jcarr71
08-29-2010, 08:16 AM
I finally got my fish order in to more fully stock my 75g SA cichlid community. After I had a cycle completed, I had added one Blood Parrot that had been in my LFS for a few months. After a few days with no spike, I added another. At that time the tank was filtered with a Rena XP3 and a little accomplishing nothing wal-mart 5-15g so I can move it to seed a hospital tank if ever necessary.
I had a small spike after adding the second BP, but it was gone in two days. I ordered an AC110 online in the meantime as well as some of Ken's hbh cichlid staple. After the AC110 was running I decided it was time to order my more complete stocking. I used The Wet Spot, a retailer I have found through aquabid and would recommend as this is the second time I've used them with success. You can sign up for their weekly stocking list which is fairly comprehensive and shows far more than they list on aquabid via email.
The fish showed up about a week ago looking in fantastic health. As part of the shipment I received two more blood parrots, younger ones. The two already in the tank are about 5" while these guys are about 3". I happily report little bullying amongst the four of them. Really there was more bullying with just the two of them as sometimes the dominant fish liked to knock the sub-dominant fish around.
Also in the order were three keyholes. They are doing great and show a lot of comical personality when they interact with the BPs. They do receive a little of the BPs headbutting, but they give it right back and end up chasing the BPs off. Sometimes they just follow the BPs around as well like sad lost puppies. They also comically come to the glass to stare at me and food beg, but then run off and hide when I come to feed before coming right back out after watching the other fish and realizing their mistake! Cute guys. They are full grown 3-4" adults. One of the three is noticeably larger than the other two.
The last two fish in the order have produced mixed results. I was worried to introduce a 2" Severum in with the larger fish, and my worry exponentially increased when I discovered that he wasn't even really 2"! An inch and a half seemed generous at the time too. However, with the diet of the quality food he seems to be growing a bit already after a week. And though he hides, he also spends a great share of time out in the open being brave. My favorite thing about him is how he outsmarts the other fish at feeding time. I always feed at one of the tank and then the other. When all the fish crash to the first end I feed, he waits in the middle. When I feed at the other end he just casually swims over and has a head start on half of the tank's feast. It is great to watch.
The Gold Nugget L18 pleco has been a disaster I have to report however. When he arrived he had great color and I thought he was health. He may have been, but the color doesn't seem to be an indicator. These fish do not seem to have a serious stress color unexpectedly as I found mine dead today as beautiful as ever. Just on his back and stiff. Sad to find. I was worrying he wasn't eating as I never saw it, but I though dropping shrimp pellets and algae wafers in his corner at night would get him eating. Alas, I am not sure it did. When I saw him from time to time he acted so healthy as well. I do think it was the food though as the ammonia and then nitrite spike from adding all the fish started on day two and ended on day four. He died on day eight so I doubt that was it. Plus I had been doing daily 50% water changes to deal with it. I'm now 0/2 in non-common or common bn pleco keeping as my L183 attempt died in the mail during the winter too.
So, in summary:
Tank: Standard 75g: Pool filter sand, non-planted, rocks, driftwood, and pots placed for hiding places and caves.
Filtration: Rena XP3, AquaClear 100, Agua-Tech 5-15
Stocking: 4 Blood Parrots, 3 Keyholes, 1 Severum
How would you guys read my stocking level? Would you add more after a while or is this a maxed out tank?
Thanks for any responses!
I had a small spike after adding the second BP, but it was gone in two days. I ordered an AC110 online in the meantime as well as some of Ken's hbh cichlid staple. After the AC110 was running I decided it was time to order my more complete stocking. I used The Wet Spot, a retailer I have found through aquabid and would recommend as this is the second time I've used them with success. You can sign up for their weekly stocking list which is fairly comprehensive and shows far more than they list on aquabid via email.
The fish showed up about a week ago looking in fantastic health. As part of the shipment I received two more blood parrots, younger ones. The two already in the tank are about 5" while these guys are about 3". I happily report little bullying amongst the four of them. Really there was more bullying with just the two of them as sometimes the dominant fish liked to knock the sub-dominant fish around.
Also in the order were three keyholes. They are doing great and show a lot of comical personality when they interact with the BPs. They do receive a little of the BPs headbutting, but they give it right back and end up chasing the BPs off. Sometimes they just follow the BPs around as well like sad lost puppies. They also comically come to the glass to stare at me and food beg, but then run off and hide when I come to feed before coming right back out after watching the other fish and realizing their mistake! Cute guys. They are full grown 3-4" adults. One of the three is noticeably larger than the other two.
The last two fish in the order have produced mixed results. I was worried to introduce a 2" Severum in with the larger fish, and my worry exponentially increased when I discovered that he wasn't even really 2"! An inch and a half seemed generous at the time too. However, with the diet of the quality food he seems to be growing a bit already after a week. And though he hides, he also spends a great share of time out in the open being brave. My favorite thing about him is how he outsmarts the other fish at feeding time. I always feed at one of the tank and then the other. When all the fish crash to the first end I feed, he waits in the middle. When I feed at the other end he just casually swims over and has a head start on half of the tank's feast. It is great to watch.
The Gold Nugget L18 pleco has been a disaster I have to report however. When he arrived he had great color and I thought he was health. He may have been, but the color doesn't seem to be an indicator. These fish do not seem to have a serious stress color unexpectedly as I found mine dead today as beautiful as ever. Just on his back and stiff. Sad to find. I was worrying he wasn't eating as I never saw it, but I though dropping shrimp pellets and algae wafers in his corner at night would get him eating. Alas, I am not sure it did. When I saw him from time to time he acted so healthy as well. I do think it was the food though as the ammonia and then nitrite spike from adding all the fish started on day two and ended on day four. He died on day eight so I doubt that was it. Plus I had been doing daily 50% water changes to deal with it. I'm now 0/2 in non-common or common bn pleco keeping as my L183 attempt died in the mail during the winter too.
So, in summary:
Tank: Standard 75g: Pool filter sand, non-planted, rocks, driftwood, and pots placed for hiding places and caves.
Filtration: Rena XP3, AquaClear 100, Agua-Tech 5-15
Stocking: 4 Blood Parrots, 3 Keyholes, 1 Severum
How would you guys read my stocking level? Would you add more after a while or is this a maxed out tank?
Thanks for any responses!