[Solved] Firemouth - Injuries/markings On Nose

[rdp50734]

how many firemouths do you have? Male to female ratio? I have 7 I think I have 4 females and 3 males ocassionally fights break out but they dont last long!

I don't have a group, I have the following Juvi cichlids (all male):

1 x Firemouth
1 x Honduran Red Point
1 x Port Acara
1 x Geophagus sp 'Red Head Tapajos'


Pics via my sig below

I am not sure who the FM is scrapping with as I haven't seen any. He gets on fine with the Honduran and Geo during daytime, he doesn't like the port acara too much these days though and asserts his dominance once in a while, but without any biting. He is the boss of the tank with the Honduran a close second, but those two seem to get on just fine (when the lights are on)

Once I get my 5ft'er setup I may add some additional same species fish to what I have, but probably not...space is precious and breeding creates problems, especially because of the variety of fish I want. I may go for a Rotkeil Sev and a Blue Acara next if I can get hold of any when the time comes, upping the number of SA cichlids.

I think if I wanted to have a breeding pair I would add a second smaller tank to the house and try either Bolivian Rams or Cockatoo Dwarf Cichlids in a well planted tank...those would be easier to manager in my view.

I have 2 lots of firemouths that seem to have paired up and they are fighting a bit! Also the hondurans have paired up so when the 2 pairs of firemouths intrude in the HRP area (fighting) its war for 10mins! 6 fish having a scrap! A bit of food and its all calm! My jack dempsey is the boss! When she comes out they all do one!!!

 

[kaivalagi]

I have 2 lots of firemouths that seem to have paired up and they are fighting a bit! Also the hondurans have paired up so when the 2 pairs of firemouths intrude in the HRP area (fighting) its war for 10mins! 6 fish having a scrap! A bit of food and its all calm! My jack dempsey is the boss! When she comes out they all do one!!!

So you manage to keep multiple breeding pairs from different species without "too" much bother? What size tank have you got?

Do you think my above stocking could "in theory" handle additional females with some of the males in a 5ft tank do you think?

Just wondering whether I can expand to having some breeding with a little variety too? Obviously I'd have to ensure no scrapping continues with the current lot in a 5ft'er first

 

[rdp50734]

I have a 200l tank with the cichlids! They haven't actually bred yet but it looks like it will be soon! How many litres is your tank and its footprint? Which species would you like to breed?

 

[kaivalagi]

I have a 200l tank with the cichlids! They haven't actually bred yet but it looks like it will be soon! How many litres is your tank and its footprint? Which species would you like to breed?

All this talk of breeding cichlids really makes me what to set it up in my tank!

I am waiting for my 5ft Seabray Dolphin (with cabinet in gloss black finish) to arrive, 60"x18"x18" (320L), then they'll all move in there.

My cichlids are all still sub-adult, I've had them between 2 to 4 months, the biggest is the FM, at about 9cm/3.5", with the Honduran catching up fast at 8cm/3".

They're in a Roma 125L right now which was going to be replaced in my mind about 1 month into the hobby, but now I have the "fish outgrowing tank" argument to allow me a bigger tank with the wife...

I am also trying to convince my wife that we keep the old tank too and set it up in the bedroom with some bolivian ram or maybe cockatoo dwarfs in good numbers - it would be a good place for a breeding tank

 

[rdp50734]

I have a 200l tank with the cichlids! They haven't actually bred yet but it looks like it will be soon! How many litres is your tank and its footprint? Which species would you like to breed?

All this talk of breeding cichlids really makes me what to set it up in my tank!

I am waiting for my 5ft Seabray Dolphin (with cabinet in gloss black finish) to arrive, 60"x18"x18" (320L), then they'll all move in there.

Me personally I would put in a group of 8 firemouths and allow them to pair off! Also a group of 6 HRP's and allow them to pair off! I would have one center piece fish! If its breeding your into then allow them to pair off and rehome remove the others to maybe a spare tank and they might pair off too! Im not up on port acaras or geo's so I cant help there! I think with lots of hiding plaaces in caves or plants then maybe 4 breeding pairs will be ok but it all depends on if you have the facilities to move aggressors if needed! What filtration are you running? Remember though when babies are concerned the parents will fight to the death to protect them! Or eat the fry LOL That happened with my convicts!

cichlids are all still sub-adult, I've had them between 2 to 4 months, the biggest is the FM, at about 9cm/3.5", with the Honduran catching up fast at 8cm/3".

They're in a Roma 125L right now which was going to be replaced in my mind about 1 month into the hobby, but now I have the "fish outgrowing tank" argument to allow me a bigger tank with the wife...

I am also trying to convince my wife that we keep the old tank too and set it up in the bedroom with some bolivian ram or maybe cockatoo dwarfs in good numbers - it would be a good place for a breeding tank

 

[kaivalagi]

Me personally I would put in a group of 8 firemouths and allow them to pair off! Also a group of 6 HRP's and allow them to pair off! I would have one center piece fish! If its breeding your into then allow them to pair off and rehome remove the others to maybe a spare tank and they might pair off too! Im not up on port acaras or geo's so I cant help there! I think with lots of hiding plaaces in caves or plants then maybe 4 breeding pairs will be ok but it all depends on if you have the facilities to move aggressors if needed! What filtration are you running? Remember though when babies are concerned the parents will fight to the death to protect them! Or eat the fry LOL That happened with my convicts!

Filtration is 2 x Tetratek EX1200 filters, 1 is mature on my 125L, the other is waiting for the new tank. Heaters are external too, to maximize tank space (what little difference it makes )

I'm not so sure I'm into breeding, if I get into it I really want to make sure I will have somewhere to sell them to, convicts and firemouths may sell just but it might be worth trying with the geo's as they get good money and will get snapped up I am sure. But again they cost good money so buying 6 more will cost me!

 

[rdp50734]

Convicts I dont think I would breed again as they are too hard to sell on! I have heard firemouths do ok as do HRP! What is the max size of the geos?

 

[kaivalagi]

Convicts I dont think I would breed again as they are too hard to sell on! I have heard firemouths do ok as do HRP! What is the max size of the geos?

These Geo's max at 6", harem breeders I think...not certain though

They look like these when adult:http/images.google.co.uk/images?sourceid=chrome&q=geophagus+red+head+tapajos&esrch=FT1&um=1&ie=UTF-8&ei=FjedS5SFDcfKjAfC19iyDA&sa=X&oi=image_result_group&ct=title&resnum=1&ved=0CA8QsAQwAA

 

[rdp50734]

nice fish get 2 males and 15 females lol! You'll have tons of fry!!

 

[kaivalagi]

lol, I was thinking more like adding 4-5 geos hoping that the majority are female...but you know what sexing small juvis is like. I checked if the new tank could take 6 x Rotkeil Sevs, I could have 3 at a push long term...maybe a solitary male rotkeil me thinks...

Maybe my current tank should be put aside for a breeder or hospital tank, I have a spare internal filter and heater, the ones that came with it, add to that an air pump and I'll be almost there...I would just need to run the old tank with something nice and non-threatening in case they share with a breeding pair? Is there such a thing that wouldn't eat eggs or fry? Shrimp and Snails only lol

Or I risk it and go with 2 male + 6 female cockatoo dwarfs in the old tank after the new tank is settled, and have no spare tank
Although last time I checked I think cockatoo dwarfs were quite expensive at £10 each, 8 x £10 = £80 ouch!

Edit: My two current possibilities long term I've put onto aqadvisor are linked below (that's if I can get those extra fish):
More of the same
Pair of Rotkeil and group of Geo
They are more or less correctly set for present day, use the adult sizes option to see long term

*had to use tinyurl as original url was too big to post correctly...