Bigg(ish) New Worlds For A 180

[markandhisfish]

it certainly wouldnt hurt imo. the tank is coming along nicely . looking good

 

[tenohfive]

Just a quick update to say that I added a couple of caves and the pictus today - think I need to make the caves smaller though, so that they can get in but the cichlids can't - they don't seem particularly secure. I didn't tell my other half I was getting them (hoping it would be a surprise) but 2 hours after she got in and she still hasn't noticed them lol - they're hiding behind the filter. If they've not relaxed by tomorrow morning I'll see about shrinking the caves down abit.

Any suggestion for a staple for pictus?

 

[markandhisfish]

you could try the nutrafin max sinking pellets with shrimp and krill. mine used to go crazy for bloodworm chooped prawn etc.

 

[tenohfive]

Aye, I've heard they're carnivorous so was thinking of giving them some frozen bloodworm. Will see if I can pick up some meaty sinking pellets next time I go to the LFS.

Cheers.

 

[markandhisfish]

mine used to go completely hyper at feeding time . sometimes it would come darting out of its cave grab a prawn take it back in then come out grab a couple more and sit there stuffing its greedy little face . i emailed wildwoods to see if they would take my 2 c. spirulus as i need to re-home them before i can get a couple of sajicas. they said yes they would take them and give me something for them against the sajicas too so all being well i hope to go there next weekend and get a couple .

 

[tenohfive]

Good call, the sajica's they've got in stock there are top quality - had a look at the ones in my local MA yesterday and they aren't nearly as impressive as the Wildwoods stock.

 

[markandhisfish]

yeah wildwoods stock is top notch . thats where my golden nugget came from and its a beauty

 

[tenohfive]

How much did he set you back? Always fancied a golden nugget, one of the few plec's I'd quite like to have.

Need to do a bit of aquascaping tomorrow - didn't get the chance to create new hidey holes for the pictus. And in addition to that I need to do something about a rock cave my sajica keeps as his territory/hiding place from the acara - I've just walked into the living room and seen the acara's tail poking out of it for the second time today. Both times I (stupidly or otherwise) wiggled my finger in there, and he shot out of it and back into his normal place. As its one of only two places the sajica claims as his own (with the other being sandwiched down the side of the rock cave against the glass wall) I think I need to do something to restrict access, so that the acara can't fit in.

If that doesn't work I might think about rehoming him in another tank for a few days, let the sajica get a bit more comfortable in his surroundings and then re-introduce him. Not rushing to do that though, the tanks only been going about a week so no point rushing.

The sociology of central american cichlids...all good fun.

 

[markandhisfish]

it took a while for my blue acara to calm down it took 1 of my spirulus to stand up to him after that he was fine.

the plec cost me £22.95 plus about 12 for postage as i ordered him online to be delivered

 

[tenohfive]

My Acara got the fright of his life today - he normally chases the sajica into a little cranny between some rocks and the glass, happens a few times a day. Today I changed the layout a bit, and saw the sajica get chased down into the same spot. Acara turns away losing interest, then quick as a flash the sajica flies out and nips him on the tail! The rescapes obviously done some good, they're flaring a bit now and the acara isn't always winning.

Definately one fight I'm glad the acara lost, and nearly pissed myself watching it - the shock of seeing the sajica go for the acara after a week of regular bullying has done my heart good. Hopefully they'll settle down in their own territories soon now that theres some sense of balance.

 

[markandhisfish]

sounds like its all sorting itself out nicely. thats exactly the crack with my acara and spirulus after the acara got a shock he still does the odd bit of flaring but never follows it through as long as the spirulus holds its ground.