Peacock Bass For Beginners.

[bassinmike85]

Need to spice up this cichla section. Let's create a thread strictly for all beginner cichla keepers. Not another is thread but strictly how to raise and care for cichla.

I will start with some basic info and other chime in with some info as well.

Let's begin.

First do your research. Cichla in general can get big. 15"-30"+ in length depending on species. 125 or smaller preferably 75 gallons to 125 gallons are good for a temporary growout tank. You don't need a fancy new growout tank since you won't be using that long imo. So do you search on species and pick the ones you want to keep.

Growouts (1"-10") Tank temp 86F-88F is ideal since smaller cichla can get ich quick. Plus it keeps them active and hungry. Just have plenty of water movement and air stones. Stay away from Temensis only if you can't buy a 2" tem a atleast a 400g plus tank in 12-16" months. They grow fast and big.

Stay away from live feeders. Unless you have treated the feeders for parasites and ich for 2 weeks and have fed them high quality pellet food. There's a huge list of foods you can offer your cichla which we can chime in about that later.

Water changes. That will all have to do with tank size and how many fish are in your tank etc. Preferably, 25% a week if possible (I personally change out 5 gallons a day. Just siphoning poop out). Don't over think on how to care for these bass. If you find yourself buying cichla and they are dying on you. Test your waters and if it's a constant issue take a break ask questions and find out where you are making a mistake at. I have seen it to many times where newbies ignore advice and tips and waste thousands of dollars on cichla in a year because they refuse to learn and have a open mind.

Last but not least, Sit back and relax and enjoy raising cichla as they change thier colors as they grow into the beautiful monsters that they are.

That is all i have for today. Anyone else want to chime in feel free and let's get this thread going ??

Have a great weekend everybody.

 

[dr exum]

Nice write up!

 

[kendragon]

1) Pellet train as soon as possible for manageable water quality.
2) Shoal of 3 or more is less stress and aggression in the tank.
3) Never start with large cichla. Beginner should not risk it.
4) Cichla color and behavior are good indicators if you're doing it right.
5) Filter may be adequate in the beginning but may not be as the cichla gets larger.

 

[Matteus]

Often in a new group of wc cichla there will be a few that are skinnier than the others. Often I use a dewormer on the group by soaking bloodworms in garlic guard and fenbendazole. Try to establish a feeding pattern before you do this so they know you are the ood person.

I establish a feeding pattern by feeding smaller portions 3-4 times a day, always in the same spots, typically close to a filter return (frozen food will dance this way).

once everyone is eating on a regular (frozen) basis I crush up pellets and add that to the mix, to start pellet training like kendragon mentioned. When I feed frozen, I typically thaw it out in a cup or some sort of container with water, when you crush up pellets and add that with some bigger chunks, it gets the frozen food smelling/ tasting like the pellets and the other way around as well


after they start nibbling the crushed pellets, start lowering the frozen and increasing the pellets. After they are eating soaked pellets eventually they will take them just dry dropped into the tank. ?

another big ticket item to pellet training, is teacher or dither fish. I like silver dollars, some others like tinfoil barbs. These type of fish are voracious eaters and will clean up the scraps of what the bass won’t eat. This will also create a competition for the food which bass seem to respond well to.

 

[bassinmike85]

Another awesome way is stuffing shrimp with pellets.

I am currently using this method. You get frozen or fresh market shrimp. You cut it into pieces and put a small pellet into it. I choose shrimp because it's sticky and sticks to a pellet like glue. Your fish will eat the shrimp with it stuffed with ease. sometimes they might spit out the pellet but more or less they eat all without issues. If anyone likes i cam make a picture step by step or video step by step process of how i do it. This method is also cheaper long run.

 

[bassinmike85]

Below is example of a growout tank. I did this set up on purpose to show a example of a growout tank.

29g with a 200w heater and a sponge filter rated for 60g. Lid is just egg crate from home depot that i had lying around. Tank is from when i use to keep flowerhorns. Only thing brand new in this tank is the gravel which i recently purchased. A lot go bare bottom but since it's a growout tank i love em to have some gravel. esp just with a sponge filter it helps keep it cleaner (hides the poop and debri). All fish are 3"-5". I prefer to keep them in smaller tanks as they grow. Due to helps cure them of ich or any disease when in a smaller tank. Plus it gives them
less space to hide and more focused on you when feeding/pellet training. Stand was made of left over 2x6's. I put pythos to help maintain water quality as i do with all my tanks. I will also do a maybe 1g water change a day just to siphon the gravel. Growouts imo shouldn't take a lot of money because well they are only temporarily used unless you plan on using it for something else. If anyone has questions feel free to ask or other cichla keepers chime in your thoughts and opinions on a growout set up.

 

[Kelly_Aquatics]

So kinda randome question that I dont wan to start a thread for, What tank size is required for a Temensis and on the other side of the spectrum Kelberi tank size? would a 6x3 cut it for a kel?

 

[bassinmike85]

Temensis get over 30"+ and weigh about 20lbs. min length 10ft 4ft wide and 3ft/4ft tall. Kelberi imo you can keep an adult pair in a 6x2x2 if more mel 8x2x30"

So kinda randome question that I dont wan to start a thread for, What tank size is required for a Temensis and on the other side of the spectrum Kelberi tank size? would a 6x3 cut it for a kel?

 

[Kelly_Aquatics]

what about a solo kel and a Asain or Jardini aro in a 6x3 is that pushing it?

 

[Matteus]

what about a solo kel and a Asain or Jardini aro in a 6x3 is that pushing it?

I find bass so much better in groups of 3 or more. There are odd exceptions to the rule, but I have noticed that when they are in less than 3 they are less social and seem super insecure and hide more. I have a group currently that are separated because a few are too small and could fit in the mouths of some other tank mates. The group of 6 are always out and about but the pair is always hiding and barely come out other than when I drop food in the tank.

trying to put a jardini in any comm tank is usually pushing the limits lol. There’s always an exception to every rule though.

also if you put an asian in with a single bass there is a good chance it could be a recipe for disaster as well depending on size difference, personality of the fish etc. Just ask Caveden about his experience with this.