camtang Posted April 12, 2013 Report Share Posted April 12, 2013 I am having an argument inside my head on how to introduce my Alto's and Leleupi and some smaller plecs into my Front tank. Normaly I would take everything out, rescape and add new fish. But when I do this the fish are normaly close to the same size. These fish are much smaller than the fronts so I am unsure of how to introduce them safely. I guess I am asking should I introduce new fish when the tanks empty and all the fish are stressing due to the empty tank, or should I put them in when I rescape or dont rescape and put them in the way it is? I am a bit confussed on this one purely because of the size diffrence in the fish Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Coral Posted April 12, 2013 Report Share Posted April 12, 2013 So, how big are the Alto's and Leleupi and the Frontosa??? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
camtang Posted April 12, 2013 Author Report Share Posted April 12, 2013 Big Fronts over 200mm and Altos 60 or so and Lele 70ish. I put a group of 20-30 mm dems in there for around a month and didnt loose a single one. Which encourages me to put these in. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
smidey Posted April 12, 2013 Report Share Posted April 12, 2013 i would just throw them in, never had an issue doing it before. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
camtang Posted April 12, 2013 Author Report Share Posted April 12, 2013 Even with that type of size diffrence? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
smidey Posted April 12, 2013 Report Share Posted April 12, 2013 yeah. i regularly add juvies to the main tank, juvies might be 3cm and the adults are around 10cm. The juvies tend to hide a lot until they get bigger but as long as you have hiding places i think you'll be fine. In natural situations they have to stay safe from larger fish somehow. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
camtang Posted April 12, 2013 Author Report Share Posted April 12, 2013 That is a very valid point about in the wild. But in saying that, a lot of them get eatn as well Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jaxxnz Posted April 12, 2013 Report Share Posted April 12, 2013 Even with that type of size diffrence? :gopo: don't really know much about African, but my rule of introduce new fish in tank is to House out the weakest/ smallest cichlids first, let them be the owner of that tank.. Then after that new big bad cichlids is allow to be introduce into same tank.. Worst case if they fight each other all the time, then introduce more more fish in to spread out aggressiveness.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
smidey Posted April 12, 2013 Report Share Posted April 12, 2013 That is a very valid point about in the wild. But in saying that, a lot of them get eatn as well the risk we run if we choose to put small fish with larger fish. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
camtang Posted April 12, 2013 Author Report Share Posted April 12, 2013 Its not the smaller fish coming in I am worried about its the bigger ones. If a bigger one wants to fight a smaller one the smaller one will just be a snack Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
camtang Posted April 12, 2013 Author Report Share Posted April 12, 2013 the risk we run if we choose to put small fish with larger fish. Yes this is also true, and it is also the reason I am umming and ahhing about it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
smidey Posted April 12, 2013 Report Share Posted April 12, 2013 maybe try just a few and see how it goes, that way you won't loose all if it goes wrong Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
camtang Posted April 12, 2013 Author Report Share Posted April 12, 2013 Yeh that could be a goer, but I guess you cant stop natural instinct. So if its gunna happen its gunna happen. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
camtang Posted April 21, 2013 Author Report Share Posted April 21, 2013 So I did it, now I have done it I am worried as. The size difference is much more than I thought. The new fish look amazing in the tank, I just hope they dont get munched Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nudge Posted April 22, 2013 Report Share Posted April 22, 2013 have they been munched yet? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
camtang Posted April 22, 2013 Author Report Share Posted April 22, 2013 So far so good. Have seen one Front chase a leleupi but that is it so far. I have made heaps of small cracks, caves and slots for the smaller fish Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
camtang Posted April 22, 2013 Author Report Share Posted April 22, 2013 Update as of 3 min ago. I cant see two of the Calvus &c:ry and the other one is in the intake chamber. Ohhh no, I may have messed up big time :an!gry The stupid choc talker has been out an about today, so he may be the criminal. Upside if there is one, I found a young dem in the intake chamber as well and a e yellow in the sump. No idea how long they have been there Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nudge Posted April 22, 2013 Report Share Posted April 22, 2013 bummer that sucks hopefully they have found some caves or cracks to wedge themselves in Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
camtang Posted April 22, 2013 Author Report Share Posted April 22, 2013 I just found another in a cave type thing looking towards the back, so Iam hoping the other one is the same. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zeusterae Posted April 22, 2013 Report Share Posted April 22, 2013 hopefully they are around just hiding camtag, the altos are experts on that!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matto Posted April 22, 2013 Report Share Posted April 22, 2013 chuck in some pvc tubes for them to hide in? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
camtang Posted April 23, 2013 Author Report Share Posted April 23, 2013 hopefully they are around just hiding camtag, the altos are experts on that!!! I expect/ hope that is the case, like I said I was looking last night, and couldnt see any and then looked again and found 2 so that is encouraging chuck in some pvc tubes for them to hide in? I could do if I had some left. But I do honestly think that there is enough gaps and grooves for them Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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