Cichlids in 10 gallon tank possible?
- Thread starter Big Vine
- Start date
Matt & Orion,
Thanks a bunch!
I did get a pair of kribs this afternoon. I'll post pics tomorrow!
They are fairly comparable in size. The male is slightly bigger than the female.
The female (now maybe about 2 inches long) was the only female left. There were about 6 or 8 males in the tank. The LFS guy informed me that they were there for about 2 weeks, and all the other females were apparently "pestered to death" by the males.
Anyhow, the female I got looked good, and she was out in the open (so she was apparently not stressed enough to hide). I got the smallest male (slightly bigger than her) from the same tank.
Pretty good deal I think...the pair cost about $9.00 or so. I think they may have only charged me for one, but I'm not complaining. My job is to select fish I want; their job is to charge me accordingly. If they messed up, then so be it. (Kribs at PetCo were on special for $2.99, by the way, but they looked like crap).
The acclimation process took place over about an hour timeframe. I turned the tank lights out, and I also turned off the room lights around the tank. I floated them, then replaced about 1/4 or 1/3 of the bag water with my tank water. After about 20 or 30 minutes, I then replaced another 1/4 or 1/3 of the bag water with my tank water. I replaced the last 1/3 after another 15-20 minutes, added some stress-coat, then put them in the tank and added a bit more stress-coat.
All this was done with the tank lights and room lights out, so as to minimize stress. I was out for about 5 hours, and they were still alive when I got back.
By the way...what should I feed these guys?
The guy at the LFS recommended (and demonstrated via feeding cichlids in a 90 gallon tank) something called "Cichlid Attack (sinking pellet food)" by HBH. Does that seem appropriate?
Also, the LFS guy says they keep their tanks around 78-81 degrees F. I have adjusted mine accordingly.
Big Vine
Thanks a bunch!
I did get a pair of kribs this afternoon. I'll post pics tomorrow!
They are fairly comparable in size. The male is slightly bigger than the female.
The female (now maybe about 2 inches long) was the only female left. There were about 6 or 8 males in the tank. The LFS guy informed me that they were there for about 2 weeks, and all the other females were apparently "pestered to death" by the males.
Anyhow, the female I got looked good, and she was out in the open (so she was apparently not stressed enough to hide). I got the smallest male (slightly bigger than her) from the same tank.
Pretty good deal I think...the pair cost about $9.00 or so. I think they may have only charged me for one, but I'm not complaining. My job is to select fish I want; their job is to charge me accordingly. If they messed up, then so be it. (Kribs at PetCo were on special for $2.99, by the way, but they looked like crap).
The acclimation process took place over about an hour timeframe. I turned the tank lights out, and I also turned off the room lights around the tank. I floated them, then replaced about 1/4 or 1/3 of the bag water with my tank water. After about 20 or 30 minutes, I then replaced another 1/4 or 1/3 of the bag water with my tank water. I replaced the last 1/3 after another 15-20 minutes, added some stress-coat, then put them in the tank and added a bit more stress-coat.
All this was done with the tank lights and room lights out, so as to minimize stress. I was out for about 5 hours, and they were still alive when I got back.
By the way...what should I feed these guys?
The guy at the LFS recommended (and demonstrated via feeding cichlids in a 90 gallon tank) something called "Cichlid Attack (sinking pellet food)" by HBH. Does that seem appropriate?
Also, the LFS guy says they keep their tanks around 78-81 degrees F. I have adjusted mine accordingly.
Big Vine
They seem to be eating the Cichlid Attack stuff...not voraciously though.
It sank to the bottom, then gradually the male (hanging out on the opposite end of the tank from the female) started inspecting things and feeding.
The female seemed a bit more shy, and when I noticed her come out of her 'hiding spot' between a cave and the front side corner of the tank, she quickly darted back into her cave as the male approached her.
I wanted to see her eat, so I dropped a few extra pellets into her cave. I think she instinctually nabbed one as it fell near her, but she didn't seem too interested in feeding.
Is this normal?
Should I be feeding floating pellets instead (I'm thinking I should not, because these kribs seem to hang out at or very near to the bottom)?
*Note:
Neither of the kribs is freaking out at the other. The female generally backs away whenever the male approaches, but she doesn't go far away...usually right around the corner from him. He doesn't ravenously pursue her or anything like that.
Still, I'm concerned that I haven't seen her eating. She does seem to be picking at stuff and scavenging though.
One last question...
They seem to sort of rest on the bottom. Their fins are not clamped though, and they don't seem distressed. Is this normal behavior as well?
Sorry for all the questions...I wanna take care of my first cichlids as best I can. They already have personality---looking deviously and studying things around them...Quite the contrast between how the kribs act and how, for example, platies swim around all like "dum-dee-dum." LOL
Thanks,
Big Vine
It sank to the bottom, then gradually the male (hanging out on the opposite end of the tank from the female) started inspecting things and feeding.
The female seemed a bit more shy, and when I noticed her come out of her 'hiding spot' between a cave and the front side corner of the tank, she quickly darted back into her cave as the male approached her.
I wanted to see her eat, so I dropped a few extra pellets into her cave. I think she instinctually nabbed one as it fell near her, but she didn't seem too interested in feeding.
Is this normal?
Should I be feeding floating pellets instead (I'm thinking I should not, because these kribs seem to hang out at or very near to the bottom)?
*Note:
Neither of the kribs is freaking out at the other. The female generally backs away whenever the male approaches, but she doesn't go far away...usually right around the corner from him. He doesn't ravenously pursue her or anything like that.
Still, I'm concerned that I haven't seen her eating. She does seem to be picking at stuff and scavenging though.
One last question...
They seem to sort of rest on the bottom. Their fins are not clamped though, and they don't seem distressed. Is this normal behavior as well?
Sorry for all the questions...I wanna take care of my first cichlids as best I can. They already have personality---looking deviously and studying things around them...Quite the contrast between how the kribs act and how, for example, platies swim around all like "dum-dee-dum." LOL
Thanks,
Big Vine
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Haha, from the sound of it I think you just might be hooked on cichlids already. 
IMHO, I don't think it's that uncommon for them to be just picking at the food at this point. They are in a new enviornment for one. This is going to create some stress and uneasyness. (This also may explain why they are hanging around on the bottom some.) It's a new food to them, so they aren't going to accept it with as much gusto as a good they are used too. It doesn't really say much about how much they 'like' the food, just that they aren't used to it.
Dither fish are often a good option as they make the shy fish feel comfortable enough to be out in the open more. In a 10 gallon I think you'd be pushing it, but if you wanted to add some danio's for a short time till the kribs liven up and then remove them you should be ok.
IMHO, I don't think it's that uncommon for them to be just picking at the food at this point. They are in a new enviornment for one. This is going to create some stress and uneasyness. (This also may explain why they are hanging around on the bottom some.) It's a new food to them, so they aren't going to accept it with as much gusto as a good they are used too. It doesn't really say much about how much they 'like' the food, just that they aren't used to it.
Dither fish are often a good option as they make the shy fish feel comfortable enough to be out in the open more. In a 10 gallon I think you'd be pushing it, but if you wanted to add some danio's for a short time till the kribs liven up and then remove them you should be ok.
Orion said:
Haha, from the sound of it I think you just might be hooked on cichlids already.
From what you wrote, it sounds like nothing is really out of the ordinary, so I'll stop fretting...for the time being.
I got some taller brownish foxtail plants to match the ones that are in there, and I bought 3 rocks to form a cave-like structure with...they actually seem to fit the desert theme.
I won't mess with the tank until morning though. They've had enough excitement for the day.
Ammonia: 0
Nitrite: 0
Nitrates: 10 PPM
pH: 7.2
Temp.: 79-80 degrees F
What is the ideal pH for breeding, by the way?
Yes...breeding...
You see, I am addicted, Orion! *thumbsups
Big Vine
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Well, keep an eye on them. It may be what I said earlier, then agian it could be a sickness of some sort. Time will tell, but for now take your own advice and don't worry to much about it. All fish also like a variety, so try offering them different things. If they aren't eating well in a few more weeks then you can start to worry.
PH? Bah. They are close to convicts when it comes to breeding. How hard is your water? I doubt they would have a difficult time breeding from the sounds of it though.
PH? Bah. They are close to convicts when it comes to breeding. How hard is your water? I doubt they would have a difficult time breeding from the sounds of it though.
I don't currently have any means of testing my water's hardness, but I think it is on the hard side...not extremely hard though. Hopefully this will still allow for successful breeding later on down the road.
I don't mind that the kribs are 'laying low' for the moment.
They'll warm up to their new home soon enough, I'm sure.
Big Vine
I don't mind that the kribs are 'laying low' for the moment.
They'll warm up to their new home soon enough, I'm sure.
Big Vine
I'd be willing to bet that most kribs available from LFS's have been breed for generations in all sorts of water conditions, so they aren't going to be very picky at all.
Can't you just feel the dark side of FW taking control? You might want to keep some of the smaller shellies next time you get the space and opportunity. They don't have a lot of color, but more than make up for it with the interesting behaviour.
Can't you just feel the dark side of FW taking control?
You might want to keep some of the smaller shellies next time you get the space and opportunity. They don't have a lot of color, but more than make up for it with the interesting behaviour.Kribs Breathing Labored? (dying ;( )
I noticed this morning that both kribs seemed to have rapid gill movement. They both stayed in the spots they usually occupy at the bottom of the tank.
I just got home from being out a couple hours, and the female is now in her cave, laying on her side...still with rapid gill movement.
Is this the end of the road or what?
I'm so frustrated. 3 honey sunset gouramies dead, and now this!?
Yet somehow the male guppy I had was fine in there for several days.
What the hell am I doing wrong?
Big Vine
***EDIT: I posted this in the Disease section of the forum, so please respond there. Sorry for the double post.***
I noticed this morning that both kribs seemed to have rapid gill movement. They both stayed in the spots they usually occupy at the bottom of the tank.
I just got home from being out a couple hours, and the female is now in her cave, laying on her side...still with rapid gill movement.
Is this the end of the road or what?
I'm so frustrated. 3 honey sunset gouramies dead, and now this!?
Yet somehow the male guppy I had was fine in there for several days.
What the hell am I doing wrong?
Big Vine
***EDIT: I posted this in the Disease section of the forum, so please respond there. Sorry for the double post.***
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