Hello,
I recently acquired about 20 German Red Peacocks. In the past I've had a wide variety of mbuna but I wanted to try something different this go round.
I have a few questions that I was hoping others with some experience with peacocks could assist me with.
Firstly, on diet - I've read some conflicting things here. Mostly I see "feed a meaty diet" but of course this goes against everything I've done with mbuna. How much of a "meaty" diet should they get? 50%? 90%? Are frozen brine shrimp okay, as long as I've thawed them out before adding to tank? I read some where that frozen foods could cause issues, but I don't understand how if they are thawed out first?
I currently have them on thawed frozen brine shrimp once every other day, and then frequent, but small feedings of an omnivore cichlid flake. I couldn't find a sinking pellet that looked small enough. (They are around two, to two and a half inches long.)
My second question is about sexing them. They were sold "unsexed" though I did request they try if at all possible to put more females in then males. When I first added them to my tank, half or so were darker in color then the others. Now it's hard to say. Some of them that are lighter in color I can see faint splotches of red coloration. I think. -_-
Any tips on sexing at this size? The only other difference I've noticed is some do have what looks like to my poor eye sight clear spots all over their dorsal fin. At first I thought they might be sick, but upon closer inspection, it really just looks like the spots that might later turn blue in coloration.
I am sorry to have made my first post so long winded, but I just wanted to try to be through.
I appreciate any comments and suggestions.
I recently acquired about 20 German Red Peacocks. In the past I've had a wide variety of mbuna but I wanted to try something different this go round.
I have a few questions that I was hoping others with some experience with peacocks could assist me with.
Firstly, on diet - I've read some conflicting things here. Mostly I see "feed a meaty diet" but of course this goes against everything I've done with mbuna. How much of a "meaty" diet should they get? 50%? 90%? Are frozen brine shrimp okay, as long as I've thawed them out before adding to tank? I read some where that frozen foods could cause issues, but I don't understand how if they are thawed out first?
I currently have them on thawed frozen brine shrimp once every other day, and then frequent, but small feedings of an omnivore cichlid flake. I couldn't find a sinking pellet that looked small enough. (They are around two, to two and a half inches long.)
My second question is about sexing them. They were sold "unsexed" though I did request they try if at all possible to put more females in then males. When I first added them to my tank, half or so were darker in color then the others. Now it's hard to say. Some of them that are lighter in color I can see faint splotches of red coloration. I think. -_-
Any tips on sexing at this size? The only other difference I've noticed is some do have what looks like to my poor eye sight clear spots all over their dorsal fin. At first I thought they might be sick, but upon closer inspection, it really just looks like the spots that might later turn blue in coloration.
I am sorry to have made my first post so long winded, but I just wanted to try to be through.
I appreciate any comments and suggestions.
