DJRansome said:
BC are they OK in pH=7.5 for spawning?
Neither fish require low pH to successfully spawn and either could be spawned in pH 8 quite easily.
Why the focus on pH all of the time? It is by far the least important water parameter; it usually only matters in the mind of the aquarist, not for the fish. Water hardness being far more significant for just about any fish. Most fish can generally take a sudden change in pH with out any significance; if they couldn't, a swim to the surface or even taking them out of the water would be lethal :lol: For example, at the depths mbuna live at, a typical pH would be 7.6-7.8 but at the surface it is often as high as pH 8.6 (due to lower levels of CO2). Another example would be lake Kyoga (from where
Astatotilapia obliquidens comes from) At the surface pH 7.6 and at only 10 ft. down, it's pH 7.1. Now sudden changes in hardness would be another thing entirely, and could kill a fish form osmotic shock.
Fishbase lists a dH of 5-12 for African Butterfly fish:
http://www.fishbase.org/summary/Anomalochromis-thomasi.html While fishbase isn't always the most reliable for water parameters,
Anomalochromis thomasi is definitely not what you would typically describe as a "soft water fish". The fish is found over a range that might include soft water, but don't require it. Bear in mind the so called "hard water" of lake Malawi is dGH 3 to a little over 5 (actually borderline soft! :lol: ) and lake Kyoga and Victoria are dGH 1-3 (softer water then what the majority of tropical fish would come from). Buffalo head similar:
https://www.fishbase.se/summary/Steatocranus-casuarius listed at dH 5-19. neither fish have any real special water requirements, other then clean water from consistent and large water changes. Avoid extremes or anything that might change hardness suddenly or quickly, and there shouldn't be problems.
DJRansome said:
What do you think about both of these as well as neon rainbows and lamp eyes?
Not really familiar with either, but I think both cichlids would probably benefit from dithers. Dithers would be a personal choice as a good many small shcoling fish will usually do well with with cichlids that are not too aggressive.