Tropheus disappointment

[Flashgordon]

I have had my Tropheus Golden Chisanze colony for nearly two years now. Tank is 125 galls - 4 ft by 2 ft high by 18 inches. Contains tropheus, a dozen cyps, 4 s multipunctatus and a breeding pair of j regani . I started with 29 really young 2-3 cm F1 tropheus from the big shipment from St George and then after a really concerted bad case of bloat ended up with just 17. Over time, the fish have grown (duh) and started breeding. I am now back up to 26 fish (natural growth) with a few more babes growing up in various rock piles in the tank. The tank is very stable and I have had absolutely no issues for ther last 18 months

I must admit to enjoying these guys. They are so active, so greedy and so entertaining to watch. And they breed as naturally as day follows night

What I have found very disappointing is in the display (or lack of) of colour. I did extensive research on the net before buying these fish and selected them because they appeared to be very beautiful. What I have ended up with is a tank full of fish who on most occasions look almost all black. Occasionally the males show a golden glow along their bellies, sort of extends from their tail to their head - but even then it is very subtle and it is not bright and full on as the pictures I saw indicated it might.

Now I have tried to work out whether this is because of the fish or whether it is something environmental. The water quality is excellent - Ph is 9, I uses Seachem salts at every water change, nitrate is negligible and I do not believe the fish are stressed. I've looked at different lights, to no avail. I've even considered whether it is the fact I use a light sand bottom rather than something darker. When all is said and done I come back to basically black tropheus with the occasional hint of colour.

And that is deeply disappointing. Is this just me? Did i pick a dud bunch of fish? Or is there something I am doing, or something in the environment that causes these guys to stay colour-free for so much of the time?

[Nigel]

My opinion is what you have in with them. I would advise to put them in a tank on there own. Also you dont say what you are feeding them this has some bearing on there colour. I have had them myself and there colour looked ok to me. I forgot i would like to see a photo of them.

[Flashgordon]

Nigel, I'm feeding them HBH Veggie Flakes

[Mazimbwe]

Seeing as Steve doesn't get on the Puter to often anymore I will relay what he has told me about his Groups of Tropheus.

His Ikola colony was always lit-up. I have them now and can say without doubt that there are 90+% of the group in vivid-display at any time.

He said his Ilangi were not that colourful with only 3-5 of the group of 30 in good colour.

His Kasanga were more lit up than the Ilangi but less than the Ikola.

He had more but they are the ones I remember.

I think it may be just a group/variety thing...some are bigger showoffs than others.

Chimba-Jim and Nigel are the two peep's here who have seen lots of different types of Tropheus to give ya the best idea about what it might be...Shagsy too & others.

Seeing as I only have the Ikola and Malasa my own input will be minor...they are always lit-up.

My Ikola are on their own and the duboisi are with Cyp's...as quick-draw-Mc-Nigel:p has said the tank-mates may be the problem.

[Nigel]

Change there food slowly to OSI and put them in a tank of there own and thay should show better colour.

[Flashgordon]

Nigel

thanks I will definitely try this

[Serial-Cichlid]

Change there food slowly to OSI and put them in a tank of there own and thay should show better colour.

You meant to say OSI spirulina flake right?

Cheers

Paul

[Nigel]

I thought anybody that keeps tropheus would know that Paul. If not thay shouldnt be keeping tropeus.

[Canberra Alex]

Not tring to hijack the thread but.......

is there that much difference between HBH and OSI brands?

if so what makes them so different?

i just thought both to be good quality brands i use both (but not with tropeus) and they both seems to be providing great colours and nutrition.

TIA

[Tiger]

Hello .

if you have the room ........i would definatly be trying a single species tank for them . They may see the other fish in there as a threat .

I have only 4 species in their own tanks ....and they are coloured up most of the time

[MoliroMan]

Hi Flash,

I use to keep my Trophs with cyps, julidochromis and oscellatus and they seem to not colour up well or breed much at all. Now that i keep only Tropheus the dominant males tend to display their colours a lot more.

Another thing i found that makes them colour up more nicely is to do weekly 50% water changes. That way they will be much healthier and show more breeding activity.

I feed my Trophs, OSI spirulina, HBH 8 veggie flakes, HBH Marine Green 40, Sera Flora and occasional HBH veggie wafers and freshly microwaved zucchini. I don't know if just feeding them OSI only will make them colour up any better.

Maybe if u can get your hands on some wildcaught Golden Chisanze they may be a lot more impressively coloured!!

Dave

[Jim]

My brother in law had these tropheus a few years ago - not at all dull in colour from what i can remember they were a light red pinky colour with a bit of yellow on the bottom part of the body - very impressive looking tropheus.

I would have to agree with everyone else - try them in a species only tank.

[CThompson]

For my monies worth, I'd look at a larger tank as well. I feel that Tropheus use colour (off/on) as a form of communication. In a tank that size, if a fish shows a bit of interest with a bit colour, other fish may target him/her, and perhaps the fish would have been better not colouring up. In a bigger tank, with more places to get away, perhaps more colour may be forthcoming.

Craig

[crabros]

Hi Guys,

I dont think there is a diffrence between OSI and HBH spirulina but since I've started feeding my Tropheus duboisi maswa brine shrimp they have changed from little white dots on there body to one white stripe on there body.

In all hindsight I think that it is the water quality and the single species in a tank that is the answer. However I have Bemba reds in with the duboisi that I brought from Jim and they are bright yellow and red all the time and I feed HBH tropical,rainbow, and vege flake mixed. They are in there with Cyprichromis leptosoma kitumba and trio of Telmatochromis dhonti and they are still showing vivid color.

I have rocks and botony sand in the tank.

What works for me may not work for others it's a great hobby I would experiment alittle to try and find out what makes them happy.

All the best

Brett

[Nigel]

I read these posts on tropheus i think i shouldnt. I find it hard to believe that people would feed there tropheus all sorts of food. In my opinion its not the right way or is it of any help to the fish or anyone else. Thats my last say on the matter.