More tank pics, updated
- Thread starter FINWIN
- Start date
In the main tank I continue to tweak areas as the cichlids change moods and grow. The acaras are little piss bags, Rocky especially. He shoots out of the plants
and tags fish. He caught Bobo's tail twice (when his back was turned of course.) My calm chocolate is getting a bit annoyed with the antics, as well as the other
fish. I saw him rooting in the area the acaras hide in. Boss rooted in there as well but they don't bother the parrot as much. Somebody's gonna get flattened
eventually I think.
What I find helps is that instead of setting up an area the acaras would want I actually opened it up. They are way less bold when they have to confront the big fish head on. Plus it gives the other fish more time to see them coming. The only reason they get Bobo is because he's too slow to maneuver around and they're gone by the time he tries to fight back. The severum Corn is the one they have most animosity for. But to Corn's credit, he's stubborn. He'll take off when they attack but I don't get the impression he's all that afraid either. He'll flare back one on one and give it a go.
Pepper is getting fed up with Corn in turn. The severum makes it a point to chase him anywhere in the tank. But the rainbow is way too fast and just goes around
him. He's bucking back lately and even tagged the severum once. We'll see how that goes. Boss the BP runs Corn around...its like the keystone cops. Interesting to
note Pepper has pretty much lost interest in the synos, though he did tag Spot the other day. When Salt goes in that's a story for another day.
During the day Boss stays on the side with Bobo, Pip, the catfishes and Corn. He and Bobo seem to have an agreement, but Bobo is currently sporting his 1,000th busted lip. Brick decided to check out all the excitement and started digging up the area where the acaras nest. They promptly disappeared. Then when Corn tried to go to his area the Oscar pushed plants at the severum "No visitors allowed." Corn took off. To complete his "Boss" mode, Brick then flopped down right in front of the acaras area, blocking them off. They did nothing.
and tags fish. He caught Bobo's tail twice (when his back was turned of course.) My calm chocolate is getting a bit annoyed with the antics, as well as the other
fish. I saw him rooting in the area the acaras hide in. Boss rooted in there as well but they don't bother the parrot as much. Somebody's gonna get flattened
eventually I think.
What I find helps is that instead of setting up an area the acaras would want I actually opened it up. They are way less bold when they have to confront the big fish head on. Plus it gives the other fish more time to see them coming. The only reason they get Bobo is because he's too slow to maneuver around and they're gone by the time he tries to fight back. The severum Corn is the one they have most animosity for. But to Corn's credit, he's stubborn. He'll take off when they attack but I don't get the impression he's all that afraid either. He'll flare back one on one and give it a go.
Pepper is getting fed up with Corn in turn. The severum makes it a point to chase him anywhere in the tank. But the rainbow is way too fast and just goes around
him. He's bucking back lately and even tagged the severum once. We'll see how that goes. Boss the BP runs Corn around...its like the keystone cops. Interesting to
note Pepper has pretty much lost interest in the synos, though he did tag Spot the other day. When Salt goes in that's a story for another day.
During the day Boss stays on the side with Bobo, Pip, the catfishes and Corn. He and Bobo seem to have an agreement, but Bobo is currently sporting his 1,000th busted lip. Brick decided to check out all the excitement and started digging up the area where the acaras nest. They promptly disappeared. Then when Corn tried to go to his area the Oscar pushed plants at the severum "No visitors allowed." Corn took off. To complete his "Boss" mode, Brick then flopped down right in front of the acaras area, blocking them off. They did nothing.
...Patch and her crazy sleeping. In the second/third pics she's floating on her side under one of the fake lily pads. I was going to give her dinner, so she swam down, gave me a body shake then went right back up top to float. Almost like "what did you bother me for???"
Now I want a parrot. ?
I secretly enjoy raking the gravel in my BP’s tank because the bossy side comes out and she wants to fight. Mind you she is a puppy dog and has associated my presence with food and not all the maintenance since I’ve semi automated my WC.
BP’s are the underdog but they are quite enjoyable when it comes to personality.
Yah, parrots are personality plus. They're so variable and changeable especially as they mature.
And now, small news...Bobo the choc is sporting a white lower lip...don't ask. Looks like lipstick. Its becoming a permanent fashion statement (see busted lip history).
Rocky and Jazz (acaras) have quieted again. Their antics get them nowhere, despite the fact they'll defend an area. They have no hope of 'taking over' the tank with so many big fish already established...little napoleons. The synos are in their own world and are basically bricks. Bobo especially had enough of their tail nipping and popped Rocky. Brick simply dropped over them like a red wall, blocking them away from everything (tank bosses don't care). So all their juking and sneak attacks didn't do much. That being said they seem to prefer jumping Corn. Pepper and Pip have the most success against them because they're more than a match for the acaras in the speed department.
Corn (severum) is pretty tough. He runs when he has to, but doesn't intimidate easily. He always looks for an opening for 'payback' with the acaras. One on one he'll go for it. He moves aside for the 'big 3' (Boss, Bobo, Brick). Boss (BP) runs him around the most. The parrot gets annoyed when he hangs around too much. Corn still hassles the rainbow Pepper a bit. Pip the HRP has gotten a even more independent...he and Pepper have 'cooled off' in the buddy department.
Its amazing to see Bobo's eyes change when he's in aggression mode. Normally the pupils are round and the irises are burgundy. When angry his eyes go red and the pupils look like a cat's. Bobo and Boss seem to have come to terms...but its weird. At times the parrot now seems a bit timid around the choc...he'll maneuver away. But then he goes right back over to Bobo's area and stays there (he spends more time there now than with Brick). Bobo may nudge him and he scoots off but always circles back. Then the choc moves up top and Boss will hang out below him. I've learned never to trust what you think you see with cichlids. Why? It looked like Bobo had the intimidation factor working in his favor finally (even though he's terrible at fighting.) But later on the same day he had a chewed up lip that got progressively worse. By day three it looked like he got punched in the mouth. Boss didn't have a mark on him. So it don't add up...
To show how stuff doesn't make sense:
Boss sometimes moves aside for the chocolate that he rips the lips of.
Boss is the only fish that will stand his ground against the biggest, baddest fish in the tank, Brick. The Oscar can charge at him head on and Boss won't budge an inch. Parrots are truly weird.
Salt is doing really well in qt. His finnage is growing out nicely. The black banding is spreading and blending together. I think I have the world's first black rainbow cichlid!
Not much going on right now...mostly quiet. I missed a photo op of a sleeping Brick being watched over by Boss...it was the first time I'd seen my O sleeping on his side so it kind of weirded me out. Salt the rainbow is mostly black including fins!
It's June, and time for awards!
The "Open Pit" category: Mighty Mouth award goes to Brick the Oscar, with a maw that could swallow my acaras whole.
The "Peeps" category: Big Ass Eyeball awards go to Patch the bp, Tango the bp, and Salt the rainbow.
The "Punch drunk" category: Boxer award goes to Bobo the chocolate, who gets a busted lip or split tail every 8-15 days.
The "Bubble" category: Globe award goes to Boss, the bp. He's basically a big ball with fins.
The "Showboat" category: Peacock award goes to Rocky the Acara for his endless preening, flaring and puffing.
The "Soup sucker" category: Thick lip award goes to Corn the severum who always looks puckered up.
The "Rage" category: Attitude award goes to Pip the HRP. Smallest fish in the tank with a Napoleon complex.
The "Supersonic" category: Zoom award goes to Pepper the rainbow cichlid. Can cover the 6ft tank span in 2-3 seconds when pressed.
The "Speedbump" category: Anchor award goes to the two syno catfish, Cash and Spot. They're either ignored, chased, or banged around.
The "Bare knuckles" category: Bruiser award goes to Kong the bp. She has one mode and never turns it off.
The "Mental" category: Foo fighter award goes to Patch, the bp. She has three sides. Playful , goofy or psycho.
It's June, and time for awards!
The "Open Pit" category: Mighty Mouth award goes to Brick the Oscar, with a maw that could swallow my acaras whole.
The "Peeps" category: Big Ass Eyeball awards go to Patch the bp, Tango the bp, and Salt the rainbow.
The "Punch drunk" category: Boxer award goes to Bobo the chocolate, who gets a busted lip or split tail every 8-15 days.
The "Bubble" category: Globe award goes to Boss, the bp. He's basically a big ball with fins.
The "Showboat" category: Peacock award goes to Rocky the Acara for his endless preening, flaring and puffing.
The "Soup sucker" category: Thick lip award goes to Corn the severum who always looks puckered up.
The "Rage" category: Attitude award goes to Pip the HRP. Smallest fish in the tank with a Napoleon complex.
The "Supersonic" category: Zoom award goes to Pepper the rainbow cichlid. Can cover the 6ft tank span in 2-3 seconds when pressed.
The "Speedbump" category: Anchor award goes to the two syno catfish, Cash and Spot. They're either ignored, chased, or banged around.
The "Bare knuckles" category: Bruiser award goes to Kong the bp. She has one mode and never turns it off.
The "Mental" category: Foo fighter award goes to Patch, the bp. She has three sides. Playful , goofy or psycho.
Time for more pics. Well, just because.
Most of the shots I took were terrible...all the fish kept moving around too much. Then my phone overheated, so I stopped.
Anyway I'll start with Bobo the Choc. He's drifting around here in his blotchy dark colors of gold, pink, burgundy, green, brown, blue, whatever...he's sorta striped but not quite. Looks like finger painting class.
Most of the shots I took were terrible...all the fish kept moving around too much. Then my phone overheated, so I stopped.
Anyway I'll start with Bobo the Choc. He's drifting around here in his blotchy dark colors of gold, pink, burgundy, green, brown, blue, whatever...he's sorta striped but not quite. Looks like finger painting class.