[Rossy]

Hi guys, I've got a reasonably new setup, with a variety of small tananyikans, in a 70 litre setup.

They're all fine, especially a certain few burrowing, etc. However one (of 2) of the compressiceps seems to be real sluggish, maybe even ill?

It either spends its time in a shell, or right at the top of the water just floating along with no rush to do anything.

Since i first put it into the tank it went straight to the bottom and sat still for ages, then spent 2 days in a shell.

It doesn't look to be dying, just really sluggish and shy... is this normal?

thanks for your help in advance... i am quite new to keeping Cichlids!

 

[Darkside]

Its not uncommon for Altos to stay hidden when first aquired, I wouldn't worry about that. The fact that your's is hanging out at the top of the aquarium is more a cause for concern. Usually this is because of aggression issues. Keep an eye on the two comps as I would expect that in a tank this small (too small for your comps) that the more active (dominant) comp is terrorizing the other.

 

[Rossy]

oh right...

I took the advice of my LFS like a fool lol, every other fish in there seems cool and i've done as much reading as I possibly can on each species.

You are right though in what you say... one of the 2 is MUCH more active than the other!

Is there anything I can personally do to help the little fella out?

 

[Darkside]

You can either move him to another aquarium, or maybe take him back to the LFS for a refund? I suspect that you're looking for Calvus rather than Comps, but your aquarium is pretty small for either ~19 gallons I think. What else is in the aquarium?

 

[Rossy]

Sorry..

I mean Lamprologus compressicep!

In the tank with them i have-

Julidochromis Transcriptus
Neolamprologus brichardi
neolamprologus leleupi

 

[MidNightCowBoy]

Sorry to break this to you but your tank is way too small for those fish. The comps will get too big and the leleupi and brichardi are going to have territory issues. Sounds like you either need to get a larger tank or rethink your stocking list. Maybe check out the cookie cutter setups on this site for suggestions for stocking.

 

[Rossy]

Ok thanks for your feedback i'll be having words with that (@"!%(*) in the petshop lol

On a positive note...

leleupi and brichardi have marked out territory really well, i have a rock stack along the back wall with a good couple of inches space behind it, each has taken a side as its territory.

But i'll definately look at the stocking.

thanks!

 

[Rossy]

Ok thanks for your feedback i'll be having words with that (@"!%(*) in the petshop lol

On a positive note...

leleupi and brichardi have marked out territory really well, i have a rock stack along the back wall with a good couple of inches space behind it, each has taken a side as its territory.

But i'll definately look at the stocking.

thanks!

 

[Rossy]

oops sorry!