Ben Eatoff Posted August 4, 2007 Share Posted August 4, 2007 Hey guys, Thought i'd jump on here and ask for some help and advice! I have a 4x2x2 that i'm going to put some tropheus in. Problem is, which type? I've already bought 5 Tropheus (of mixed variety), and have gotten very much attached to them. I have:2 x Ikolas2 x Bembas1 x Red Moliro I've already noticed that one of my ikolas is very agressive towards the other. I was thinking to add more in, but in a tank this size i'm not sure how that'd go down, with all the carnage. I was after something more peaceful really.. There are other tankmates such as julies, brevis and gobies. I was thinking a small colony of Tropheus moorii (Kazumba) - GK's. Any advice on what to do would be sweet. I'm thinking that i'll have to sell up the tropheus i have already, and set up the new colony! Cheers Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kilroy Posted August 4, 2007 Share Posted August 4, 2007 Before I start, this is just MY opinion, others may disagree. The best way to keep tropheus is in minimum groups of 12-15 in a single species tank no smaller than 4 foot. I don't recommend any tankmates at all, but some have had success with a couple of gobies etc. I too have made the mistake of only having one or two, and I just don't think it's the way to keep them. There is a possibility of the ones you already have crossbreeding, so I would probably be inclined to find them a new home and get yourself a single species colony going. Good luck with it. Cheers Shane Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spedwards Posted August 5, 2007 Share Posted August 5, 2007 To further what Shane is saying, I think you are missing out on a lot by not having them in a group. They are a colony fish and one of the most interesting things with them is watch them squabble over territory and rank within the group. They are very interesting fish indeed! From memory, Ikola and Bemba are both sp. Black, which means they are very likely to cross breed. Pick the ones you want to keep, find homes for the others and work out what you can get your hands on and go from there Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mcsx Posted August 5, 2007 Share Posted August 5, 2007 i agree with the having the tropheus in larger groups they are a happier fish when they are in a group of 12 - 15 but i beleive that alot of tankmates are fine i mean they share the lake with other fish so i dont see why you cant replicate this in a tank yes it may be smaller than a huge lake but i still like seeing different fish mixed together from the same lake ive seen alot of fish mixed with tropheus, lepto's, julies, shellies, alto's but thats my opinion ~ Mark Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
parrdog Posted August 5, 2007 Share Posted August 5, 2007 I also agree that you should sell the mix and start again with a large colony. 30 Tropheus would look great in a 4x2x2. Good luck with it, Jamie. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ben Eatoff Posted August 5, 2007 Author Share Posted August 5, 2007 Thanks for all the replies guys! Yeah, my aim is to sell on the juvies i have, and in a week or so i'll have around 12 - 15 GK's. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kingtiger Posted August 5, 2007 Share Posted August 5, 2007 Um...I wonder where you getting those GK....LOL Cheers Hilton Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
huzzy Posted August 5, 2007 Share Posted August 5, 2007 I agree, 15 - 30 Ts in a 4x2x2 with plenty of rockwork looks great. Unfortunatley there are heaps of different combinations that work well for different people with different fish. This is a brief rundown of what I do. Feed twice a day NLS 1mm and Sera Flora Flake. I use both feeds at each feeding as ive noticed some prefer the Flora and others prefer the NLS. Larger and less frequent water changes. My water quality never registers any amonia, nitrates or nitrites when I do change it, but i find the temp/parrameter change gets them frisky and active for the next 24 - 48 hours. I usualy change close to 70 - 80%. PH is kept about 8.7 - 9.0 depending on how active I am in monitoring it. For the past 6 months they were kept by themselves in the tank, however recently I relented and added some Leptos. Its almost as if they cant see each other. Each species goes about its business without regard of the other. I havent noticed any real difference in behavior and really hold no opinion over weather a species only tank is better or not. That being said, the leptos are juvies and have not begun any spawning attempts, when they start claiming territories it may be a different story. The only other thing is beware of the Tropheus bug. They are addictive little critters. Good luck. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ben Eatoff Posted August 5, 2007 Author Share Posted August 5, 2007 Thanks Huzzy! I feed my fish already on the 1mm NLS, but i'll track down some flake too! I have caught the tropheus bug! Only problem is that i've only got one tank to keep them in!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kilroy Posted August 5, 2007 Share Posted August 5, 2007 Thanks Huzzy! I feed my fish already on the 1mm NLS, but i'll track down some flake too! I have caught the tropheus bug! Only problem is that i've only got one tank to keep them in!! Ben, I think you will find the majority of Tropheus keepers feed NLS exclusively. You don't have to feed anything else if you don't want to. I'm not saying it won't work, all I'm saying is you can keep it simple. All of my tropheus eat it exclusively, and they all love it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
huzzy Posted August 5, 2007 Share Posted August 5, 2007 Ben, I think you will find the majority of Tropheus keepers feed NLS exclusively. You don't have to feed anything else if you don't want to. I'm not saying it won't work, all I'm saying is you can keep it simple. All of my tropheus eat it exclusively, and they all love it. Indeed, I used to feed NLS exclusivley. The flora mainly came about when I added the Cyps. I have noticed no difference either positive or negative since switching to 2 foods, other than some fish showing preferance to one over the other. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ps. Saulosi Girl Posted August 6, 2007 Share Posted August 6, 2007 I Agree with the others. Keep them in larger groups rather then a few of each. My partner and I have Dubs and Moliro's in a 6x2x2 and the contrast of colour is unbelievable. We have about 40 Dubs and 15 Moliros. Lots of rock. I to feed NLS, but the fry get some flora and HBH veggie flakes as well. I am sure what ever you choose you will be satisfied they are wonderful to sit back and watch. Keep us posted. Lou Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ben Eatoff Posted August 6, 2007 Author Share Posted August 6, 2007 Ah thanks guys! Well i'm all set up with the diet, the tank, everything! Except the tropheus! All tropheus in the tank now sold, just awaiting the new trophs! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CThompson Posted August 7, 2007 Share Posted August 7, 2007 Feeding two varieties of dry commercially prepared food, with NLS being one of the two is in actual fact lowering the over all quality of the food you feed your fish. This is a simple thing to get around Huzzy if you are trying to cater for a species such as Cyprichromis which may not have the mouth size to deal with the same size NLS that the Tropheus can, by simply putting some NLS in your tank that has passed through a pepper grinder first. You will find that once the larger NLS has been eaten none of the smaller pepper grinded food will go to waste as the Tropheus will get stuck into that too. Ben, you don’t have to get rid of all your Tropheus and start again. You SHOULDN’T keep two species black together, so make a choice between the two you have and get rid of one. One species black, a duboisi and a moorii will be fine in regards to cross-breeding but you may find the dominated species will/may not show their best potential colours. But Tropheus colours can be a fleeting thing so this may not be a great issue. You can easily mix Tropheus with non-Tropheus species with two caveats; Before NLS you really had to keep Tropheus by themselves to cater for their dietary requirements. NLS can be feed to all fish so this obstacle has been removed. The other issue you have to look out for is that the species is tough enough to get out of the rode of boisterous Tropheus. For example I feel that foai would still think they can best a Tropheus so should it try to keep Tropheus out of its nest site it may come off second best and at the least lose the fin extensions. Mixing with Julidochromis and for example as I think Huzzy mentioned Cyprichromis (though you won’t get any young) will be fine. Craig Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
moldyform Posted August 8, 2007 Share Posted August 8, 2007 How would a breeding colony of Tropheus go with a breeding colony or pair of Pro's in a 5ft'er? cheers Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
huzzy Posted August 9, 2007 Share Posted August 9, 2007 How would a breeding colony of Tropheus go with a breeding colony or pair of Pro's in a 5ft'er? What are pro's? How many T's in the colony? What species of T's? What size 5footer? Std or 5x2x2 or other? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
moldyform Posted August 9, 2007 Share Posted August 9, 2007 Black calvus x 5 And not sure about Tropheus species yet. Just getting hooked at a quick rate by them. I would like a decent colony of around 10-15 Tank is 5x 1.5x 1.5 Cheers Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CThompson Posted August 9, 2007 Share Posted August 9, 2007 What are pro's? You find them in Lake Kings Cross Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
huzzy Posted August 9, 2007 Share Posted August 9, 2007 What are pro's? You find them in Lake Kings Cross ooohh...ladies of the night Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
moldyform Posted August 9, 2007 Share Posted August 9, 2007 Actually you find them 3 Nautical miles due west of Tilba Tilba? Will these fish mentioned above live ok in the same tank? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CThompson Posted August 9, 2007 Share Posted August 9, 2007 Pro's = Protomelus? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
moldyform Posted August 9, 2007 Share Posted August 9, 2007 No sorry, Black Calvus Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
huzzy Posted August 9, 2007 Share Posted August 9, 2007 Why do you call them pro's? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
moldyform Posted August 9, 2007 Share Posted August 9, 2007 Really not sure why now that i look at the scientific name, Altolamprologus. I have always called them Pro's, (Well they are the best fish around) Cheers Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CThompson Posted August 12, 2007 Share Posted August 12, 2007 Suggest you call them calvus then. Calvus can be surprising competative, but for me I wouldn't put them with Tropheus. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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