Hi, I just came across this site while doing some searches; there's a lot of good information here!
I have 3 tanks now after starting out with 4 fish a year ago in a 45 gallon tank I got for free from freecycle. I bought 2 jewel and 2 bumble-bee cichlids (finding out later that's not the best pairing!).
The jewels started breeding early and I had to put a separator in the tank. The first couple broods didn't survive but they were persistent with even bigger broods every few weeks!! I got some brine shrimp and fry food, and several survived. So I got another tank to save them from the predatory parents....
Well... a couple of them paired off too!! Wow, they are good breeders. I got another tank and filled that one too. I gave about 120 of the largest (about 1-2 inches) to somebody off of Craigslist about 6 months ago.
The tanks are full again... I separated the breeding couples but if there was room I bet the next generations are ready! I am enjoying this but the upkeep on the tanks is too much now. And one tank is showing some signs of stress that is getting better after a couple of water changes.
Anybody want some nice jewels (1-3")? I think they are Hemichromis lifalili if this profile and picture are correct: http://www.cichlid-forum.com/profiles/species.php?id=2508
I did see that there is marketplace here so I can try that. A store I called nearby could only take several; he did point me to G&G Aquatics in Lorton but that is quite a hike from here (Lothian, near Upper Marlboro).
I look forward to reading more of the forums and maybe making a meeting too.
Dave
I have 3 tanks now after starting out with 4 fish a year ago in a 45 gallon tank I got for free from freecycle. I bought 2 jewel and 2 bumble-bee cichlids (finding out later that's not the best pairing!).
The jewels started breeding early and I had to put a separator in the tank. The first couple broods didn't survive but they were persistent with even bigger broods every few weeks!! I got some brine shrimp and fry food, and several survived. So I got another tank to save them from the predatory parents....
Well... a couple of them paired off too!! Wow, they are good breeders. I got another tank and filled that one too. I gave about 120 of the largest (about 1-2 inches) to somebody off of Craigslist about 6 months ago.
The tanks are full again... I separated the breeding couples but if there was room I bet the next generations are ready! I am enjoying this but the upkeep on the tanks is too much now. And one tank is showing some signs of stress that is getting better after a couple of water changes.
Anybody want some nice jewels (1-3")? I think they are Hemichromis lifalili if this profile and picture are correct: http://www.cichlid-forum.com/profiles/species.php?id=2508
I did see that there is marketplace here so I can try that. A store I called nearby could only take several; he did point me to G&G Aquatics in Lorton but that is quite a hike from here (Lothian, near Upper Marlboro).
I look forward to reading more of the forums and maybe making a meeting too.
Dave
