Blockhead Cichlid Tank.

[Muscy_Mel]

Ok, just wanted to share my Blockhead Cichlid tank with you all, so heres a couple of piccy's...

Close up of their lil cave, aka 'The Nest'! Lol...

I'll try to get a few pictures of the happy couple (Thunder and Storm) soon. Oh, their named so as the day i brought them there was a thunderstorm...heh!

 

[emmsy]

God that brings back memories. I had a male and a female blockhead about a year ago, and after 3 months, he was so agressive I had to take him back to the LFS. He was as close to a wifebeater you can get in a fish. LOVELY fish though, mine had such character, and seeing your signature pics has brought a tear to my eye. Great setup, love the substrate.

Emma

 

[Muscy_Mel]

Yeah they are full of character. I wonder why your male went aggressive Emma? Mine better not start anything, lol.

 

[emmsy]

How long have you had them?. If you google the species you will find that blockheads have a naturally agressive nature. Still, see if you have better luck.

Emma

 

[simonas]

wow I am well impressed with the tank and fish

I got 4 of them a couple of years ago but I put them in a community oddball tank which probably wasn't the best idea. I gave them to a LFS in the end as they were not doing very well but I have always wanted to set a tank up specifically for them and yours looks perfect!!

 

[Muscy_Mel]

I knew they could be aggressive generally to other fish, but didn't know they'd start on their mate.
I'm glad you like the tank set-up, hopefully the fish do too, lol.

 

[emmsy]

well Mel, all I can do is tell you my experiences. I know they are monogomous, so if your female is not wearing the right purfume, breeding aint gonna happen. Hopefully yours will settle down great and get on fine. Males are like the "Treat em mean, keep em keen" mentality.
I agree your tank looks stunning.

Emma

 

[Muscy_Mel]

Typical males, lol!
They are a proven pair, and have already laid a batch of eggs 2 days after i brought them, but then they ate the eggs a couple of days later. Fingers crossed hey. Thanks for the advice, i do apprieciate it.

 

[emmsy]

Typical males, lol!
They are a proven pair, and have already laid a batch of eggs 2 days after i brought them, but then they ate the eggs a couple of days later. Fingers crossed hey. Thanks for the advice, i do apprieciate it.

Great news about the breeding Mel. I wish you the best of luck with your blockhead venture. Please keep us posted

Emma

 

[Muscy_Mel]

Yeah, i was well shocked to be honest. I think they may have eaten the eggs because they were bad, or due to the stress of moving from the aquatics shop to mine just 2 days before hand. Hopefully they'll lay some more soon, the female has been very busy today sorting out her lil cave, shifting the gravel around. It's so sweet watching her move just a couple of bits at a time in her mouth, and then dropping them outside her cave. The male has been helping a little bit as well.

Do you know how often they lay batches of eggs please?

 

[darrel69]

Thats a nice little pad they got there ...

Are they hiding ?

 

[Muscy_Mel]

Lol, yeah they are. Their very camera shy... You can just see the female hiding under the filter in the first pic, the male has dissapeared in the plants somewhere. I will try to get a picture of them, but they do seem to run (or swim i should say) for cover everytime i move near the tank, they don't seem to be very social.

 

[darrel69]

Oh right ... im sure they'll settle in soon enougth, can take a few weeks sometimes. Some of my fish have been like that before, now with just the slightest movement in the room and they dart to the top thinking they're gunna get fed LOL.

 

[emmsy]

how is it going with your blockheads Mel... need an update

Emma