WhiTe_TiGeR Posted September 26, 2004 Share Posted September 26, 2004 Hi guys, i was just wondering what everyone thinks is the ideal number of duboisi to stock in a 4ft tank? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ben Posted September 26, 2004 Share Posted September 26, 2004 What size is the tank? 4x?x? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Luke Posted September 26, 2004 Share Posted September 26, 2004 I have a colony of 10 in a 4x16(h)x18(w) tank and it works well , I don't think I would be able to have a larger colony in there as the two dominant males take up each end of the tank only leaving a small spot in the centre for all the females to swim in . Luke Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ViS Posted September 26, 2004 Share Posted September 26, 2004 I have three in a 4x20x18 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Luke Posted September 26, 2004 Share Posted September 26, 2004 I am guessing that you started out with more than that Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ben Posted September 26, 2004 Share Posted September 26, 2004 Death by bristlenose........Who would have thought a pair of bristle nose could kill 20 or so tropheus..... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
parrdog Posted September 26, 2004 Share Posted September 26, 2004 Hey White Tiger, If you decide to go with these spotty fellas check out Jim on the breeder's page, he has F1 duboisi Maswa juveniles for $15 a pop and they are very nice indeed. He has his wild caught adult Maswa colony in a 4x2x2 and there are about 45 of 'em. Good luck with it, Jamie. PS Ben, that's no good mate. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mazimbwe Posted September 26, 2004 Share Posted September 26, 2004 I had 24 in a 4x18x18 for 18Mths and they were very happy. Just gotta have super-overkill on the filtration if ya get a large group. 15 would be fine in a 4x18x18, IMO...to answer your question. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MoliroMan Posted September 26, 2004 Share Posted September 26, 2004 Hi White Tiger, Welcome to the Tropheus club! I think u should get at least 20 or more since u will have some inevitable losses on the way and will need to remove excessive males if aggression becomes a problem! I have managed to collect ~60 Moliros in my 4 by 2 by 2 tank, but like Mazimbwe mentioned u will need over the top filtration and vigilant weekly water changes (ideally 50%). To give u an idea about overkill, i have 2 Eheim 2217, 1 Prof II 2028, 1 2260, Otto internal filter PF2000N and a IV steriliser - total 7000LPH filtration!! I am not suggesting this is the correct way to do things so don't get scared off from keeping these amazing fish! Dave Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chorrylan Posted September 26, 2004 Share Posted September 26, 2004 hi, I would think they'd be happy enough in a 4x18x18. I keep a colony of 11 (and about 50 or 60 of their kids are in there also at the moment waiting for me to find 'em a growout tank) in a 3.5x2x2 filtered by a fluval 404. By all accounts they should have more and better filtration but they seem happy. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TropheusQueen Posted September 26, 2004 Share Posted September 26, 2004 hey hey, Some good advice in the previous posts for you to follow. A colony of 10-12 should be ok in the tank. Hopefully without jinxing myself I have yet to lose a single tropheus in four years, with my breeding colonies increased from 10 fish to 50+ sharing their tanks with bristlies and gibbiceps. I have more success breeding with the colonies in 5x2x2's and 6x2x2's than the 4x18x18's. This is what I have found: 1. You can never have enough filtration - my tanks have either side drops or sump filters on them delivering approx 5000lph -plenty of oxygen exchange. 2.Once to bi- weekly water changes of 10-25 percent 3. Enought territorial cover (I use rock shelves) to keep them amused and safe. Add pepples in the substrate for fry to hide in. 4. Feed ONLY spirulina and veg product - no negotiation on this. 5. Tropheus - species only tanks to avoid cross breeding. 6. Keep the colonies to 10-15 max ratio 2-3 males to 10-12 females as they stop breeding when overcrowded or too many males present These are my empirical findings with Chipimbi, Kaiser II's and Bulu Points - waiting on a male or two for my duboisi- and are there for you to try or not I think that my fish are happy and with losses at nil something must be right. Cheers Aline Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Flashgordon Posted September 27, 2004 Share Posted September 27, 2004 I have managed to collect ~60 Moliros in my 4 by 2 by 2 tank, but like Mazimbwe mentioned u will need over the top filtration and vigilant weekly water changes (ideally 50%). To give u an idea about overkill, i have 2 Eheim 2217, 1 Prof II 2028, 1 2260, Otto internal filter PF2000N and a IV steriliser - total 7000LPH filtration!! Dave Woh Dave Way to go. I thought I was into over-filtering for trophs but I take my hat off to you. Must be a freaking whirlpool in that tank. I have a 5 ft x 2ft high x 18 inch wide tank and have 2 x Eheim 2028s, an undertank sump with an Eheim 2400LPH pump driving it and a Rainbow FSB filter for 28 tropheus and an asortment of S multis. I have been criticised in other forums for being over the top, but I don't believe you can do too much filtering as water quality os king with these guys being healthy. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WhiTe_TiGeR Posted September 27, 2004 Author Share Posted September 27, 2004 thanks for all the advice. The tank is 4x20x18 so yeah i was planning on 10 or 12. About 6yrs ago i did have a colony of 12 Moorii "ikola" in a standard 4footer and they seemed to do fine but as a teenager at the time didnt have the patience to grow them up Also i spoke to Jim last week and i deffinately agree Jim's fish seem to be the way to go. Thanks again guys. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BlakeyBoyR Posted September 27, 2004 Share Posted September 27, 2004 Hmmm, not to put anyone (or anything) down, but just out of curiosity .... what's the big deal with tropheus? People who love them seem to REALLY love them and Im just curious as to what it is about them that is so amazing? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Flashgordon Posted September 27, 2004 Share Posted September 27, 2004 Well, might be hard to understand until you get some. But once you take the plunge and have your own colony you find that they are addictive little buggers. Constantly moving and scrapping, blatting around the tank in constantly changing schools, rushing to see you the second you come near the tank -begging for food before they pass away from starvation, the unique feeding frenzy when the food hits the water, their distinctive look, their feistiness..... These are unique fish and I think once bitten by the tropheus bug it is really hard to break free. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TropheusQueen Posted September 27, 2004 Share Posted September 27, 2004 Each individual being is unique, as are the fish species (and financial constraints) they choose to love. Justification not necessary. Cheers Aline Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
graceless Posted September 28, 2004 Share Posted September 28, 2004 I am sooooooo close to joining the tropheus gang it's not funny. i jsut think i will manage to kill everything and lose a lot of money. they are cool fish. Grace Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
parrdog Posted September 28, 2004 Share Posted September 28, 2004 G'day Grace, If you do the little things right and are prepared to stick to a routine you should be fine. These little fish are tougher than people think. When you start keeping Tropheus it's like you've joined a secret club. People start coming out of the woodwork to welcome you. From this reason there are loads of people around here that would be excited to help you in your Tropheus venture. As Flash said, once the bug bites it's hard to recover. Search the net, do loads of research and take the plunge, you won't look back, Jamie. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BlakeyBoyR Posted September 28, 2004 Share Posted September 28, 2004 I dont believe I asked for "justification", as if liking tropheus were somehow deviate and needed to be explained in order to be afforded an heir of legitimacy. I merely asked what it was about them that was so intriguing as I myself have had no experience with them. Flashgordon gave me some good reasons, thats all I was curious about. I dont feel ANYONE owes me an explanation for their tastes, as you said, everyone is unique Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kasanga Vince Posted October 1, 2004 Share Posted October 1, 2004 Generally speaking, Tropheus keeping is an absolute addiction. Some of the earlier posts give you a great guide on what disciplines to follow, confirming the indication that these unique fish cannot be over-pampered. The energy levels, acrobatics & colour changes in moody moments make them one of the most enjoyable cichlids to keep when they are fed properly & water quality is maintained through frequent water changes. No-one seems to have mentioned buffers & salts. Some of the hobby heavies swear by them. Happy Tropheus keeping!! Kasanga Vince Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mpimbwe Pete Posted October 2, 2004 Share Posted October 2, 2004 Vince ,you make me want to get the Tropheus Feeling !!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mazimbwe Posted October 2, 2004 Share Posted October 2, 2004 For those who do not have them no explaination is possible. For those that do...none is necessary. JK Once you go sp.Black, you never go back. Seriously though, Tropheus are an entirely different viewing experience than any other Cichlid I have seen...frantic but ordered chaos. I don't think, if I was suddenly limited to one tank, that I could be without at least one group of "T's"...they grabbed my attention the first time I saw a large group together and I have been hooked by them ever since. HTH Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
trofius Posted October 2, 2004 Share Posted October 2, 2004 Blakeyboyr, As mentioned it is difficult to explain. If you or anyone ist hat curious about what the allure of these guys is, then the only way is to to experience them. First I would organise with someone that has a few varieties, as different varieties appeal to different people, ( for me its the blacks and reds) an then put aside a few hours and go for a viewing. I dont mean walk in and go thanks As thats not gouing to give you any real idea on what these fishes are really like. When you first walk in to see your tropheus they are like little kids, all excited and wanna play with you, racing up and down the glass all happpy, ie they want food! I would say get a chair and a cuppa and sit down and just watch them,( try not to attract too much atention... go back to previos point) As their attention changes from feeding/you, they start to interact with each other, you can pick out dominat males, vaing for territories, showing off to females, chasing sub dom males, or just sitting still watching each other.. Having kept them in community tanks, I have seen They are so rapt up in themselves that they completely ignore (and run into) other fish to continue playing with each other,.. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BlakeyBoyR Posted October 3, 2004 Share Posted October 3, 2004 Wow, they sound pretty cool When I have the room I might have to give them some serious consideration Maybe theyre like the matrix, noone can tell you what keeping trophius is ... you have to see it for yourself Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Syndosis Posted October 4, 2004 Share Posted October 4, 2004 Howde all. Well I just joined the Tropheus gang.. A huge step from what I am used to but have been ready all topic regarding them, talking to breeders here in Vic and any info I get I devour.. Love these wonderful fish and if all goes well in the next 6 months with these my 18 Black Bembas, I will go for more varieties later as I am in love and bitten by the bug so hard, its not funny. Was fortunate to get a guy getting rid of his Bembas. 2 blood lines, 18 fish 4-7cm and a hell of a cheap price. Damon Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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