Intrigued In Tanganyikan

[Gaz_S]

I keep seeing different species in various shops and have become quite interested. I am now considering converting only problem being tank space, 125L with Eheim 2215 External filter. I wouldnt mind a breeding pair or trio of a species or anything else you guys can recommend. Wouldnt mind a nice little breeding project.

 

[bullit]

Youve got a lot of options with that size tank buddy. Whats floating your boat?

 

[Gaz_S]

by the time ive added the "coral rock?" i will have a lot less swimming space wont I? Well a species which im looking at are Julidochromis marlieri any advice?

 

[bullit]

Yeah they will be fine. You say you want to breed them so normally youd start off with a small group of 6 to give maximum chances of getting a pair and then rehome the remainder when a pair is formed. These will stay as a pair, not trios etc like some fish. Provide plenty of rockwork as they are rock dwellers and they will be happy.

 

[Gaz_S]

Right few boring but necessary questions...

Can I use my current filter media and part of the existing water with a large water change?

I know my ph will need altering so, will this mean a small cycle?

What substrate and rock will be best for keeping a constant ph?

How the hell am i going to catch 4 cavity dwelling cichlids leaving a formed pair? lol

 

[bullit]

current filter media is fine.
Ph doesnt neccessary needing altering, depends what your tap water is?
Crushed coral sand and limestone rock will raise it. Again if it doesnt need altering you might not have to.
Ill leave the catching to you lol. You might get away with starting with 4 but 6 is better odds. When choosing, try get the largest one and a few of the smallest ones.

 

[Gaz_S]

Could I get away with having two species of julidochromis without any fatal incidents?

 

[kiriyama]

Could I get away with having two species of julidochromis without any fatal incidents?

As a general rule , no... It has been done but in bigger tanks.... Is it mainly the marlieri you're interested in, some of the smaller transcriprus and dickfeldi are quite interesting too... have you considered a small froup of shell dwellers or a mixed tank ? Just curious

 

[Gaz_S]

I was thinking about some of the others I do infact like all of the Julidochromis species the other two which you have mentioned are infact what i was considering. Ive always had my eyes on the shell shelldwellers especially a sepecies I found whilst browsing "Lamprologus sp. Kigoma ornatipinnis" probably hard to get hold of havent read too much into them. Again would it be possible to house these with the julies?

Also I have always been interested in keeping fish in biotopes any advice?

 

[kiriyama]

I was thinking about some of the others I do infact like all of the Julidochromis species the other two which you have mentioned are infact what i was considering. Ive always had my eyes on the shell shelldwellers especially a sepecies I found whilst browsing "Lamprologus sp. Kigoma ornatipinnis" probably hard to get hold of havent read too much into them. Again would it be possible to house these with the julies?

Also I have always been interested in keeping fish in biotopes any advice?

http/www.tropicalfishfinder.co.uk/stores_productsinfo.asp?store=54&prod=2517

What's the footprint of your tank ? If you were to mix the species the easiest way to do it would be to place a rockpile at one end of your tank for a couple of Dickfeldi or Transcriptus (check out the Gombe/Gombi variant)
http/www.tropicalfishfinder.co.uk/stores_productsinfo.asp?store=54&prod=2122
then leave as much of an open space as possible sand floor then some shells at the opposite end of the tank for your shell dwellers... I don't know much on the Ornats, a pair ? trio ?
You could always have a look over on http/www.shelldwellers.com/ I'm sure someone could be of more help than me over there
Hope this helps a bit

 

[Gaz_S]

You've been a great help I think I will be going with the idea of 2 ends of the tank being different territories. I will keep you up to date will be moving my current stock on in march so this is when the change will take place. Cheers

 

[kiriyama]

You've been a great help I think I will be going with the idea of 2 ends of the tank being different territories. I will keep you up to date will be moving my current stock on in march so this is when the change will take place. Cheers

Looking forward to seeing the progress, oh and welcome to Tanganyikans

 

[Gaz_S]

Sorry to bother you again so soon what numbers would you recommend?

 

[kiriyama]

Sorry to bother you again so soon what numbers would you recommend?

If you are going for the julie and shell dweller option then with the julies buy a small group 4/5 on the understanding that you will return some once they have paired up, the pair will bully/kill the remaining julies. Check out Neolamprolous Kungweensis, very similiar to the shelly you are going for, would just get 1M/1F, or maybe an extra female, the smaller julies don't hold that much territory, mainly clinging to the rocks
Check the link
Neolamprologus Kungweensis

 

[Gaz_S]

Forgot to mention footprint of a fluval roma 125. Right I have decided on Julidochromis Transcriptus and either Lepidiolamprologus boulengeri or Lamprologus caudopunctatus. Read that keeping the shellies in a trio can produces better behaviour but not sure. So 4-5 Julies to grow on and pair off then return the remainders and same with the shellies?

This is the kind of set up I would like using the advanced drawing program paint ha. Yellow being the rock and brown being shells.