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Latest Animal Stories on Cichlids (1233)

Diane - 2012-12-13
Was wondering if anyone can help. We have an 80 gal. hex discus tank w/9 large discus (about 4-6') with a protein skimmer and uv light (artificial plants). Lost power during hurricane sandy for 9 days. Used 2 battery operated aerators. Fed them first couple of days bits & flake and some frozen blood worms/beef heart (at different times). Didn't want to feed much as days went by so chemicals wouldn't get bad. Changed the water after the second or third day of power outage and covered the tank with blankets to keep water warm. Temp went to about 76 at times and then we would warm the water (we have a gas stove so was able to warm the water) to bring the tank temp up to about 80-82. Temp was always at 86-88 prior outage. They all did fine. When power restored did another water change and fish acted as usual, always ate with no problem. We have since lost one fish and the others (mostly the blue turquoise/red turquoise) look like they are losing the color or scales along the lateral line. The color stays in the center of the fish. Try to keep ph at 6.5 sometimes goes to 6.0 but always add buffer. Tested phosphate & nitrate and saw was high, did water change again. Have some Seagel in sump for phosphate. Don't know why the change in their coloration, scales etc. Called local pet shop and said sometimes stress comes out about a month or so after (which is what is happening). Have been adding stress coat also. Do not want to lose anymore. Does anyone have any ideas or suggestions?

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Jeremy Roche - 2012-12-13
Did you test amonia levels too? Stress will cause coloring change. Amonia levels spiking will also do this. This can happen during power outages as the bacteria levels in tanks adjust.

Candy Zucksworth - 2012-11-08
I have a 29 gallon tank. Have 3 angels. I am having trouble with my ph,getting into the 6.5 range.I do regular water changes. Have a good filter,sponge,charcoal and biobeads. Anyone have any suggestions?

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Anonymous - 2012-11-09
I wouldn't worry too much about the ph. It might have some influence if you are trying to breed them but even still I have a friend that breeds them in 7.5 ph. They are not that sensitive to a higher ph and trying to change it may not be worth the trouble especially if your tap water has a higher ph and alkalinity. Good luck!
Jeremy Roche - 2012-11-09
What's the pH at in your tank now? When doing water changes are you adjusting the pH in the water you are putting back into the tank?
Candy Zucksworth - 2012-11-09
My ph.is close to the 6.6. When I do a water change I make sure the ph is the same and temp.is the same. Before I put in the new water I add stress coat and aquarium salt. My filter has three stages. Sponge, charcoal, and biobeads. How often should I do a water change and what percent? Change the charcoal once a month. Had a fish store tell me not to change the foam and biobeads very often. My directions for my filter says, change charcoal once a month, sponge every 2 months and biobeads every 3 months. I am so confused. Thank you for your help. I forgot I check the ph a lot if ph is6.4 or lower I add stuff called ph up. I heard you could use baking soda to raise it.
Anonymous - 2012-11-09
My ph.is close to the 6.6. When I do a water change I make sure the ph is the same and temp.is the same. Before I put in the new water I ad stress coat and aquarium salt. My filter has three stages. Sponge ,charcole, and biobeads. How often should I do a water change and what percent?Change the charcole once a month. Had a fish store tell me not to change the foam and biobeads very often. My directions for my filter says ,change charcole once a month,sponge every 2months and biobeads every 3 months. I am so confused. Thank you for your help. I forgot I check the ph a lot if ph is6.4 or lower I add stuff called ph up. I heard you could use baking soda to raise it.
Jeremy Roche - 2012-11-09
Sounds like you are doing all the right things. What are you using for your substrate?
Candy - 2012-11-09
This is going to sound dumb, what do you mean by substrate.
Jeremy Roche - 2012-11-09
Not a dumb question. The stuff on the bottom, gravel, sand, crushed shells.
Candy - 2012-11-09
I have rock. I clean the rock when I do water change. What about my sponge and biobeads. How often should I change to new.
Jeremy Roche - 2012-11-09
Maybe try to add some crush coral to the bottom. That should raise the pH for you. For the filter material just rinse them in the water that you remove from the tank. Using tap water to rinse can kill the beneficial bacteria on the filter.
Candy - 2012-11-09
How often should I rinse them? The pet store that I got my angels from sold me 2 rocks to help with my ph. I put them in and later that night my water was cloudy and my fish were hanging at the top, breathing real hard. Took them out and did a water change ,after that they were ok. It was too much. How much crushed she'll would I use?
Jeremy Roche - 2012-11-09
Every water change for the sponge and charcoal. For the crushed coral start with a few handfuls and check pH once settled.
Candy - 2012-11-09
What about my biobeads? I'm sure the rock I got is coral. Use a hamer and break up some chunks and just ad a few small peices? Should I change my charcoal every month? She sold me 2 pretty big peices, it was just too much. Thank you so much for your help. Is changing my water every 2 weeks good.
Jeremy Roche - 2012-11-11
Crushed coral usually comes in a bag. What type of filter do you have? Sponge should just be rinsed and only changed when it is uncleanable.
Jeremy Roche - 2012-11-11
BioBeads will normally dissloved in 7 to 12 months andnew will ones will need to be added.
Candy - 2012-11-11
My filter is the one that hangs on the back. It has the 3 filter things in it. Bottom is sponge,middle charcole,top biobeads.

Jonny Vance - 2012-12-04
As far as the aggression, I have a full grown jack Dempsey, 2 rainbow sharks, a bala shark, a tiger oscar molly cichlid, a pleco, a chinese algae water, and 6 australian rainbow fish in with my m and f Kenyi cichlids, and their 17 free (about 4 months old) and there is no aggression at all, they all get along fine, providing plenty of space to declare their own terrotory is the key, they will defend their territory but seldom pursue another fish into theirs.

tom - 2012-09-01
Good picture but my cichlid is fuller bodied same stipes but a larger size and shape and styles different

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carolyn - 2012-09-01
I'm worried about my cichlid. It is decidely a pale white black green, maybe the color hasn't come out on it yet?

shreyas - 2012-11-12
plz help me my flowerhorn fish is sick its putting its head up and parking near the corner of the tank and refuses to eat the food plz say me the treatment for it plz

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Jeremy Roche - 2012-11-12
Do a check of your water levels. Make sure Amonia isn't too high. I would do a good water change. Maybe add some live feeders to see if you can get it's natural instincts to hunt going. Any others signs or symptoms physically with this fish?

jaysnider - 2012-11-11
I had my oscar fish for 3 years and it's 12 inches. Will he get any bigger?

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Jeremy Roche - 2012-11-11
Yes, the oscar will more then likely keep growing!

zak - 2011-12-17
Hi, ten P.Bs ,10-15 cm,have been brought home from wholesaler to be sold separately later, the fish have been placed in 3 ft tank ,where we kept healthy cychlids day before,12 hours later they were all death, with cloudy eyes,slimy skin,swiming upside down, there where no visible sings of anny sickness when we got them. What could coause this sudden death?

andrew brown - 2009-11-01
I have a 50 gallon tank, how much fish can I put in there (cichlids). I love those fish. I also have a large female 5 bar and a lot of other fish, do u think it would be a wise idea to get a male 5 bar.

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Charlie Roche - 2012-11-28
Rule of thum is 1 inch of adult fish for each usable gallon of water. If you have a 50 gallon tank - you have to subtract usuable gallons for filter, subtrate, decorations etc so you probably have about 45 usuable gallons. So 45 inches of adult fish all together when adults. If fish are 5 inches as adults - you can get 8 (maximum 9) fish for the tank to insure healthy conditions for the fish.

jj - 2010-01-08
I had a supposed Jack Dempsey that I got rid of a few years ago. I went to one of those small pet shops and bought what just said "cichlid" for $2. The lady said she wasn't sure but thought he was a Jack Dempsey. I had no idea what I had and gave it away about a year ago. I was surprised to see what Dempsey's looked like, nothing like I had in my tank. We had ours for a year in its own tank and I loved having one of these. Wish I had known what I had.

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Anonymous - 2010-11-19
I'm pretty sure these are fairly common, I think they have them at a local PetSmart. Not that PetSmart is the greatest place to get them.
Anonymous - 2010-11-19
I'm not sure what I saw actually was a red hump eartheater. Seems strange since they're fairly rare. Could've been a Suriname eartheater.
Jady - 2011-08-18
I was realy confused, and this answered all my questions.

norman - 2010-08-10
Hi, I have 2 dwarf rams with danios and tetras, would I be able to put a pair of kribs in with these? regards NORM.

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star - 2010-08-25
I have a 55 gallon with kribs, a ram, small danios and platys, and a geophagus. Yhey all get along great.

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