a new 10 gallon for enigmatochromis lucanusi

[anewbie]

I'm setting up a new 10 (I thought i was done with aquariums but this will be the last one till something passes on the large fishy world where all fishes eventually go):

I will be obtaining a pair of enigmatochromis lucanusi; these are smallish dwarf cichild from west africa that prefer very soft acidic water. Technically - well not really technically but in general they should be in a larger aquarium such as a 20 long. The plan is to start them in a 10 with a small group of 8 to 12 Ladigesia roloffi (jelly beans!!!).

They will probably remain in the 10 until my 40B frees up (the kids in there are 3+ years old and at some point probably in the 6 to 18 months they will move away.

The initial aquarium looks:

Tomorrow I'll add a heater; then on friday a lid; sometime at some point some interesting plants and eventually some fishes - probably in 7 to 21 days. Depends how long it takes them to swim here from Africa. Seems like they will have to by pass some unexpected obstructions.

 

[Innesfan]

I will be obtaining a pair of enigmatochromis lucanusi; these are smallish dwarf cichild from west africa that prefer very soft

Nice! Looking forward to seeing the photos. I know nothing about them except that I like the photos and I especially like a scientific name that begins with 'enigma.'

Depends how long it takes them to swim here from Africa. Seems like they will have to by pass some unexpected obstructions.

Guinea is well west of the current troubles. They should be fine.

 

[Mr Limpet]

I’ve been breeding them in a 10 for years. I’ve been using Epiplatys dageti Monroviae as dithers, which also produce young in the tank. My tap water is naturally very soft, 31 ppm TDS, and the pH doesn’t have to be super low; 6.5 suits them just fine. I’ll be putting a few young pairs up for auction on a certain aqua bidding site in a few weeks when it gets a little warmer here.

 

[gwand]

I’ve been breeding them in a 10 for years. I’ve been using Epiplatys dageti Monroviae as dithers, which also produce young in the tank. My tap water is naturally very soft, 31 ppm TDS, and the pH doesn’t have to be super low; 6.5 suits them just fine. I’ll be putting a few young pairs up for auction on a certain aqua bidding site in a few weeks when it gets a little warmer here.

When you sell your fish in auction how do you ship them to their new owners?

 

[Mr Limpet]

When you sell your fish in auction how do you ship them to their new owners?

Insulated box, heat pack if needed, USPS Priority or Express.

 

[gwand]

Insulated box, heat pack if needed, USPS Priority or Express.

Is that guaranteed next day delivery?

 

[Mr Limpet]

Is that guaranteed next day delivery?

Express is guaranteed, but it takes 2 days to certain parts of the country.

 

[anewbie]

Tiny update:

 

[anewbie]

Update with plants and fish - i will consider this start with regards to plants:

They are shy but not super shy - you see one right there in front. I'm not sure if they are a bonded pair but unlike kribs i previously owned these two hang out together. The kribs did not until they bonded. The 'dithers' are ladegesia roloffi.

It will take 3 to 6 months to see which plants establish and which don't. My success rate with plants in very soft acidic water has been extremely high though some do betters than others.

 

[anewbie]

And here is a picture of the star or 1/2 the star attraction:

He isn't really that shy - he just likes to play cat and mouse with me.

 

[GaryE]

I’ve been breeding them in a 10 for years. I’ve been using Epiplatys dageti Monroviae as dithers, which also produce young in the tank. My tap water is naturally very soft, 31 ppm TDS, and the pH doesn’t have to be super low; 6.5 suits them just fine. I’ll be putting a few young pairs up for auction on a certain aqua bidding site in a few weeks when it gets a little warmer here.

This is a fish I've bred a number of times, and have always considered somewhat aggressive. I found they did better in much larger tanks than a ten. @Mr Limpet , do you keep them in small tanks like that?

I'd expect if they move to breeding that Ladigesia would be slaughtered. This tank has two species I love and wish I could get here, but seems about 30 gallons short of water...

I'm interested in hearing the opinions of others who have kept them.

 

[anewbie]

This is a fish I've bred a number of times, and have always considered somewhat aggressive. I found they did better in much larger tanks than a ten. @Mr Limpet , do you keep them in small tanks like that?

I'd expect if they move to breeding that Ladigesia would be slaughtered. This tank has two species I love and wish I could get here, but seems about 30 gallons short of water...

I'm interested in hearing the opinions of others who have kept them.

Well as I said in the first post the tank is too s mall for them and intend to move them to the 40b in the future. I guess you read that but i'll repost it here:

"They will probably remain in the 10 until my 40B frees up (the kids in there are 3+ years old and at some point probably in the 6 to 18 months they will move away."

 

[GaryE]

Mine would start squabbling around the first spawn, which was usually within a few weeks of arrival. By 6 to 18 days, if a pair gets stressed, you could have trouble. Forget 6 to 18 months.
They are harder to manage than the average Apisto. I could breed Apistos easily in 24 inch tanks, but I prefer 36 inch front glass for Enigmatochromis. My last pair spawned unsuccessfully, then fought in a four foot tank. I'd love to hear @Mr Limpet 's experience. I only made it to the 3rd generation with mine.

I hope you can prove me wrong there. Fingers crossed.

 

[anewbie]

Mine would start squabbling around the first spawn, which was usually within a few weeks of arrival. By 6 to 18 days, if a pair gets stressed, you could have trouble. Forget 6 to 18 months.
They are harder to manage than the average Apisto. I could breed Apistos easily in 24 inch tanks, but I prefer 36 inch front glass for Enigmatochromis. My last pair spawned unsuccessfully, then fought in a four foot tank. I'd love to hear @Mr Limpet 's experience. I only made it to the 3rd generation with mine.

I hope you can prove me wrong there. Fingers crossed.

Well we can hear @Mr Limpet comment. While I admit they came in larger than expected I do not believe they are mature yet as the male shows no blue. When I purchased I had hope they would have another year to reach sexual maturity but we shall see. In any event other than setting up a 40b or 20 long on the floor which i dislike due to difficulty in managing they will have to suffer the 10 until the 40b clears out. While the a. ladisalo in the 40b are extremely passive and quite old i refuse to mix africans with them for what i hope are obvious reasons. If they do mature faster than expected i will cross that boundary when it comes. On the semi-bright side the tank does have very good hiding locations.

 

[Mr Limpet]

I’ve kept and bred them in tanks of up to 30 gallons, but seem content in 10 gallon tanks. My current breeding pair are residing in a 10 with some young from their last brood. They won’t spawn until they have the tank to themselves again. The only time the pair squabble is when the male tries to get near the female when she is guarding eggs or wrigglers. Once the fry are free swimming harmony returns once again. I’ve found them to be peaceful in community situations, except where corydoras are concerned. My lucanusi wouldn’t tolerate the presence of cories in their tanks and would harass them relentlessly until they were removed. I haven’t found them to be particularly shy. They’ll rush to the glass begging to be fed when I come near the tank.