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Bought some Electric Blue Ahli's on bad advice

2418 Views 10 Replies 8 Participants Last post by  eeztropheus, 
R
I bought a hex 20 off Craigslist for 60 bucks, wooden stand, light, etc. and I wanted two spectacular fish for it, as it sits right next to the desk where I am sitting now, just as folks walk into my den. I have a 60g tall Rainbow tank, a 20g hex, two 10gs, one as hospital/isolation and a freshly filled 55g for what lies below.

I went to my most trusted LFS store yesterday and the owner, who has had this store for 17 years, convinced me to buy two African Cichlids, Electric Blue Ahli's or Electric Blue Hap's or hopefully, Sciaenochromis fryeri. He told me that being the only fish in there (the 20g) they'd be find.

So now, I have an African Cichlid book that says at least 75 gallon tank. Wow. I can't afford a 75-100 gallon right now but xxxco had a 55g with light hood, HOB filter, and heater for $119.00 so I bought it, hoping that a 55g would surfice. So far, for the last 24 hours, the Haps seem fine. Heck, they came out of a 10g.

He said they'd been in the store a month. I guess to some degree, perhaps I rescued them. He told me they were a mated pair but they both look like males to me, based on the pictures I've seen. Are they? I uploaded a picture in the "my tank" section, or at least I thought I did.

If I have two males, is one going to kill the other? They both are about the same size, 5 inches I'd guess. So far, there seems to just a bit of aggression. I put two flower pots in there but they are not using them.

He (the local FS guy said to feed only Spirulina 20, no bloodworms, brine shrimp or the usual fish "treats". The book says they eat small fishes and should have fresh shrimp, prepared foods, flakes, pellets and plankton and to add feeder guppies (maybe not for me) So what the heck to I feed these two? They are eating the Spirulina and I fed them some Hikari pellets.

Second question, is once I get this 55g cycled, (let's pray for a short cycle), what else can I put in there. What about bottom feeders?

I apologize if this somehow a double post, it seems something happened while I was trying to get some pictures in here for you to see.
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Fogelhund
Regarding the Tank you uploaded... there is no text, and the picture wasn't successfully uploaded.

If these fish are blue, they are males.

These aren't pair bonding fish, and can be quite hard on the females. I like to keep at least 6 females with a male.

The males can grow to 8".

Suffice to say, you've received really bad advice so far. I'll touch on the other points later, have to run for an appointment.
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Glaneon
I have 1 SciFry male, about 5". Most of my other mbuna are 3-5". I just added 4 (or 5, I didn't count) Cyno. Afra "Hara" - about 2" each and 1 got instantly attacked by the SciFry but I think it managed to escape into the rocks.

Otherwise, he gets along just fine. Stays around mid-tank level at one end.
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des
ReStart said:
He (the local FS guy said to feed only Spirulina 20, no bloodworms, brine shrimp or the usual fish "treats". The book says they eat small fishes and should have fresh shrimp, prepared foods, flakes, pellets and plankton and to add feeder guppies (maybe not for me) So what the heck to I feed these two? They are eating the Spirulina and I fed them some Hikari pellets.
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If they are eating, they are happy. My electric blue enjoys flakes and pellets from New Life Spectrum.

ReStart said:
Second question, is once I get this 55g cycled, (let's pray for a short cycle), what else can I put in there. What about bottom feeders?
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What are the sizes of your electric blue? If they are showing blue then you have males. The females have no blue and are dull brown. If you want happy Ahli's perhaps add some females. But if you want some other colours, I enjoy peacocks.
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R
Thanks folks. I am working on the 55g as hard as I can. In the meantime, one of the Ahli's (maybe a misnomer, likely SciFri is more accurate) is using one of the clay pots but spends more time out than in. These are both 5 inches and it is surprising to me that they are not always trying to kill each other. Really, very seldom do they go at it and even then, not for long.

Once I get the 55g cycled and ready, can I put both the males into it? Or should I give away one and then stock with other Malawi types? Could one stay in the 20g hex? I don't think so but now is the time to ask.
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DJRansome
I think an 8" fish cannot even stay in a 55G. :(

I bought an 8" hap for my 75G and he looks way too big for the tank, he has to go back.

I think for a 55G you want fish that mature at 6" or under.
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N
If they are eating, they are happy
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NO! Fish will eat anything. Get yourself some good cichlid flakes/pellets, and feed them that. The spirulina is good for their blue colours, but not good as a staple.

You might (big, big, big, big) might be able to keep one male in the 55g but he will be cramped and unhappy. I'd say just don't do it. Take them back, stock your 55g with other mbuna.
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R
Man, what a mess, what a mess. I love fish and have so for most of my life. I hate that I have put these two into this situation. I will talk to the lfs guy about taking them both back, even though I have bought a 55g just to try to help. After that, I am not sure what I'll do. I may just not yet have the skills for African Cichlids.
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E
ReStart said:
Man, what a mess, what a mess. I love fish and have so for most of my life. I hate that I have put these two into this situation. I will talk to the lfs guy about taking them both back, even though I have bought a 55g just to try to help. After that, I am not sure what I'll do. I may just not yet have the skills for African Cichlids.
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Don't say that, try some yellow labs maybe you will have better luck.
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R
Well, there are several things that make me want to give this another go, after I ensure the survival of the Blues. First, no plants for the most part and therefore no high dollar lighting systems and from that, no algae issues. Second, I love rocks and believe that I have somewhat of an artistic skill with them. I think I could put together an awesome looking tank that would be ideal for some species of Cichlid. And third, I really love a challenge! Although, I do not like risking a fine fishes life in the process. Too many are sold to die. (not so much here, I'll bet!) Thanks for the encouragement.
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eeztropheus
ReStart said:
Man, what a mess, what a mess. I love fish and have so for most of my life. I hate that I have put these two into this situation. I will talk to the lfs guy about taking them both back, even though I have bought a 55g just to try to help. After that, I am not sure what I'll do. I may just not yet have the skills for African Cichlids.
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Its not that you don't have the skills, its about paitience... Before you buy fish do your research, and never listen to the guy at the LFS.
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