Kezza

will be vigilant and get 2nd and 3rd opinions

cheers ears!! I'm 99% sure of their peratage.....he was pretty frisky!!

just striped 2 of my females - and now have a brood of 40+ healthy looking free swimming fry.....still aways to go just to make sure they are not a product of Xbreeding (parents from a mixed tank), but if anyone is interested in a batch in a couple of months time please just PM me your interest and I'll ear mark some for you, depending on interest will depend on the available amount I guess?.....I really don't want to get in to shipping them about the country so it will be on a pick up/drop off basis (West Auckland)....anyhoo...the offer is there folks - free of charge or perhaps a swapsies for W.H.Y.?

good stuff Dane!!.....looks like a mean set up mate.....just don't be tempted to get your spear gun out for target practice ! anyone know if Surinamensis (South American) and say Socolofi (African) can be tank mates?....I've got a few juveniles swimming about in my tank you'd be welcome too if the can cohabitant KeriBoi!

all good mate....the mating rituals have been very species specific but I've never seen the actual money-shot as it were......will defo see what comes of the 3 x females Redtops that are currently holding and will certainly make them available to anyone that wants some....what sort of age do you think I could grow fry up to in a 32lt "neon" tank.....I've had 15 or so P.socolofi go to about 3months with regular water changes without incident....should I be able to tell beyond reasonable doubt in that time frame if they are mixed or pures? might try and squeeze in a 100lt tank somewhere....I see this is a very steep and slippery slope!

hadn't seen this awesome thread before posting the below pics earlier today in a different thread - appologies!

thanks for that...really enjoying watching this hobby mature.....great time suck and a good way to give some lessons to the kids about life in general. anyhoo....I have striped fry from the P.socolofi, L.caeruleus and L.trewavasae previously, but have also just let nature take it's course and let them spit in to the main tank....last Socolofi spawn in to the main tank yielded a good 10 or so survivors(?).... also a few Redtop fry that amazingly enough made it thru the gauntlet and seem to be survivors swimming about in rubble as well. I was expecting a much higher mortality rate and could easily get out of hand if the current trends continue....in a month or so I'll break down the tank and get rid of all but the mature adults...agaaaaaiiiiiiiin!.....it's a mixed tank obviously and can't be 100% on perantage, so might just turn them in to tucker for the adults or send them down the porcelain roller coaster rather than chancing mixed breeding by adopting them out....would like to see them go to a good home or two - what do the experts reckon about the above? Currently have the 3 Redtop females in a separate tank and will strip them out in a couple of weeks, but I just don't have the room to go the whole hog at the moment....would certainly like to in the future thou. I like the idea of a male and female display tank but as I said before this might be getting out of control for the set up I have.....is there a way of ensuring they wont bred?....fish contraception? still pretty newb at all this!

just some recent piccies I thought I'd share.... This lad has been a busy boy....woke the other morning to find 3 of his 4 females holding....crazy action in the dark hours!!!

just wanted to say "thanks" to Tropheus for taking time out to show me his set up today...awesome doesn't really describe it....certainly something to strive for. Cheers Mike! PS...hope that Redtop male delivers the goods for you!

sweet as Ryan...thanks for taking the time!! so it seems I should get rid of everything but the Redtops and retire on the profits?.... :roll: re: the 2cm socolofis'....you are quite right I may have it wrong but there is a distinct difference in appearance (both in colouration and anal fin edging) ....3 of them look exactly like their dad and 3 look like their mother?....that is what I was going on.

thanks for that advice...appreciate it mate! I was told right or wrongly when I was setting the tank up in the first place that "over stocked" Malawi tanks tend to be less aggressive? thoughts?

thanks for that and you would be more than welcome to any excess trewavasae as they become available.....at this stage I would be keen to move 2 of the males if you are keen?....I'm planning on having a sort out over this coming weekend...got space?....lol

ok this is what Ive got in my display tank and need some advice/opinions about what I could/should do now that the fish are growing up and their 400lt tank is starting to feel a little "over crowded", although there doesn't appear to be any major conflicts and zero mortality (apart from a bunch of lemming style demosoni that tried to liberate themselves from the tank...grrrr....) and there is plenty of love going on with female socolofi and e.yellows holding regularly...basically I'd like to know what you guys and gals would recommend. I do like the idea of having mixed sexes in the tank rather than all male anyhoo....take it away please..... trewavasae (Redtop) - 3m / 3f - 6cms caeruleus (E.Yellows) - 2m / 4f - 6cms greshakei (Ice Blue) - 7 - 5cms (hard to sex - any clues?) demasoni - 1m / 1f - 3cms (had more but they seem to like jumping out of the tanks - stoopid fish) Socolofi - 2m / 4f - 6cms Socolofi - 3m / 3f - 2cm (juveniles from a successful spawn) borleyi (Kadango) - 3m / 3f - 6cms In my daughters 32lt tank OB Peacock (Hybrid) - 15 fry - 1 cm Depending on advise I receive, I except there might be a few spare cichlids looking for new homes.

first off....happy new year! Took the kids out to Butterfly Creek (Mangere, Auckland) yesterday and to my surprise there was one big 'ef-off African display tank set up with all manner of species - t'was truly awesome..... if you haven't seen it and you get the chance, just do it! Anyone know the specifications of the tank?? Impressive!!

http://www.mefeedia.com/entry/the-crafty-catfish-kidnap/4424540/ cool online clip