Cichlid Help

[ECCO_]

Ok, I got a Firemouth and a Convict Cichlid and are in my 29gallon at the time until we get the 55gallon.
The thing is I put them in the tank and they hardley move around setting on the bottom of the tank mostley. I put fish food in to feed them and they didnt even go after eany of it.

Whats wrong with them?

 

[Tolak]

This is normal. Dim the lights, let them get acclimated to their new surroundings, as well as perhaps water parameters.

 

[ECCO_]

Ok, But they should be ok by morning?

 

[Tolak]

They might be. Cichlids are funny like that, it may take a couple of days until they determine the surroundings are safe enough to come out & act like fish. Oscars are probably the worst, they tend to pout for days after any big changes.

 

[ECCO_]

They might be. Cichlids are funny like that, it may take a couple of days until they determine the surroundings are safe enough to come out & act like fish. Oscars are probably the worst, they tend to pout for days after any big changes.

Hmm, I see.

Should I also keep the light out during this time?

 

[Domster566285]

They might be. Cichlids are funny like that, it may take a couple of days until they determine the surroundings are safe enough to come out & act like fish. Oscars are probably the worst, they tend to pout for days after any big changes.

Hmm, I see.

Should I also keep the light out during this time?

it wouldnt be a bad idea,
i dont know, i am not a cichlid master,
i have an oscar, and he sat at the bottom for a while, and looked like he was dead,
but now its a week and a half later and he is doing fine.
your fish should be good, they are getting used to there tank
they might be making territories so watch for little duels

 

[ECCO_]

They might be. Cichlids are funny like that, it may take a couple of days until they determine the surroundings are safe enough to come out & act like fish. Oscars are probably the worst, they tend to pout for days after any big changes.

Hmm, I see.

Should I also keep the light out during this time?

it wouldnt be a bad idea,
i dont know, i am not a cichlid master,
i have an oscar, and he sat at the bottom for a while, and looked like he was dead,
but now its a week and a half later and he is doing fine.
your fish should be good, they are getting used to there tank
they might be making territories so watch for little duels

Way ahead of ya!

Turning off the lights were a good idea!
At first they where shy at the bottom, so I turned the light off. The fire mouth poked his frill/gill thing out and started chasing the convict.

So I put a cave in for him to hide in. The convict went in and the firemouth followed and it finally started defending itself. Everytime the firemouth tried to enter the convict would back it out with its frill/gill (that I didnt even know convicts had).


At the LFS they were in the same tank. And I added so more caves.

 

[ECCO_]

They might be. Cichlids are funny like that, it may take a couple of days until they determine the surroundings are safe enough to come out & act like fish. Oscars are probably the worst, they tend to pout for days after any big changes.

Hmm, I see.

Should I also keep the light out during this time?

it wouldnt be a bad idea,
i dont know, i am not a cichlid master,
i have an oscar, and he sat at the bottom for a while, and looked like he was dead,
but now its a week and a half later and he is doing fine.
your fish should be good, they are getting used to there tank
they might be making territories so watch for little duels

Way ahead of ya!

Turning off the lights were a good idea!
At first they where shy at the bottom, so I turned the light off. The fire mouth poked his frill/gill thing out and started chasing the convict.

So I put a cave in for him to hide in. The convict went in and the firemouth followed and it finally started defending itself. Everytime the firemouth tried to enter the convict would back it out with its frill/gill (that I didnt even know convicts had).


At the LFS they were in the same tank. And I added so more caves.

Ok, now the convict wont leave the firemouth alone.

 

[Tolak]

Buy/build a divider, just in case things get out of hand. Keep an eye on them for now, expect a little nipping of fins & such.

 

[ECCO_]

Ok, What about adding other tank mates later?

 

[shroob]

Do you mean tankmates in the 29 or the 55?

If its the 29 then personally I wouldnt do it, I don't think the tank has enough room for other fish to escape when the convict or FM turns on them.

 

[ECCO_]

Theyre in the 29gallon, And we'll be getting the 55gallon this month.
I hope to take pic's and maybe even a video of the tank when its all finished for the forum.

 

[Topazlizz]

I would maybe add a small group of shoaling fish to the tank, to add that "safe" feeling that cichlids often get from seeing a happy shoal. They may also distract a bit so the cichlids don't fight all the time. But they'll also need places to hide so they don't get stressed to death if they're chased, like surface plants or branches/roots to run around. Hope that helps!

 

[ECCO_]

ALSO, When I feed them they firemouth mostly hides and is shy, and I dont think it gets to eat.
I feed them flake foods, but tomorrow Ill be going to get another type of food. What should I get? Pellets, freeze dry, ex....

 

[kribensis12]

Am i right in thinking convict's and firemouth's can cross breed?