Ktttk Posted April 21, 2008 Author Report Share Posted April 21, 2008 hmm.. finally got my pics uploaded to photobucket - the problem wasn't my slow line, it was the new photobucket uploading software. I got everything to finally work when I reverted back to the old uploader where you had to individually browse and choose each photo you want to upload - its tedious but its reliable!! Anyway, onto the pics. I didn't take a full tank shot as I had my macro lens mounted and couldn't be bothered swapping to the wider angle lens - I'll do that next time. So most of these shots are close-ups of the fish. I have added a further 15 Cherry barbs to the tank because the mid to top range of the tank was rather empty as the dems and yellows tend to stay around the bricks and near the bottom. The cherry barbs have done well - only a few nicks in the tail here and there. I also added about 10 WCMMs to the tank hoping they would act as dither fish along with the cherry barbs so that the dems and yellows would come out more. Now I count only 3 WCMMs and I think the culprits are the peacocks!! Male peacock who is slowly developing his colours: I think this is a male electric yellow: And it wasn't until I had a look at this close-up that I noticed the little mustache that he is beginning to sport: And the dems - These I think are male as they are bigger and darker in colour than the rest: Does this one look like a female? It appears lighter and smaller than than the ones in the pics above which have darker throats and bolder colouring. And a nice close up: And finally a peek into my GBA breeding cave where they are at it again (this is in a separate breeding tank by the way): Thats all there is for now.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ryanjury Posted April 21, 2008 Report Share Posted April 21, 2008 Looking good man Any chance of a full tank pic? Good idea on the cherry barb's you don't have any big predators in your tank so they should be fast enough to stay out of the way and add some colour etc.. Maybe the peacocks would have got the WCMM's but I thought they would have got the cherry's too? As for sexing them, its quite hard, the males are bigger and brighter the females are slightly duller and stay smaller but the only way to tell for sure is when they hold but noticed that the smaller less colourful ones turned out to be females. Looks like the baenshi is colouring up, how big is he? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ktttk Posted April 21, 2008 Author Report Share Posted April 21, 2008 The baenschi male is about 6-7cm at a guess. I'm pretty sure its the peacocks that have been picking off the wcmms as they are the only ones with big enough mouths! The cherry barbs are bigger than the wcmms so i guess they are left alone. The 3 biggest demasonis have each staked out a piece of territory so I can probably assume that they are male. They tend to chase other dems that come into their area. I've observed some body shaking going on which just ends in a quick chase. The bottom of the tank is quite crowded at the moment (~16 dems, ~16 yellows, 5 peacocks) considering the foot print of the tank is not that big as it is a 'tall' 3 foot. Do you think the yellows and dems will breed if its too crowded? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ryanjury Posted April 21, 2008 Report Share Posted April 21, 2008 He's pretty big to only just be starting to colour up, hopefully that mean's he's going to be a stunner My baenshi was fully coloured up and breeding at 5cm's. Yeah id say the males have staked out some turf they didn't seem to be that terriotorial in my tank until recently probably because I introduced a larger unrelated male and he always dominated all the rest now they're catching up it seems they all have their rocks they hang out on. They should all breed just provide heaps of areas for them to do so, flat tops to rocks little sheltered pits etc and they should be ok. You only run into problems when one fish rules the whole tank and wont let anyone breed but if your fish are all young and grew up together you maybe ok. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ktttk Posted April 21, 2008 Author Report Share Posted April 21, 2008 The peacock hasn't coloured up yet because he was a sub-dominant male in the tank when I got him. So fingers crossed he will colour up nicely! The are plenty of places to hide in my tank so none of the fish are getting beaten up at all. There's usually a chase here and there but its very short-lived. The one getting chased just dives into one of the holes in the brick and the chase ends there. I have found that they like to dig little pits in the sand - particularly under the java fern roots. I might take out a few yellows soon as they are bigger than the dems, creating a yellow mass that seems to dominate the tank too much - particularly during feeding time 8) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ktttk Posted April 22, 2008 Author Report Share Posted April 22, 2008 Full tank shot update... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sandysme Posted April 22, 2008 Report Share Posted April 22, 2008 What an absolutely beautiful awesome tank. one of the most georgous I have ever seen..well done Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Adrienne Posted April 22, 2008 Report Share Posted April 22, 2008 Looks great Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tinytawnykitten Posted April 22, 2008 Report Share Posted April 22, 2008 WOW! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Caper Posted April 22, 2008 Report Share Posted April 22, 2008 Really, really nice awesome great looking Caper Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
georgeous Posted April 22, 2008 Report Share Posted April 22, 2008 Looks great But where did you get the silica sand? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ryanjury Posted April 22, 2008 Report Share Posted April 22, 2008 Thanks my4age. I got the silica sand from placemakers but they should be available at other hardware stores like mitre 10 and Bunnings. I got a bag of about 20kg for $16 I think off the top of my head. You do have alot of yellows in there I guess you could take some out or just add more dem's.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ktttk Posted April 22, 2008 Author Report Share Posted April 22, 2008 I think I'll take some yellows out - I've spotted a few that have some dark barring/blotches on the sides so will probably remove them so they don't breed.. but then I have to find a place for them to go... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
danilada Posted April 22, 2008 Report Share Posted April 22, 2008 Wow very busy in that tank, still looks great and they have all grown up so fast, I remeber whe you first posted this, keep up the good work, looks great. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Johannes Visser Posted April 25, 2008 Report Share Posted April 25, 2008 Very Nice Kenneth! :bounce: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ktttk Posted April 25, 2008 Author Report Share Posted April 25, 2008 Thanks guys, I'm glad you all like it! :bounce: Now its just waiting for them to mature and then hopefully start to breed! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dwalk Posted April 29, 2008 Report Share Posted April 29, 2008 I've just put 7 Electric yellows in a 15oL tank, and are keen to put white sand as the substrate, instead of multicolored pebbles. How do you vacuum without sucking up the sand though? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tinytawnykitten Posted April 29, 2008 Report Share Posted April 29, 2008 Hi David, your black mollie has been trouble since I got it!!! Ha! Now I am turning my tank into one like this thread is about and I've stupidly put rocks in to make caves and now I have been trying to catch him for 3 days to give to a friend!! Aaargh! I just PMd Kenneth about the same question, but I will let him answer. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DantezGirl Posted April 29, 2008 Report Share Posted April 29, 2008 gorgeous slowly attempting to start up my first cichlid tank as well Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MarkLB Posted April 29, 2008 Report Share Posted April 29, 2008 How do you vacuum without sucking up the sand though? Hi. Have a look here... http://www.cichlid-forum.com/videos/cleaning_sand.php HTH Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Johannes Visser Posted April 29, 2008 Report Share Posted April 29, 2008 Hi. Have a look here... http://www.cichlid-forum.com/videos/cleaning_sand.php HTH Some great info on there ! :roll: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tinytawnykitten Posted April 29, 2008 Report Share Posted April 29, 2008 Wow that video is fantastic, all I needed to know. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ktttk Posted April 29, 2008 Author Report Share Posted April 29, 2008 Great link MarkLB! I find the sand substrate easier to clean as the debris stays on the surface - unlike gravel where it can fall between the pebbles. In saying that, I hardly need to vacuum at all because movement from the fish (especially their sand sifting behaviour) ends up stirring the debris which then gets sucked up by the filter. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ktttk Posted April 30, 2008 Author Report Share Posted April 30, 2008 An update on the peacocks in the tank - the male is developing more colour now... ... so much so that he's managed to score with one of the 4 ladies.. 8) This will be the first time they have spawned so am I right to not expect too much from this? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted April 30, 2008 Report Share Posted April 30, 2008 Your a real pro with the camera I wish I could take pics like that . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.