Need advice

[Drummond]

I have kept various fish over the last 30 years, mostly killifish, natives and
one line of Kribensis (Pelvicachromis pulcher). I had to get rid of all my fish and most of my equipment last year for a move to Siena Italy. I did take 2 aquariums with me, a 55 gal and a 27 bow front. I am setting up the 55 gallon and need some advice on fish. Every where I lived in the US I had relatively soft water and could raise almost any fish, but there the water is much harder, between 12 and 14 dh. I would like some very colorful dwarf cichlids (I want to pur more than 1 pair of fish in the aquarium). I believe most of the lake cichlids would be happy with the hardness, but I don't really like them that much. I like fish with a lot of personality, and bright color.

Also if anyone knows of someone in the area that breeds cichlids, that would be preferable to the local importers of diseased fish from Asia. I would prefer not to spend more on medication than fish every time I but them.

RO systems are available and that is an option but I would prefer not to have to resort to that.

Thanks,
Drummond

 

[maddog10]

You could do a colony of Mbuna from Lake Malawi. They can be had in a variety of colors, stay small and are VERY active!

 

[dogofwar]

Try cichlidae.com as there are a bunch of European folks on that forum

On the other hand I'd like to go back to Siena and look for fish. My wife and I liked the place so much we named our daughter Siena!

 

[Drummond]

Thank you both for the suggestions, I'll take a look and see what I find.
I will join some local clubs, there seem to be a lot of them, and that would give me some more resources, it would also help my Italian. I want to look into natives here, but figuring out the regulations is a bit of a problem, they really love to regulate things here, and Italians seem to love to find ways around the regulations or just ignore them all together. It is a very beautiful and interesting place.

 

[crazyclowntang]

Like Mike, I would do a colony of mbuna in a 55.

 

[JustRon]

Try some lamprologines on the 27 bow and malawi on the 55.

There is usually an annual fish convention, I think it was in Pisa this past time. Maybe you could get someone to get you connections that way.

As far as getting fish it is easy in Europe and not so expensive to have them sent to you, either from one of the Czech companies or even the German firm Aquarium Glaser. Again, maybe private fish keeper s would be an alternative, but these commercial groups in central Europe have a great selection and some really good pricing.

 

[mrkillie]

Yo, Killie dude, put some Lamprologines in the 55 with some Lamprichthys tanganicanus.

Joel