My new Jaguar Cichlid

[inline_sk8a]

I was just wondering what i should have in my tank for my Jaguar Cichlid. I have 3 rocks, a plant pot and some plants. I have a gravel bottom but it is all covered by these things in the tank.

I have read that they like digging, so, shall i give my jaguar cichlid some space to dig??

All replies welcome, ty

Inline_sk8a

 

[phOOey]

cool, jaguar cichlids are awesome. first things first though, do you know how big these things get? what size tank is he in?

as far as tank decoration is concerned it looks like you've got it pretty much sorted. yes they do love to dig, so potted plants are the only real thing you can use there (and even then he'll probably eat them). Aslong as you give him a nice sized cave where he can get away from everything, and space to dig, then you jag should be very happy.

 

[Fish Friend]

sounds good

 

[inline_sk8a]

I was also wondering how long until the fish will get confiendence (sp.). Wot i mean by this is so that wen i put food in for him, (whitebait), he will stay in mid-water or even at top to take the food because at the moment he is just going back to his hiding place wen i come near to the tank to feed him.

 

[phOOey]

i have a n. salvini alone in a tank and they are relatives of the jaguar cichlid. anyhoo, when i first got him he was very jumpy and didnt want to come out much, but as the weeks went buy he got more and more confident, and now hes constantly begging for food. i expect you jag will go through the same sort of process, just leave it for a few weeks and i'm sure he'll gain confidence soon enough.

hehe, nice all uk thread we've got here lads .

 

[inline_sk8a]

But what about feeding him??? Shall i not feed him for that time or just put a fish in the water every now and then?

 

[Fish Friend]

yeah.... thats what happened with my baby angelfish once

 

[phOOey]

ah, didnt realize he wasnt eating at all. you could try putting the food in then leaving the room. or watch from a distance to see if he eats it or not.

 

[inline_sk8a]

Well i noticed that wen i and everyone left the room, he ventured out but as soon as a bit of movement accured, he wont dive to his "abode". So i put a single whitebait in but layed in on the filter to see if he would come up and get it. Left the room and came back 5 mins later and he hadent ate it. It is lying on a piece of wood close to his "abode" so i am just waiting for him to sniff it out and hopefully eat it.

Dont worry, i am giving him plenty of time to settle in, no rush, its all for the best, but i hope after a few weeks, he will more active, and like you sed, come up and beg for food everytime anyone comes to the room and looks at the tank...!

 

[phOOey]

sounds like your doing everything you can at the mo, yeah as you said if hes anything like my salvini then give him a few weeks and you'll find that you just keep 'accidently' giving him more food, they're very persuasive fish .

 

[kool_sk8a]

hey inline, nice to see u back in da tank. Hows ur jag doing? He will probably dig up those plants when he gets more confident so u could try putting some rocks at the base of each plant so that he cant dig there. Although i wouldnt do this yet, try to keep movement in the tank to a minimum while he is settleing in.

 

[inline_sk8a]

Good news ppl, my jaguar is much much more active now. I introuced a new plant pot into the tank and layed a few rocks around it to make a "cave" and he is venturing (sp.) out into it now. He took home under some bogwood for a while but now i think he is taking likes to the pot.

I will keep everyone posted on what is happening..

Ty

Inline_sk8a

 

[Fish Friend]

good good... nice to hear hes coming out now