Experience with Enantiopus "kilesa"

[killiguy]

Ive been keeping African cichlids for +30 years ;even during the Rift lake revolution of the early 80's.Recently I have obtained through traiding Enantiopus "kilesa"Someting too expensive previously

This is one of the loveliest cichlids I have ever kept.

It is quite a flighty cichlid and I have kept it in an eye level tank with little trouble. "Mad dashing"at lower levels this is a problem but not with high tanks.I feed them small pellets but also frequent baby brine shrimp which they sift from the sand.They spawn at about 4 inches and are good mothers.The fry are very sensitive and I lost the first spawn(of 15) by raising them in a 2 gallon tank,all died for no obvious reason.The second batch of 37 was raised in a fry saver in a 10 gallon tank,releasing them after 2 weeks or so.There were no losses after the initial 2 weeks.Frequent water changes were done there after

I have 5 fish in a 4x2x18inch tank ,coral sand as a subtrate and pH 8.0 with 25% water change weekly.They love to sift through the sand so I think small foods are ideal.I caught the females at night to reduce any stress and this seemed to work well(no losses cf cyprichromis).I think a big tank with minimal numbers reduces losses and careful treatment of the fry is needed.All the trouble is well worth it ,they are like the Ulysses butterfies of Queensland when in breeding colour spellbinding!!

[Andrew]

G'day Killiguy,

Excellent account! Enantiopus melanogenys "Kilesa" is one of the most beautiful and underappreciated fish in the hobby. Your passion for them might prompt a few others to look them up and get more circulating...

I have kept these before and I can assure anyone that they're going to enjoy this magnificent species!

Pics please!!!!

Andrew.

[robbo40]

Ive been keeping African cichlids for +30 years ;even during the Rift lake revolution of the early 80's.Recently I have obtained through traiding Enantiopus "kilesa"Someting too expensive previously

This is one of the loveliest cichlids I have ever kept.

It is quite a flighty cichlid and I have kept it in an eye level tank with little trouble. "Mad dashing"at lower levels this is a problem but not with high tanks.I feed them small pellets but also frequent baby brine shrimp which they sift from the sand.They spawn at about 4 inches and are good mothers.The fry are very sensitive and I lost the first spawn(of 15) by raising them in a 2 gallon tank,all died for no obvious reason.The second batch of 37 was raised in a fry saver in a 10 gallon tank,releasing them after 2 weeks or so.There were no losses after the initial 2 weeks.Frequent water changes were done there after

I have 5 fish in a 4x2x18inch tank ,coral sand as a subtrate and pH 8.0 with 25% water change weekly.They love to sift through the sand so I think small foods are ideal.I caught the females at night to reduce any stress and this seemed to work well(no losses cf cyprichromis).I think a big tank with minimal numbers reduces losses and careful treatment of the fry is needed.All the trouble is well worth it ,they are like the Ulysses butterfies of Queensland when in breeding colour spellbinding!!

G'day killiguy, They look great mate good luck with them

Cichlid POWER, Peter

[LexyBoi]

Hey there bringing this topic back to life, I just recently purchased a 4 foot x18in x 20in or around those dimensions, I am going to stock the tank with 10 Cyprichromis Livua 'Jumbo' and was may be going to add 5 Paracyprichromis Nigripinnis, do you think that 5 Enanyiopus sp. Kilesa 2 male and 3 female would go in as well, or would I have to replace the paracyp's? Cheers!

[Buccal]

If you have about 1/4 tight rock work to one corner or end of tank,, with a tiny cleared spot or two of floor substrate area inside of rock work,,, (like mini arena formation), then the P.nigri will happily stick to that territory.

The 3/4 quarter remaining is fine substrate floor space for Kilesa to dig their multiple little mounds to form a site, as it's their trademark for spawning,,,,,,, unlike other similar species of similar colors.

Stunning color iridescence with good light and that pit forming habit with their movements doing this as they flaunt colors to mate.

Nice fish but personally prefer melanogenys.

You should be fine with that stocking target.

Water stability.

Lots of small water changes,

Nice big filter.

Water slightly more aggetated,,,, more than Malawi for bit better oxygen exchange.

Nice high KH and GH.

Don't let filters clog to long as tangs generally don't take higher nitrates like Malawi do. (dissolved waiste solids causes faster nitrate climbs).

Do all these things is always better chances at mixing and heavier stock loads.

A 4x2x2 can take you so much further considering its only a smaller increase to footprint size compared to the tank your working with.

But you should be fine,,, I like pushing the boundaries as its a good test to keeping superior water.

Once they all hit full size though after long period of time, room issues may show as issues,,, but you've decided on minimum numbers,,, so it's obvious you've already thought this. So likely you should be able to take it far along enough.

[LexyBoi]

If you have about 1/4 tight rock work to one corner or end of tank,, with a tiny cleared spot or two of floor substrate area inside of rock work,,, (like mini arena formation), then the P.nigri will happily stick to that territory.

The 3/4 quarter remaining is fine substrate floor space for Kilesa to dig their multiple little mounds to form a site, as it's their trademark for spawning,,,,,,, unlike other similar species of similar colors.

Stunning color iridescence with good light and that pit forming habit with their movements doing this as they flaunt colors to mate.

Nice fish but personally prefer melanogenys.

You should be fine with that stocking target.

Water stability.

Lots of small water changes,

Nice big filter.

Water slightly more aggetated,,,, more than Malawi for bit better oxygen exchange.

Nice high KH and GH.

Don't let filters clog to long as tangs generally don't take higher nitrates like Malawi do. (dissolved waiste solids causes faster nitrate climbs).

Do all these things is always better chances at mixing and heavier stock loads.

A 4x2x2 can take you so much further considering its only a smaller increase to footprint size compared to the tank your working with.

But you should be fine,,, I like pushing the boundaries as its a good test to keeping superior water.

Once they all hit full size though after long period of time, room issues may show as issues,,, but you've decided on minimum numbers,,, so it's obvious you've already thought this. So likely you should be able to take it far along enough.

Would this rock work go well?

Do you think I should slim the numbers to 8 cyp's(4 male, 4 female) and 4 paracyp's (2 male, 2 female) or if I get rid of the paracyp's all together?

What would your stocking suggestions be, I love the cyprichromis and the enantiopus the paracyp's were just available so I could grab some as well, and just wondering to the enantiopus pray on their Fry?

Unfortunately I can't upgrade my tank we just got it and my dad didn't want to get a new one again, filtration wise we will probably have two either 770lph canisters or two 1330l/ph canister filters! What do you reckon filter wise?

[Buccal]

I would leave the original numbers you suggested in first post, as these fish always travel better with more of their own species.

But the rocks on the left should go, to give room for the kilesa.

Nice looking set up.

Nearly all fish will eat any fry in front of them.

If you want fry you have to strip from parent after 17 days. In most cases.

[LexyBoi]

I would leave the original numbers you suggested in first post, as these fish always travel better with more of their own species.

But the rocks on the left should go, to give room for the kilesa.

Nice looking set up.

Nearly all fish will eat any fry in front of them.

If you want fry you have to strip from parent after 17 days. In most cases.

could I keep the rock in the back left corner and just get rid of the front one? Thanks for all this info!

[Buccal]

The kilesa need room to do their little acts.

Your tank has a smallish footprint so you'd really need to make the entire left hand side free,,, while they are young you could leave for a while.

This sort of thing is trial and error.

Sand sifters that come from sandy large open shoals come from very open areas of expanse, so creating room as much as possible is always favorable for them.

[LexyBoi]

The kilesa need room to do their little acts.

Your tank has a smallish footprint so you'd really need to make the entire left hand side free,,, while they are young you could leave for a while.

This sort of thing is trial and error.

Sand sifters that come from sandy large open shoals come from very open areas of expanse, so creating room as much as possible is always favorable for them.

ok cool, anything else I should know? Thanks for all this help! Sorry for stealing all this time off you haha!

[Buccal]

Rest is trial and error mate.

[Ged]

Lexyboi very nice setup and balanced aquascape. I really like this style of layout

Good advice Buccal on the need for space.