Hey everyone, so I've decided to give breeding Tanganyikans a try since they are my favorite African Cichlids. I'm primarily fond of Leleupi, all the Neo. Brichardi lookalikes and Julies, primarily Marlieri, Regani, Dickfeldi & Marksmithi if I can find those.
I'm trying to figure out how to make pairs of each type, type of tanks and a good female to make ratio.
I have room for 5-7 75 & 50 Gallon tanks. Here's a few questions, if anyone feels like helping me out.
1. A pair of Brichardi will be going either in a 50 or 75 gallon. Is it wise to add more than 1 female or male and can any of the other Neo. Pulcher/other Neo. Long tail types be added in the same tank. How about a pair of Julies? I know once the Brichardi types spawn they like to take over pretty much 3/4 of the tank. Also I don't want to create hybrids therefore if a pair of Neolamp. and a pair of Julie type can co-exist together that would give me great flexibilty as I can have perhaps 2 50-75 gal. aquariums with 2 types of each species. Is this wise?
2. Pretty much the same question for Leleupi. Should these be kept in a species tank better? I have a pair now, and getting another pair from a breeder. I also have a lone male in my Frontosa tank. I feel like finding him a female partner. By the way, can Leleupi males be differentiated by the longness or pointyness of their top dorsal fin?
3. What is your favorite Julie species? I really like the darker ones with unique zebra type of patterns. I currently have a lone Dickfeldi, Transcriptus and Regani. I have the region they came from written down somewhere. It was funny how the Dickfeldi detested the Regani but not the Transcriptus. Perhaps they looked too alike. So I added the Trans and Regani in the 125 gallon with the Fronts for now. All my fish are about 1.5-2.25" in length. Really like these ones. Not sure where to put them or how to split them in which tanks though. Would a species only tank be best or do they prefer some other tankmates. Also, is there a way to sex them?
4. Is it better to buy a few types of the same species from one source and a few from another source? Or getting one small batch from the same pkace just as good?
5. My parameters are always 8.2-8.4 ph (But can be raised higher if need be), Kh is now 8-10 with the added Coral reef rocks and 13-17 Gh. All can be raised or lowered. I'm thinking with going with 80F temp (currently 78.5) and doing 20% water changes twice a week. Should I modify any parameter and Is there other parameters I should be testing such as Iron, Calcium, etc.
6. I plan on adding one small Ancistrus pleco species in each tank as they are extreme workaholics! Would they ever eat eggs though if they bumped into them?
7. I undestand there are different methods for removing eggs or fry from mouthbrooders but what about these sneaky cave spawners? Should I just leave the eggs and fry in the tank?
Alright enough questions I guess. Any advice is appreciated.
I'm trying to figure out how to make pairs of each type, type of tanks and a good female to make ratio.
I have room for 5-7 75 & 50 Gallon tanks. Here's a few questions, if anyone feels like helping me out.
1. A pair of Brichardi will be going either in a 50 or 75 gallon. Is it wise to add more than 1 female or male and can any of the other Neo. Pulcher/other Neo. Long tail types be added in the same tank. How about a pair of Julies? I know once the Brichardi types spawn they like to take over pretty much 3/4 of the tank. Also I don't want to create hybrids therefore if a pair of Neolamp. and a pair of Julie type can co-exist together that would give me great flexibilty as I can have perhaps 2 50-75 gal. aquariums with 2 types of each species. Is this wise?
2. Pretty much the same question for Leleupi. Should these be kept in a species tank better? I have a pair now, and getting another pair from a breeder. I also have a lone male in my Frontosa tank. I feel like finding him a female partner. By the way, can Leleupi males be differentiated by the longness or pointyness of their top dorsal fin?
3. What is your favorite Julie species? I really like the darker ones with unique zebra type of patterns. I currently have a lone Dickfeldi, Transcriptus and Regani. I have the region they came from written down somewhere. It was funny how the Dickfeldi detested the Regani but not the Transcriptus. Perhaps they looked too alike. So I added the Trans and Regani in the 125 gallon with the Fronts for now. All my fish are about 1.5-2.25" in length. Really like these ones. Not sure where to put them or how to split them in which tanks though. Would a species only tank be best or do they prefer some other tankmates. Also, is there a way to sex them?
4. Is it better to buy a few types of the same species from one source and a few from another source? Or getting one small batch from the same pkace just as good?
5. My parameters are always 8.2-8.4 ph (But can be raised higher if need be), Kh is now 8-10 with the added Coral reef rocks and 13-17 Gh. All can be raised or lowered. I'm thinking with going with 80F temp (currently 78.5) and doing 20% water changes twice a week. Should I modify any parameter and Is there other parameters I should be testing such as Iron, Calcium, etc.
6. I plan on adding one small Ancistrus pleco species in each tank as they are extreme workaholics! Would they ever eat eggs though if they bumped into them?
7. I undestand there are different methods for removing eggs or fry from mouthbrooders but what about these sneaky cave spawners? Should I just leave the eggs and fry in the tank?
Alright enough questions I guess. Any advice is appreciated.