[mike1234]

So I'm on the fence with going all out on a troph tank.
My main question is that there are 3 species available at a local store. They got ikolas which they swear are f1. They also have Bemba, and duboisi. The ikola and Bemba are larger at almost 2 inches each. The duboisi are around an inch, if even. Tanks a 75 gallon which I'll be using. *** never kept any of these trop species, so I ask the advice of the experts. Which species of the three would be best? I'm thinking of getting around 8 fish, unless I'm under or over estimating spacial needs for them.

 

[kiriyama]

I can't really advise on the Tropheus as such as I have only just got my first group, I asked for months about keeping them. The Duboisi were advised as the best ones to start with, although still not an easy fish to keep they are more forgiving and a bit less agressive than the other Tropheus groups...
So 1 vote so far for the duboisi, the young are very "cute" looking with there white/blue spots, very active fish , very entertaining, enjoy :fish:

 

[noddy]

You'r going to want more than 8 Trophs, more like 18. Aggession issues can be a problem with a small group of Trophs. I would get the Ikola.

 

[Darkside]

You'r going to want more than 8 Trophs, more like 18. Aggession issues can be a problem with a small group of Trophs. I would get the Ikola.

+1 :thumb:

If you can you might want to start with even more an pair it down if need be.

 

[mike1234]

exactly why i asked. that many wont be a problem in a 75 though? and looking at them, i think theyre hormoned. theres like 2 of the maybe 30 they have that are showing much more yellow already, or is this normal?

 

[24Tropheus]

Just go to a better supplier. Personally I would not touch Tropheus from a LFS again. Been burnt too many times.

If you really want Tropheus then its kind of worth getting em from someone who breeds them and you can see what the adults are like (or at the very least a Rift cichlid specialist that only does stuff from trusted breeders) not a middle man just selling on any old stuff for profit and prob not feeding or keeping em well as they store them.

F1 promises from LFSs are not worth the paper they are written on. :wink:
Esp on undersized duboisi.
Many suppliers of duboisi are not trusted sourses they being quite easy (in Tropheus terms) to breed on mass.
If he claims this, get evidence from him that it is true. Should be happy to prove his claims. :wink:
Treat most cichlid dealers like you would a second hand car salesman.
Get written evidence of anything they say or its just that something someone with a vested interest says to sell stuff.

All the best James

 

[frank1rizzo]

I love my ikola colony.

What is he charging you? Local prices of trophs in LFS around here are silly. Much better getting them online.

 

[mike1234]

That's the thing. Group price was 4 each for the duboisi 7 for the Bemba and 9 for the ikola. And I think they order from Atlantis in gardiner ny? That's the only reason I even thought of it. Personally I want the purple rainbows on the live fish direct site, but I could imagine what they'd cost if they had any available.

 

[kiriyama]

I was tempted getting dubs from LFS but wondered why he never seemed to have them in the shop long ? Another LFS started getting them in and they were way cheaper, the LFS was asking me what you could keep them with, not a great start. When I phoned them back and asked what they had been feeding them on I was told brine shrimp flakes and frozen foods (?) I advised accordingly what they should feed them on and decided to buy privately from then on :fish:

 

[frank1rizzo]

4 each for the duboisi... that's a great price!

Since its your first go at trophs, I think this is a great option. But as recommended above, I would get at least 14.