What Can I Add?

[Ethos]

Hey, I have a 55G that I started stock a few months ago, and I'm still not stocked.

Here's what I have in the tank, and I'm curious to what I can add?
1 Electric Yellow Lab
1 Electric Blue Johnni
1 Zebra Albino
1 Stripped Zebra
1 C. Calvus
1 Blue Zebra
1 Yellow Zebra
and
1 Clown Plec

 

[freddyk]

1 Electric Yellow Lab
1 Electric Blue Johnni
1 Zebra Albino
1 Stripped Zebra
1 C. Calvus
1 Blue Zebra
1 Yellow Zebra
and
1 Clown Plec

Ok, my answer will stray a bit from the question, but I have no choice but to bring up things I see.

That Calvus is going to suffer in a tank full of mbuna in the long run, and the best thing you can do for him is find him a new home. None of that 'but it's working' stuff now (just in case you're thinking it), because what works now, won't work later when they all grow up. The calvus is opposite in every way to mbuna - it's a carnivore, it's monogomous, it's slow moving, and it's very slow growing.

At this point the best thing you can add is a few more Yellow Labs. As grouping fish they do and look best in groups.

 

[Ethos]

Huh.
Last night I say my clown only has one eye, and I assume this is because of my albino zebra.
I dont want more labs, as they are one of my less interesting fish.
I was thinking about more colored zebras?
I heard you can get them in red?
(Lol, I sound like I'm looking for a car...)

 

[BrookeLea]

Your lab is less interesting because there's only one... He belongs with more of his own kind. If you were to give him three buddies, you'd see how interesting he can be. "I don't want more labs..." Did you even notice how selfish that sounds? If you're not willing to do what's best for him by adding a few more, please return him to your pet shop.

 

[mamafish68]

I have to agree 100% with the other 2 posters, I actually cringed when I read how many zebras you have in there. I hope you understand just how mean they get, infact if you dont get more Labs you will no doubt lose theone you have simply due to the bullies you have now. He stands more of a chance with a group.
If your not going to keep him then while your taking the CALVUS back make sure the LAB is going too!!!!!
sheesh

 

[Ethos]

Ok, First off I'm not returning anyone.
I'll have to make it work.
Secondly, I dunno if the last 2 zebras, are actually zebras.
Petco was having a one day Cichlid sale, and they sold them as "Assorted Africans"
They were $1.99 a peice, normally $16.99
Too good a deal to pass up.
I've become fond to the point of where I am going to keep my Calvus, I'll have to make a way and figure it out.
Can I just add a few more Mawalian?

Did you even notice how selfish that sounds?

Well, the same can be said as "Do you know how selfish you are for keeping fish captive?"
That was to forword and quiet rude of you.

Only freddyk can talk to me like that, thank you.
J/k!
No one should talk to anyone like that on this forum...It's a pitty we all do

 

[Ben]

Ok, First off I'm not returning anyone.

You're just not listening are you?
We're doing this for the welfare of your fish. Not because we feel like it.
If you can't keep a fish in its proper living conditions, it will die.
The A.Calvus is from Lake Tanganyika in Africa, where as the rest are from Lake Malawi.
Thats like taking you, from a wealthy American country, and putting you in the Australian outback where you have to find your own food, find your own medcines, find shelter, and there's no way out. You would hate it, you wouldn't feel comfortable, And unfortanetly, you might die. BUT rescue workers might find you and take you back to America, happy ending for you.
So you can be that rescue worker and save that fish.

Please do whats best for the fish.

DD

 

[Miss Dib Dabs]

Hon I think you're missing the point here. No one is trying to be rude towards you. You must have noticed our first and foremost thoughts here are for the fish. And keeping one A.Calvus in with the others isn't fair for the fish. It won't be happy, no matter how attached you are. If you had another tank suitable then great but if not you'd be better finding him a home where he can be happy.
Try and think how you would feel in his place.
Hugs,
P.

 

[BrookeLea]

I was not being rude, I was being honest. I suppose it's pointless to give you information, anyway, as you seem to have your own interests in mind over your fish's. Sad, but unfortunately no one can force you into doing the right thing.

 

[Ethos]

Mhmhmh, Now I know what those cornered newbies feel like.
Now, the thing is, I have little money. I dont have a job, I dont get allowence. My parents dont give me money. I dont get to go to the petstore anytime I want, infact i haven't been there in atleast a month.
The problem is A)It would've been a waster of money, I paid $14.99 for him, and I intend to keep him untill I get a way to get that money back. I have absoulutly no income whatsoever right now. B)When I do get to go to the LPS, my minds is usually on other things I need, like food, conditioner, ect.
C) i'd be taking a step backword from where I'm trying to get. I'm trying to get my tank more stocked, not less stocked.

Its easy for you guys to say, "hey its just $15. No big deal"
Well, it is a big deal when you just lost that and you can't get anything from it.

Plus, he's had no problems.
He gets to eat every feeding time, no one chases him, he's not a loner and is usually with the rest of the group.

Untill he starts getting picked on, I'll leave him be.
What I really need is a job, then I'll be better off.
I had a paper route, but my grades slipped last year and my parents pulled me off it.
So I saved up about $300 from that, and its slowly slipping away.
My parents will bearly fund me at all, and will ocasionally pay for food.
Other than that, I have to pay for it.

Now, I dont want a pitty party or whatever, I'm just tyring to explain to you guys that its harder than it seems.

I'm looking to expand and finish off my 55G, not take another fish out of it.
This may sound careless of me, and it may be, but I dont think it is.

 

[freddyk]

Ethos, I am one person who can understand perfectly where you are coming from regarding finances. When money is an issue, planning ahead is that much more important, however hindsight is 20-20 and we can hum and haw over what should have been done all day. Explaining the limitations of your position in the first place can help people help you based on your specific needs and avoid these arguments.

As it stands now you have a mix of random single specimens and you may as well keep following this formula. Two things to keep in mind when you make your species selection to improve the odds of it working is to avoid any species that look similar to ones you already have, and avoid any of the meanies (M. Auratus, M. Lombardoi, M Crabro).

Just keep an eye on things. The Calvus is well protected with his laterally compressed body and thick skin. The stress will come as the tank fills up and the mbuna grow while he still stays small. He likely won't be attacked or anything, but he will eventuall have a very hard time keeping up. Fine is fine for now, as long as you do the right thing if at any time he isn't getting on well any more

 

[mamafish68]

Now, I dont want a pitty party or whatever, I'm just tyring to explain to you guys that its harder than it seems.

I'm looking to expand and finish off my 55G, not take another fish out of it.
This may sound careless of me, and it may be, but I dont think it is.

OOHHHH trust me kid, I'd never give you pitty
I might give you a knot upside the head but NEVER pitty!

*sighs*
I have 2 children 10 and 7 and i'm thinking their MORE mature then you at the moment.
I'm truely glad I raised them to be conscious of other creatures and whats best for them and NOT us....


You my dear are a closed book to me.


P.S. miss Dib, VERY SLY AVATAR!!! love it!

 

[funkybodal]

Why not take the Calvus back to the shop and swap him for some other fish (like labs or whatever), thereby killing two birds with one stone - no money lost, 55 gal expanded

Sorted B)

 

[Miss Dib Dabs]

Thank yew mamafish. Scarily I have 2 children the exact same age as yours!
I'm sorry you have financial problems but if money is that tight and buting food is sometimes a problem then you really shouldn't be looking to expand what is in the tank until you can afford to look after them correctly. And I agree with funkybodal. Alot of places will happily swap fish. I swapped a large asian upsidedown catfish for a gold nugget plec (Who succumbed to panic one day when the synos decided to have a bit of a party hour. And got stuck unbeknowest to me.). You can ring them when you know you are going next and ask them to see if they are happy to swap. What have you got to lose by that?
Hugs,
P.

 

[Ethos]

OOHHHH trust me kid, I'd never give you pitty
I might give you a knot upside the head but NEVER pitty!
*sighs*
I have 2 children 10 and 7 and i'm thinking their MORE mature then you at the moment.
I'm truely glad I raised them to be conscious of other creatures and whats best for them and NOT us....
You my dear are a closed book to me.

You know, that wasn't the least bit constructive. You shouldn't post useless posts...
That was really just to cut me down. I dont believe that is acceptable.

You can ring them when you know you are going next and ask them to see if they are happy to swap. What have you got to lose by that?

I guess, but I dunno where to start looking.
I know petco doesn't, which is where I usually buy my fish. I couldn't get back to "A World Of Fish" because its practically on the other side of the world.
I dunno about HarMar, but I could check.

The Calvus is well protected with his laterally compressed body and thick skin. The stress will come as the tank fills up and the mbuna grow while he still stays small. He likely won't be attacked or anything, but he will eventuall have a very hard time keeping up.

So really the only problem with him in there is that'll he'll be stressed?
I read Calvus's grow really slow.. How long does it take for hime to grow out fully?