Got Some Laetacara Curviceps

[Assaye]

Picked up a pair of laetacara curviceps a few days ago. Not sure of the sexes but from their behaviour I suspect a male and female. They're only just over an inch long and very cute. Unfortunately they are in hard water but that was their fate being in a lfs in this part of the country. Got them in a 14 litre Q tank atm and will be moving them up when I'm sure they're healthy and feeding reliably.

Currently looking at getting a new 3 foot tank with some angels, tiger barbs and a plec. Angels will possibly need to be rehomed, as will the plec but would tigers be OK with the curviceps? Too aggressive? There are 5 of them so I imagine I'll need to add more to the shoal to get them to chill out. If that doesn't work out I'll put the kribs in there and stock up the other 3 footer with the curviceps and some peaceful catfish. Any other suggestions?

 

[Wills]

Awww thats cool nice little dwarfs I love Laetacara, I wouldnt put tiger barbs with them as they might scare them. You would be best off with a few groups of tetras and some little catfish maybe a pair of bolivian rams might work with them but I could see angels working with them as well as long as the tank is tall enough for the angels.

Wills

 

[Assaye]

Awww thats cool nice little dwarfs I love Laetacara, I wouldnt put tiger barbs with them as they might scare them. You would be best off with a few groups of tetras and some little catfish maybe a pair of bolivian rams might work with them but I could see angels working with them as well as long as the tank is tall enough for the angels.

Wills

Not sure the tank is tall enough but the angles are small so I'm tempted to keep them until I can swap/buy/steal a taller tank.

Will put the barbs with the kribs then, they should have fun.

Love my little flags - so cute! Will try to snap some photos.

 

[N0body Of The Goat]

Ah, the Sheephead Acara? Hmm, lovely little pics, I mean pics... I mean show us some pics of these lovely fish!

 

[Assaye]

Trying to get some photos but my camera has just died

Got a couple of snaps of the larger of the two but they're not very good =(

 

[england]

Very nice little cichlid, weldone

 

[Assaye]

They're feeding really well now, wish I'd managed to get a photo! One is definitely larger and more boisterous than the other. Any good tips on how to sex them?

 

[Assaye]

Got a few pictures of the larger one and their tank:

The Q tank:

The bigger fish:

He's still really teeny.

No, there isn't a heater. Tank is holding at 26C due to the weather and has been for several days.

 

[Assaye]

Getting myself a 35L Arcadia Arc tank and I want to try a biotope with it. I know these guys will eventually out grow it and I've got plenty of back-up tanks for them so this will be a fairly temporary set up.

Any suggestions for plants and maybe a small shoal of fish that stay under 1 inch?

Planning to try them with some RO water and mineral mix to get the pH and hardness just right for them. Any good ideas on what mix to use and how much? Would it be best to move them over gradually (small water changes over several days/weeks) or just drip acclimatize as I would if bringing them home from the shop?

The new 3 footer never happened. Dissapointed but I've still got my empty 3 footer. Just need a stand for it now!

 

[Wills]

Cant believe I missed the pictures!! They look so nice Once you get some serious light on them it will be wicked.

The 35 liter might be a bit small as you said but if you could get something between 65-90 liters it should suit them for life. Biotope wise not sure what is found with them but due to the size of the arc tank maybe ember tetras?

I would probably go for peat filtered water rather than the RO for more authenticity for the fish but the RO would work if you are confident with the mixes. I would do the drip like you said as if you change the ph to rapidly it will kill them.

Wills

 

[Assaye]

Cant believe I missed the pictures!! They look so nice Once you get some serious light on them it will be wicked.

The 35 liter might be a bit small as you said but if you could get something between 65-90 liters it should suit them for life. Biotope wise not sure what is found with them but due to the size of the arc tank maybe ember tetras?

I would probably go for peat filtered water rather than the RO for more authenticity for the fish but the RO would work if you are confident with the mixes. I would do the drip like you said as if you change the ph to rapidly it will kill them.

Wills

Yeah, the toss up was between putting them into mains water and slowly moving the pH over many days/weeks or doing it faster with the drip. Figure the drip should be fine as it's sufficient for new fish etc.

I have very hard water here so not sure if peat will change the pH much. They do seem to be doing very well at the moment so maybe they don't mind my water.

When the 3 foot is st up (once I have a stand) then I'll be able to move them into the vacated 65 litre.

 

[Wills]

Your in York arnt you? Im in Hull so fairly similar I should imagine, Ive seen some really healthy ones breeding in this area before so if you wanted to alter the water chemistry it would really to be making your self safe with them but I dont know if I would call it essential. The 65 should be good for them Have you had a look on Mongabay for their biotope mates?

 

[Assaye]

Your in York arnt you? Im in Hull so fairly similar I should imagine, Ive seen some really healthy ones breeding in this area before so if you wanted to alter the water chemistry it would really to be making your self safe with them but I dont know if I would call it essential. The 65 should be good for them Have you had a look on Mongabay for their biotope mates?

Yeah, York. Good to know local specimens seem to be doing well.

Mongabay doesn't seem to have many specifics concerning biotope mates other than tetras, corys, hatchets, cats and gouramis. Looking for specific species if possible. Will keep researching. Hope my tank comes soon! I want to crack on.

 

[meguro]

Yeah, York. Good to know local specimens seem to be doing well.

Mongabay doesn't seem to have many specifics concerning biotope mates other than tetras, corys, hatchets, cats and gouramis. Looking for specific species if possible. Will keep researching. Hope my tank comes soon! I want to crack on.

surely thats an error?

 

[Assaye]

Yeah, York. Good to know local specimens seem to be doing well.

Mongabay doesn't seem to have many specifics concerning biotope mates other than tetras, corys, hatchets, cats and gouramis. Looking for specific species if possible. Will keep researching. Hope my tank comes soon! I want to crack on.

surely thats an error?

I don't know, not really looked into it. I don't like gouramis anyway so I didn't double check =P That's what Mongaby said though, although it could have meant fish that will work well with them instead of fish that come from the same geographical area.

Btw, they were both looking stunning today! The little one has some lovely markings coming through on his/her dorsal fin and they're both eating like pigs.