CANDID CAMERA CICHLIDS

DAILY OBSERVATIONS

This has been a busy day. I began by going to an appointment. I didn't get back until just before noon. I did my water change in my 60 gallon tank still having issues with my nitrite levels. Today my nitrite level was "0"!  After a water change I love to watch my Cichlids. They act energized and are very bright in colour. Often there is some aggression and breeding following a water change. To encourage breeding I replace the water with water that is a degree or two cooler. This seems to promote breeding in my tank.

This is my poor fish with no tail.

As I was being entertained by the Cichlid's antics I noticed one being chased mercilessly. I've seen this one hang out at the back often hiding under my hang-on-tank filters. Today I realized his tail is gone. Gone completely. Chewed off. It took me a bit to catch him but I got him. Then I wasn't sure where to put him.  All my tanks are being used. I have a grow-out tank full of fry that are about 2 months old - the fry are a good 1". I decided I'd put him in with them. I don't think he's thinking much about hurting anything and the fry just seem curious. I don't know if he'll regrow his tail or if it's a lost cause. I just want to give him a chance to heal.

Tiger Oscar still looking a little sore

Next I moved my paired of Convicts to their own 20 gallon tank so they can breed in peace. I moved the smaller Convict that was a little beaten up back to his community. Everything looks good and peaceful now. The two larger Convicts were harassing my Tiger Oscar even though he's quite a bit bigger than they are.

After the move was done and I finished up with the tank, I fed them. Not sure why, but my Tiger Oscar ate well and looked ok except for a few minor bite marks and then he started puking.. I mean heaving. I've never seen that before. The Green Terrors and Jack Dempseys seemed to appreciate it. I'll keep an eye on him to make sure it's nothing serious.

A day in the life of a Cichlid aquarist.....

Juvenile Jack Dempsey

Juvenile Green Terror

Juvenile Red Devil

CONVICT CICHLIDS PAIRING OFF

In my American Cichlid tank I have 4 convicts. 2 I raised from babies and now I can see they are both male. The other two I purchased as juveniles and wasn't quite sure what they were at that point. Three months later I can tell. I have 3 males and 1 female. (bad ratio). One of my smaller males was being attacked and looked pretty war-warn. I moved him into my 20gl isolation tank. He's looking better every day I'm happy to report.

Watching them this morning it's clear that the two larger convicts have paired off. The other smaller male is a good hider so he's fine so far. I have decided today, I'm going to move the paired off couple into the 20gl so they can do their thing and I'll return the two young males back to their community. I won't put the breeding pair back into the community so I'm I'll either, sell, trade, or give them away. First I will let them have a brood. I have't had convicts breed for me yet so I'm looking forward to this experience.

DAILY OBSERVATIONS

Watching my 3 fry tanks full of lovely young Cichlids I begin to wonder what I'm going to do with them all. I plan on introducing them to my community as they get big enough. Once they are I'll begin choosing some of my larger females and sell them. Eventually my display tank will hold males only - that's the plan.

Checking in on my American Cichlids I noticed one of my Black Convicts isn't looking too good. He's a little frayed and sticks to hiding spots. Someone is beating on him. My mom that just spit a few days ago is still recuperating but I needed her tank to isolate this Convict so I moved her back into her community. She's in great health and was so happy to be back , she was flying around the tank with Bubba in tow. Between them there's a really love for each other.

I moved the Convict into the isolation tank and added API Melafix. It's only been about 16 hours and he's all ready looking better. He's not eating but he's moving around and I can see him watching me when I sit by his tank. Convicts have great expression in their eyes. I think he's going to be okay.

WEEKLY WATER CHANGE

I had a busy day of changing water in 4 of my tanks. I began with my fry tank as it was going to be the most work because I was not only changing their water but moving them to a bigger tank. First I scooped out most of the water pouring it directly into the larger grow-out tank where they will stay now until they are either sold or traded. I moved their decor and set it up much the same as how it was in the other tank. They are going from a 20 gallon to a 40. There are 67x1" fry in this group so they are outgrowing their tank quickly. Once the tank was ready, it was catch time. What a crazy job that can be. I netted a few at a time, counting as I moved them. Yup 67 healthy fry + a bristle nose catfish as their custodian.

Next I took a gallon out of my tiny fry's tank and freshened it up a bit. This tank is perfect for them and they will be able to stay here until grown. It's a 10 gallon tank but there are only 17 tiny fry so they will have room to grow.

My 55 was next where my South American Cichlids reside. I love this tank. The fish are happy and get along really well. It's a peaceful tank to watch. I traded my three Parrot fish for African Cichlids leaving me room for a couple more South American Cichlids. I'm thinking I'd like to get a couple Green Terrors. I'll have to look and see what would be the best fit. I have 8 fish in this tank right now. A couple more will round it out nicely.

Finally my 60 was left. I really believe the bigger the tank the less work a water change is. I siphoned off about 20% of the water, replaced the filters, treated the new water and filled it back up. Looks great and took maybe an hour.

It's always a good feeling when that's accomplished and you know your fish are in a happy and healthy environment. My water tests are done the next morning.

TRADING CICHLIDS

In my South American Cichlid tank I had 3 Blood Parrots. I'm not sure why I got them. I'm not a big fan of them.  They are a hybrid created in Taiwan sometime in the mid 80's.

I guess when I got them I thought they looked interesting. Watching them swim and struggle to eat I began to feel sorry for them. They got along well with the other fish in my tank - that was no problem. I just read more about them and learned how they came into being.

These fish look strange but may be it's because they have a few anatomical deformities. Their mouths are shaped like a little beak, some have a funny swim among other deformities. They are not easy to breed because often the males are sterile. They can be bred with Convicts and then they are called Jelly Beans. Not kidding. The females lay their eggs but when they aren't fertilized they get eaten.

I put an add in Kijiji and had quite a few calls for them. It was not hard to find
people who really like them. I traded them for a bunch of African Cichlids. Now I have some room for a couple more fish in my South American tank. I'm looking at Green Terrors or something like that. I  have an Oscar, 2 Convicts, 2 Firemouths, and 2 Angel Fish. They are in a 55 gallon tank so I have room to introduce a couple more suitable tank mates to them.

MY 55 GALLON

This week I moved my South American Community to a larger tank. Having moved my 55 African Cichlid community to my 60 gallon the tank they had been in just needed a good cleaning and new setup for my South American group. They are looking good. I'm actually selling or willing to trade my 3 Parrot fish.

55G SOUTH AMERICAN CICHLID TANK

I moved my African Cichlid community to my 60 gallon aquarium leaving my 55 gallon tank empty. Time to move my South American group to a larger tank. They have been in a 40 gallon tank for quite sometime without any problems but with my 55 sitting empty it was time to give them more.

I emptied the tank, substrate and all. I used pool filter silica sand. It's really pretty, a little coarser than Cichlid sand - so my filters don't suck it up and start grinding. After having it filled and ready I let it acclimate for a few hours, did my water tests and waited for the temp to reach the appropriate level.

I began siphoning water from the 40 they were in. I had already removed all the decor, stones and plants setting them in the 55 they are moving into. These fish are much easier to catch than their African counterparts. I kept them in a pail, double checking the temperature and then set them free. They took to the new tank like a fish to water Ha! I watched them for a little as they explored their new home.  Later I went up to finish cleaning out the 40 and found a little yellow loach still in there that I had missed. I scooped him up and added him to the new tank as well then went back and finished with the tank. It won't be empty for long. My fry are growing and will soon need more room as well. It's like musical tanks around here.

After all that work I poured myself a coffee and sat down in front of the 55 to watch them as I relaxed. I have 3 parrot fish that I really want to trade or sell, 2 convicts, 2 fire mouth, 2 angels and a tiger Oscar. I also have 2 plecos and a bristle nosed catfish, plus the little yellow loach in this tank. I'm watching them and can't find the oscar. Looking for him I found him hiding behind some driftwood. Looking closer I could see a tail fin sticking out of his mouth. EEK! He ate the loach. Poor little guy. Guess I'm not overfeeding them eh? I really wish I would have gotten a picture of his face.. it was actually pretty funny.

GROWING MY FRY

Watching my fry eating and darting about brings a smile to my face. These fry are about 5 weeks old now. There are a variety of sizes among them. The biggest are noticeably darker in colour (not sure why) most are about a 1/2" but there are a few twice that size. I can already see aggression in these bitty guys. They are getting more bold each day. Now they are going up to the top to get their food instead of waiting for it to sink down to them. The funny thing is, it's the smaller ones that seem to be going up for food.

In this video you will also see my floating nursery for my latest brood of 17 M.Auratus - Golden Cichlids. They are growing quickly as well. So far they are all doing well and seem to be consistent in size.

DAILY OBSERVATIONS

This morning I was so shocked to find a dead Oscar in my 40 gallon tank. I've had this Oscar for quite a while and have never noticed any malady, injuries or anything that would lead me to believe he was anything but healthy. Well, this morning I found him upside down and stiff. He didn't look very good at all. I've never had a "no-warning" death like that. Usually there's some indication by either bite marks, missing scales or something that warns me but not this time. Really sad morning for me.

I feel like I jinxed myself. Just the other day I was watching my South American Cichlids and thinking how lovely the tank was and how peaceful the Cichlids were. I made a video of my lovely peaceful tank showing off how they get along and look so happy. Now this has happened. Yup Jinxed!!