[Chrislisk]

Hi all. I have an empty 250 litre (uk) tank that I am setting up for breeding. Measurements are 120cm x 40cm x 55cm . This is my second breeding tank and wanted some ideas on what would be good to breed? I already breed Demasoni from another breeding tank and wanted something that both males and females have same colours or at least not dull so both sell. Was thinking peacocks but worry I won't sell the females and only sell the males halving any fish sales. A LFS that I supply Demasoni to have said to start breeding Hongi red tops as he could sell loads. Anyway any help and advice as always is great. Also what is the possibility of breeding two types of Mbuna in this tank? Or is it best to keep to one species peer tank no matter what.

Thanks in advance for any advice

 

[sir_keith]

Forget the peacocks; the males take forever to color-up, and the females stay silver even as adults. Your LFS wants Hongi, so there's your answer: if you're breeding to sell, know your market. And if you're breeding to sell, do not sell fry from a mixed tank; keep the species pure. Good luck.

 

[Chrislisk]

Thank you for that advice. Quick question to anyone that know about the Hongi Mbuna. The LFS specifically said if I can breed the Hongi Sweden. It seems there are few different types of Hongi. I've seen super red top Hongi too. Does anyone know the difference or what thee Sweden version is? Thanks

 

[DJRansome]

Sweden is a line-bred strain.

 

[Chrislisk]

So is there a real difference between red tops and Sweden's and super red tops as they all have different names.

 

[DJRansome]

If he has demand for the Sweden strain and your goal is to sell hongi to him, go with the Sweden strain.

I would not just call a super red top a Sweden for the purpose of selling to him. They are all the same species.

 

[Chrislisk]

I've decided to breed the labidochromis Hongi sweden however........I have found that they are incredibly expensive to get and.....apparently very rare. Does anyone know why this particular strain of Hongi is so rare? I'm in the UK.....not sure why that would change things. But this fish is £200 for 12!!!! At 4cm. Wow!!!!! Why is it so rare? Anyone know

 

[jcover]

Doesn't seem that expensive to me, but I am from Canada - everything is expensive here

 

[DJRansome]

Is that an LFS price? They are always high.

 

[Chrislisk]

No it's not a local fish shop. These fish are about double and the reason they tell me is that the Sweden Hongi is rare. Just wondered why is it rare? Hope it's not as they are difficult to breed. It's from a distributor <vendor name removed> tropical fish distributor, take a look on their site and see if u think they seem pricey. Do you know of any reason the Hongi Sweden would be rare?

 

[Idech]

Doesn't seem that expensive to me, but I am from Canada - everything is expensive here

I thought exactly the same. To me it's a regular price for cichlids.

 

[Billy-the-fish]

I would avoid ordering from <vendor name removed>. I ordered from them and had a nightmare.
I ordered 6 zebra obliquidens
4 red empress
2 synodontis multipunctatus
Now when the fish arrived, there was only 1 synodontis. After speaking with the supplier they sent another the next day,which arrived dead unfortunately. It then took 3 weeks to receive a replacement because as he put it... I just forgot!! unbelievable. But it gets better the 6 zebra obliquidens was actually 5 zebra's and another striped fish that looked nothing like a zebra obliquiden. I sent them photo's but they insisted it was a male zebra. After researching myself came to the conclusion it was a placidichromis milomo/ hybrid.
The red empress turned out to be red fin borleyi, and the replacement synodontis multipunctatus, appears to be a petricola.
So use them at your own risk but I would avoid like the plague.

 

[Chrislisk]

Thanks for the heads up billy-the-fish.
I will keep looking around. I would be really annoyed after spending a load of money to find I get something I didn't want. Plus the Hongi Sweden won't show the markings until it's out of its juvinile stage. Not sure what to do really apart from trust someone

 

[Chrislisk]

So I've ordered 15 labidochromis Hongi Swedens that I am told are 100% Swedens. They arrive on Thursday this week. I am very excited to set up my new breeding project with these. I appreciate this isn't thee thread for this but currently I have the tank as a glass bottom with rocks, for breeding would this be ok? Or should I really add. In sand like in my other? I want these to breed to will that be ok? I've decided I will not be adding any other fish just these.

 

[DJRansome]

Glass bottom but lots of rocks will be fine. Assume you will add sand eventually. Some fish can be skittish if they see reflections or light or through the bottom of the tank. They are aggressive so watch for extra males that cause problems.

 

[Chrislisk]

Yes I will be adding sand ASAP probably in about a month it's just the fish are turning up early. As long as they are ok that's great. It's on a black stand so hopefully reflection isn't too bad.

 

[Fogelhund]

So I've ordered 15 labidochromis Hongi Swedens that I am told are 100% Swedens. They arrive on Thursday this week. I am very excited to set up my new breeding project with these. I appreciate this isn't thee thread for this but currently I have the tank as a glass bottom with rocks, for breeding would this be ok? Or should I really add. In sand like in my other? I want these to breed to will that be ok? I've decided I will not be adding any other fish just these.

Most large scale breeders do bare bottom tanks. It's not an issue at all.

 

[Chrislisk]

I have been reading loads on bare bottom tanks especially for breeders. My worry is do Mbuna need/like the sand more? Would it encourage them more to breed? Or do you think tons of rocks, great quality water is all that's needed.

 

[Fogelhund]

I have been reading loads on bare bottom tanks especially for breeders. My worry is do Mbuna need/like the sand more? Would it encourage them more to breed? Or do you think tons of rocks, great quality water is all that's needed.

They need quality water. Nothing else really. The rest is more for you than anything, but that depends on stocking. Large scale breeders will usually have a single species tank, with 12-20 fish in each tank. So, you are pretty much there. Setup the tank the way that you like, and what looks good to you. Don't worry too much about the rest.

 

[Chrislisk]

Ok......so maybe I will leave it as bare bottom and see how it goes and just load in the rock. I prefer sand but it really would be nice to clean the bare bottom. Plus flush out the debris from under the rock. Here's a pic of how it looks so far. I've loaded on two internals that are fully cycled as well as the two canisters that are being re set up. Just need a little more rock......excited for tomorrow.