Discus v's Cichlids

[craw]

Hi all,

Sorry to bore everyone again.Ive got 3 tanks. A 50g jewel corner tank,a 3ftx1ftx1ft,and a small 1ftx1ftx15inch fry tank.

Currently in the jewel is 3 discus, a 6 inch blue turq,a four inch tangerin,and a 2.5 inch blue turq. 3 1 inch clown loaches,and approx 6 neons.

In the 3ft tank i've got various Mbuna and some psuedotropheus (no signs of aggression , other that mating)

In fry tank are 6 small red top zebs

I'd like to try and breed either discus or cichlids,but feel that to increase the chances of this happening would need to make the hard decision and let one lot go.

Discus would be nice,but i've not had the best of luck keeping them alive,never mind getting them to reproduce!
I'm also aware i'd need to purchase (more than likely) a breeding pair or two before i can even consider it.

This could be fairly expensive (in my parts its approx £125 - £160 a pair)

Whereas my suppliers are very helpful with part exchanges with fish,so i'm thinking,for my discus can i expect to get a couple of of nice pairs of perhaps..zebras,lambardoi,frabergi,carelius or the likes???
They're not as expensive as discus,so that keeps the missus happy!
It would look as nice as discus with a rock formation for them to venture in,and as my focal point in living room,bound to please the eye.
This would leave my 3ft tank for relocation of any breeding pairs.Leaving fry tank for fry.

Does this sound reasonable?

I welcome your thoughts.................

 

[smb]

for my discus can i expect to get a couple of of nice pairs of perhaps..zebras,lambardoi,frabergi,carelius or the likes???

Can't speak for in the UK, but on this side of the pond you could definately get a good swap for your returned discus and get quite a few Mbunas.

Actually, each African you mentioned above is very common.

The only thing I must suggest is never get more than 1 male lambardoi per tank unless it's bigger than say....300g. They are in my top 3 meanest Mbunas that live, but I love them. It's hard to tell which is male and female until 3" or so and the male will turn yellow and the female will keep the blue with black stripes. Sometimes subdominate males will keep the female coloring longer to protect them from their dad tho.

 

[YngUrbanCMH]

SMB, just noticed that you're in Ohio too. Have you checked out Aquarium Adventures giant sale? In Columbus all fish are 55% off, and quite a bit of equipment's on sale too.

 

[smb]

SMB, just noticed that you're in Ohio too. Have you checked out Aquarium Adventures giant sale? In Columbus all fish are 55% off, and quite a bit of equipment's on sale too.

Thanks for the headsup. I really appreciate it.

I'm all set for everything so far. I have an empty 135g that I am trying to find a N. beanie for. I've looked for one of them guys for years now. They are so rare.

I can't set it up in this house anyways tho. Too big.

 

[cichlidmaster]

craw,

Why not keep the discus nd accomplish breeding cichlids at the same time???

Puzzled???

Discu are cichlids and can easily be bred in the home aquarium although they are a little more difficult than the average mbuna!!

smb...........

I'll keep you posted as I may be getting some wild N beani around February!!

One of the problems with this fish is most people don't take the time to learn about it's dietary requirements!!

They feed them a diet to highin meat protein, the fish gets bloat and dies!!! Simple as that.

They are a strict herbivore and must have meat in a very limited manner, but best not to have it at all.

It is therefore paramount to keep this beauty in a species only tank where it.s food intake can be monitored.

They also require perfect water conditions as they are very susceptable to high nitrites as well as elevated nitrates!!

CM

 

[craw]

cichlidmaster,

yeah,i know they are of the cichlid family,when i say cichlid what i'm referring to is lake malawi cichlids. When friends or family ask me what they are i generally just reply "cichlid" rather than boring them to death with the complex naming of the fish ceremony. its easier to name my discus.

Ive been to lfs and hes takin my fish in and doing me a good deal onmalawis (£75 worth of credit)

I reckon breeding discus may just be too expensive as i would be looking at buying a couple of pairs,and in these parts it costs at least £160 for a breeding pair. And even then theres no guarentee

The malawi option will be less expensive (i.e any fish can be replaced at low cost)
i'll have more options. (i.e more species,more colours,more fish)
i'll still have a 3ft tank and fry tank in addition to my main tank to relocate breeding pairs/females/fry.

think i'll have some red top zebs,frabergi,lambardoi,and more auratus females to keep male in check.

already got frabergi,lambardoi,acei,mel auratus,carealeus.


any other ideas?
are there any that are easier than others to breed?

cheers for advice.

craw.

 

[smb]

Breeding auratus can get very nasty so make sure you have plenty of caves and rocks for the rest of them.

I'm not sure which breeds easier or not. I've had most of them breed whenever I throw in the 1 male to 3 females ratio. CM knows a lot more about cichlids than I so he'll probably be able to tell you.

smb...........

I'll keep you posted as I may be getting some wild N beani around February!!

One of the problems with this fish is most people don't take the time to learn about it's dietary requirements!!

They feed them a diet to highin meat protein, the fish gets bloat and dies!!! Simple as that.

They are a strict herbivore and must have meat in a very limited manner, but best not to have it at all.

It is therefore paramount to keep this beauty in a species only tank where it.s food intake can be monitored.

They also require perfect water conditions as they are very susceptable to high nitrites as well as elevated nitrates!!

CM

Great info CM!!!

I was only going to keep him by himself but it's because I thought they were so aggro they'd kill everything put in with him.

I did know about them to be herbivorous but didn't know anything about the bloating with too much protein.

I won't be able to get one until I move out from here which might be a while tho. This house won't hold a 135g. I'm pushing it with a 75g as it is. I would still be interested in hearing about it if you get.

How often do you get a chance to geta N. beanie? I will definately buy one from you when I do set my tank up.

How about a haitensis? I've always wanted of these beautiful bad boys also. Is it true that the female is more aggro than the male?

It's between these 2 fish as to what I put in my tank.