Brichardi buddies

Aaron

Aaron

Large Fish
#1
Sep 15, 2004
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Right under your boat...
#1
After hearing so much hoopla I made the jump into african cichlids. When I went to my lfs I was looking for shellies (finally!) but they were sold out despite my prior call asking for some to be reserved. So not one to waste a 30 minute drive I picked up a couple of brichardis. I've had them for a week now and all they seem to do is lurk about the rocks and when I walk by they bolt into their caves.
They are eating with gusto everything I've fed them and are colouring up nicely and otherwise appear very healthy but just aren't much fun to watch.

I was wondering if anyone could recommend a common compatible fish that would occupy the top space of the tank? The tank is a standard 20 gallon and the brichardis are currently the only fish in the tank.
 

Aaron

Aaron

Large Fish
#3
Sep 15, 2004
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Right under your boat...
#3
I figured these fish were just naturally skittish even when I feed them they feint four or five times towards the surface before they eat. If the food sinks they attack it right away but they hate to leave the rocks. Should I change the decor a bit by adding higher rock features or maybe add a dither fish like a danio?
 

Orion

Orion

Ultimate Fish
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#4
Feb 10, 2003
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#4
If its just the two of them then most likley they aren't feeling quite so secure in their now home to be out too much. I have noticed that the larger the school, the more you see them out. I sold most of mine recently and have only 5 juviniles left, and for the most part you can't tell there is any fish in the tank.

To be honest there isn't going to much that you could put in the tank long term with the brichardi and have them live. Once they begin breeding, they will take over the tank. I wouldn't keep any of the shellies in a tank with brichardi, as the brichardi will most likley constantly harrass them.

Is this a 20 High or Long? If its a long then you do have a little more opptions. If you could get ahold of an adult pair of julies, they could co-exsist. Some of the alto's like calvus or comps may be able too, but this would depend on how long before the brichardi breed if you have a male and female.

For the top space, I would think about danio's. I've used them in the past with a pair of brichardi, and it really did the trick with my pair. But I wouldn't count on them surviving for the long term either. N. brichardi are a beutiful fish, but by there breeding nature and behaviour can quickly take over a small tank.
 

Aaron

Aaron

Large Fish
#5
Sep 15, 2004
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Right under your boat...
#5
Thank you Orion that was just what I was looking for. The tank is a 20g high so I have a lot of empty space right now but with the rocks and sand it looks nice even if the fish in the tank are too sneaky for me. When I can catch a glimpse of them they are stunning little fish though.
 

FroggyFox

FroggyFox

Forum Manager
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#6
May 16, 2003
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#6
I have a 29G that I have a similar mix in to what Orion suggested...but they really do need the space (not vertical...horizontal). I think you could get away with one fish like an altolamprologus compressiceps or calvus and a couple more brichardis in that tank. My brichardis are a lot of fun to watch...but even in the 29 they pick on the julies (except that the julies are bigger than them now so its kind of like a feud and they both have THEIR side of the tank) The comp I have swims out more in the open and if/when your brichardis start breeding the comp will help slow down the population growth ;)
 

T

TaffyFish

Superstar Fish
#9
Jan 30, 2003
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#9
Adding just 2 brichardi gives a pretty low chance of ending up with a pair, normally I'd suggest 6 or more juvies and be prepared to removed 3 or 4 before the first spawn. Make sure there's plenty of rockwork in the tank, as high as you can safely build it.

In a 20H there's very little room for dithers or target fish, as Orion says, it'll be a short term measure anyway. I wouldn't add a calvus or comp in such a small tank, brichardi are best kept in species tanks I think.

You should consider changing the staple food to a sinking pellet, brichardi will not be happy feeding off the surface. Weekly feeds of frozen mysis will boost the protein levels, brichardi have a crustacean based diet.
 

Aaron

Aaron

Large Fish
#12
Sep 15, 2004
192
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Right under your boat...
#12
I didn't know brichardi had a crustacean based diet and here I was feeding them regular flakes like a jerk. I have to go to the pet store today anyway so I'll pick them up some frozen mysis and some sinking pellets. They have taken to redecorating the tank and have dug little tunnels around the rocks and are out a big more often now. I think making more hiding spots upped their confidence a little more.
 

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