MarkLB Posted June 1, 2008 Report Share Posted June 1, 2008 Hi all. I got some new Cichlids today :bounce: and it got me wondering how others introduce new fish to their tanks. I had a search and couldn't find a thread about it but I apologise if this is a repeated subject. With all the reading I've done about these fish, and from personal observation, I know that they are very territorial and will beat up and possibly kill new comers to the tank so steps need to be taken to protect new fish. I remember when I first started to keep Africans I had a female Melanochromis in a nursery tank and I forgot to take measures when I put her back in the main tank :oops: I went out for a couple of hours and by the time I got back she was beat up pretty bad. I hospitalised her but she didn't make it. I've heard of people simply waiting for lights out and slipping them in when the occupants are settled for the night. Or putting them in during feeding time. Or, and this is the method I use, remove the rocks, add the new fish and return the rocks so that everyone is back to square one territory wise. So....how do you do it?? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
livingart Posted June 1, 2008 Report Share Posted June 1, 2008 method you use is same as mine gets a bit much when dealing with a large tank, i also try to introduce a few together Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ryanjury Posted June 1, 2008 Report Share Posted June 1, 2008 Agreed with all of the above, it depends on the type of fish as well.. If the fish is different to all the others in your tank you might get away with adding it at feeding time however its a big risk and as you said the fish can turn very fast.. Otherwise its the mission of removing all rocks an introducing the fish (as livingart said a few at a time is always preferable as it stirs things up a bit more) lol You never mentioned what you had aquired Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MarkLB Posted June 1, 2008 Author Report Share Posted June 1, 2008 lol You never mentioned what you had aquired :bounce: I got 4 new Red Zebs, which have amazing colour, to go with the one I've already got and I also added 2 nice clean E.yellows that I'd been growing up in another tank. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ryanjury Posted June 1, 2008 Report Share Posted June 1, 2008 Awesome man, are the red zeb's red.. Or orange.. Would love to get my hands on some red red zeb's.. Good work on the yellows also its getting hard to find descent ones.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MarkLB Posted June 1, 2008 Author Report Share Posted June 1, 2008 are the red zeb's red.. Or orange... I wish :lol: I've never seen a red Red Zeb before.Pics anyone? They're orange but nice and bright. Good work on the yellows also its getting hard to find descent ones.. I got these from a forum member here in ChCh. Really nice fish. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Afrikan Posted June 2, 2008 Report Share Posted June 2, 2008 We always opt for the turn the lights out method and have the odd time done the slip in during feed time method, never had to rearrange tanks... Would love to see some pics of your newbies sometime 8) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MarkLB Posted June 2, 2008 Author Report Share Posted June 2, 2008 Would love to see some pics of your newbies sometime 8) I'll post some here today some time. I'm going to have a photo session this afternoon. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MarkLB Posted June 2, 2008 Author Report Share Posted June 2, 2008 Here's a couple of snapshots. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Afrikan Posted June 2, 2008 Report Share Posted June 2, 2008 Very nice :D:D:D 8) Spunky lookin' fish Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
livingart Posted June 2, 2008 Report Share Posted June 2, 2008 nice fish a real tangerine dream Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
herefishiefishie Posted June 7, 2008 Report Share Posted June 7, 2008 Very nice fish. I usually add fish when doing a water change. I take some rocks out or all depending on what territories, size of tank etc. I add new fish & a bit of food. The gravel vac, good with rocks out, as you then vac all the dead spots... Re rest up tank.... Frenchy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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