A Trip To My Lfs - With Lots Of Pics

[eggo]

Went to my one of my local fish shops called viscum water gardens yesterday to buy a few female auratus has i have only one in my tank with one male and she is holding again, so i have moved her into a holding net in my fry tank,

only bought one has they did have a tank full of juvies and i have read that males show female colours until adult which is around 2" so i saw a large one in a mixed tank around 4-5" long and looking very beautiful after getting some assistance i was told it was £15 but i had to have it, he then tried to sell me a male but i declined telling him i already add one in my tank and it was not big enough to have two.

while i was there i came across my future new tank a juwel vision 450 5ft long on the same colour stand has my 260 it was overly priced i think at £1300 but i can put a deposit on it and pay it of weekly/monthly, i just stood there with my jaw touching the floor

also the wife loves it so thats half the battle and i have a buyer drooling over my tank but would love to keep both

my new auratus nicley settled in her new home.

the tank hopefuly will have soon.

this time i am thinking using a great 3d background from aquamaniac and not using coral sand and ocean rock just to try another scheme any opinions would be grateful.

pics of fish in viscum not the best quality pics but ok has i was being rushed by my wife

thanks​

 

[njstockley]

How do you find the Auratus Lee? Think they would fit in with my stocking too...from a colour point of view!

The 450's are awesome and with an aquamaniac background would be breathtaking - are you really going to sell the 260 though!!?

Other pics are great. Looks like they've got some healthy fish there.

 

[eggo]

alot of keepers find them to aggressive but touch wood i have never had any problems, my female is holding again last time she spat her fry on the 16th may so nearly 2 month and she is holding again the fry are at 1"+, fry and juvies have the female colouration and only when they reach 2" the males will start to show there colours if there are no other dominant males in the tank of the same species or colouration, i would go for one male and three plus females and yes i think they would look great in your setup but would buy adults has then you know the ratio of females/male.

just took a new pic of my new female

yes the 450 is amazing and the wife likes it so thats half the battle, the 260 i may sell has a friend want's it, but i am leaning towards setting up a marine aquarium has they say the bigger the aquarium the easier to maintain and the 260 is 57 gallon and in the next village there is a breeder who can hopefuly help me through the stages of setting up a marine aquarium he advertizers has coralsrus, and moving my mbuna setup into the 450

it is a ok LFS but abit pricey the auratus in the pic above are all about 1-1 1/2" so can not tell between male and females but they were not a bad price 3 for a £10 or £3.75 each.

 

[Mauigirl]

Love the pictures I would be lost for hours with my nose to the tanks.

I had 3 Blue Melanochromis Auratus , had to rehome them after they killed 2 yellow labs ,
They were like terrorists in my tank.
Not to say all Auratus will behave that way.

 

[eggo]

i would have been there for hours myself if it was not for the wife rushing me

i did ask permission if i could take some pics if i had more time i would have took a pic in every tank they had about 300

alot of keepers have had aggression issues but i have not had any touch wood, but i did only have 1x male and 1x female with the new female i dont know has the other holding female is in a 15 gallon tank so dont know what will happen when i introduce her back into my show tank with the new female,

and the fry from the first batch are about 1"+ with other fry half there size in my grow on tank and i have had no issues has of yet from them either.