[JGM]

Hello Everyone!
I recently purchased a 2nd hand 55 Gallon tank from a rank amateur, and along with it came the lone survivor of his dying fish population - a 2" long Bumblebee Cichlid (crabro). He/she has been in my 10 gallon quarantine tank for the last couple weeks and has nearly doubled in size. Although I've been a fish keeper for nearly 40 years, this is my first foray into African Cichlids, and I need help figuring out what to do with him/her.

First of all, how soon can I sex him/her and can that even be done with a single fish? He/she is about 3" long now, growing fast, is very yellow all the time and has no spots on the anal fin. From what I have been able to gather off the 'net, it's a girl, but am I jumping the gun?

Secondly, she can't stay in the quarantine tank forever and if I buy another large tank, my wife is gonna kill me. The 55 gallon is for two breeding pair of Angels (scalare), so that's out. I have other tanks with room enough but do you think she would get along with female bettas? How about non-breeding, full-grown scalares? Are female Bumblebees less aggressive than males? Or should I just find her a new home entirely?

I'm a little concerned the Bumblebee's respiration rate is a bit higher than what I'm used to. Could this be normal? Otherwise she seems to be thriving, as are all my other fish. My water quality is a very soft 7.5 ph which I already artificially harden with calcium carbonate and magnesium sulphate to nourish the heavy live plant loads in all my tanks.

Thanks in advance for any help,
Jim

 

[cichlidaholic]

You won't be able to keep the crabro in anything smaller than a 55G tank - preferably larger, and I wouldn't advise even attempting to keep it with bettas or angelfish.

She needs a new home.

She may be stressed from the move.

Kim

 

[xclub]

well you chose a nice fish but one of the bigest from Mbuna species.

You need at least 120cm long tank and you need a big cave for them to feel like at home. Tey can get pretty aggressive but one thing is for sure they will grow and they grow fast so prepare yourself for a bigger tank or chose another Mbuna species

 

[JGM]

Thanks Kim and x,
As much as I would like to keep her, it doesn't sound like such a great idea. Even though the local fish-store owner would probably take her, she might not survive the next go round with a newbie aquarist. If there is anyone on this forum who wants her and lives in the DC area, let me know, OK? I even get up to Baltimore and Frederick on occasion.

Thanks again!
Jim

 

[xclub]

This is what "cichlidaristica" is all about...good people making good things!

I personally must admit that I have a very, very high opinion on members of this forum...particularly in moderators…take a look at, for example cichlidaholic last 10-15 posts and you will see whatam I talking about! :thumb:

 

[QHgal]

You might want to post the crabro on the trading post, you would get more people looking that way. Hope you find him/her a good home.