feedings) until I get them into their dedicated tanks... but then I may feel bad for them since the tanks would be far smaller than the 1800 and 4500 gal...
What's funny about Chumlee? There seems to be something I don't know.
Yes, the rescue oscar with a mangled up upper lip / jaw has got it the worst, always have. IDK why. Yes, it looks HITH... one of your many specialties
Others either don't have it, or not much. I have to do a survey for this on all of them.Thank you. Does "some CA cichlids" include V. melanura synspilum?
Overeating has definitely been named in this case and the cases of other of our cichlids, such as green texas / carpintis, along with the poor quality of the Zieger aquaculture cheap pellets I formerly was offering.
Yes, our water is pretty warm for half a year, in that 4500 gal 84-88 F.
What's funny about Chumlee? There seems to be something I don't know.
Yes, the rescue oscar with a mangled up upper lip / jaw has got it the worst, always have. IDK why. Yes, it looks HITH... one of your many specialties
Thank you. Does "some CA cichlids" include V. melanura synspilum?
Overeating has definitely been named in this case and the cases of other of our cichlids, such as green texas / carpintis, along with the poor quality of the Zieger aquaculture cheap pellets I formerly was offering.
Yes, our water is pretty warm for half a year, in that 4500 gal 84-88 F.
No problem, yes I included them as CA even though probably more NA technically. Same as the Mayan and Texas. They all require cooler temps at least the majority of the year. Some locations like the Texas can dip down to the 60s. In general all those species like low-mid 70s. Fluctuations are ok as that happens in many locations in the wild. Some species are hardier or adapt better.
Hope that helps.
Well, as should have been expected in retrospect, our third Vieja melanura synspillum Chumlee has passed away suddenly after 1.5 years with us.
Based on what RD and Toiletcar tell me, it could be overfeeding, or too warm a water, or both.
If we ever get more of these cichlids, the overfeeding will be avoided at all costs. Three is enough.
13".
Based on what RD and Toiletcar tell me, it could be overfeeding, or too warm a water, or both.
If we ever get more of these cichlids, the overfeeding will be avoided at all costs. Three is enough.
13".