stocking a 125

[AcTwisted]

my 125 (72"x18"x20") is ready to go. I know I want 1 frontosa. Other than that I was thinking of going with Peacocks(Aulonocara). Maybe a couple of borleyi too. My main question is about the peacocks. Knowing they can get upwards to 5-6", how many should I get? I'm not interested in breeding them so I was thinking perhaps a tank solely of males. Is that a disaster waiting to happen? I was told with no females in the tank, the males won't be as territorial. Is that true? My LFS currently has some male Hap ahli (Electric Blue), Electra, albino peacocks,
jacobfreibergi, and blue/red peacocks in stock.

Any advice is welcome before I spend significant $$$ and regret it by stocking this tank the wrong way!

[JnS]

first off you can mix fronts with haps and peacocks, but I would not do it.
I prefer to keep lakes seperate.
that being said, you will want to get quality stock from a breeder, wholesaler or good LFS! you can get sole males to keep color as long as they are different in color. example say you get an albino eureka, another albino german red might not have color in it. so on so forth.
an alhi is not a peacock jsut to let you know :)

[Oxboy666]

I have an all-male peacock tank. They get a little feisty around feeding time, but it's not a battle royal at all like when breeding is involved. I'm a big fan of the bachelor pad.

Try and get Peacocks with different adult color schemes and patterns. Also try and get them all at the same time and at roughly the same size; they'll grow up together, which will minimize aggression somewhat. Feed them plenty of color-enhancing food, along with some plankton/krill and spirulina once in a while (Peacocks don't need the spirulina really, but mine respond well to the change of pace). One or two males will rise to dominance (and full color), but your big tank will help minimize any serious hassles. The Jacobfreibergi, based on size and temperament, might assert itself as the top Peacock.

Try and strike a good balance between rocks/caves and plenty of open water. I also recommend a sand substrate (pool filter sand works fine - just wash it well before it goes in).

As far as fishload, you can probably get away with 12-14 adult fish if you keep up the 20% water changes every 10-14 days. Get excellent filtration - perhaps 2 powerfilters and a canister. That Frontosa will get big!

One final thought is you might want to throw in some different fish for variety's sake. Fortunately, 125 gal is pretty good size tank that will let you experiment and branch out in terms of selection. I might recommend a mix of the following:

Peacocks
Borleyi (or other Copadichromis)
Labidochromis
Julidochromis (only keep 1)
Electric Blues
A. Calvus or Compressiceps (only keep 1)
Brichardi Daffodil (only keep 1)
Tretocephalus (only keep 1)
Leleupi (only keep 1)
Synodontis cat

Even if you're fairly sure you have a bachelor tank (if that's what you want), still keep a sharp lookout in the early stages for weird breeding activity. Four male peacocks and an accidental female mixed in could get a little crazy.

Good Luck.

[optix]

hmmm I came in here with new world's in mind of course but I can see this is an old world discussion and I wouldn't be of much help :)

[JnS]

Originally posted by optix
hmmm I came in here with new world's in mind of course but I can see this is an old world discussion and I wouldn't be of much help :)

shoot your idea :) he might opt your way :)

[optix]

Originally posted by JnS


shoot your idea :) he might opt your way :)


ahh lol if he's like any of the enthusiast's I know being old world and having a new world guy try and talk him into new world is like trying to talk a chevy guy into buying a mustang.

[JnS]

Originally posted by optix



ahh lol if he's like any of the enthusiast's I know being old world and having a new world guy try and talk him into new world is like trying to talk a chevy guy into buying a mustang.


LOL!:D
I think it goes both ways :)

[optix]

Originally posted by JnS



LOL!:D
I think it goes both ways :)


Very true very true lol

[ChilDawg]

Hmm...the esteemed **** Stratton once called the Central American Cichlids "Real Cichlids" (which he stole from another fishkeeper who remained anonymous...and he said it in jest...) because of their behaviors versus those of Malawians. I don't buy it, as I like both!

[ChilDawg]

I like the Peacock idea. If I had my books here, I could mention a little on stocking, but I apologize as they're not readily available to me!

Mixing lakes is not always a good idea, because these fish have different behavioral signals. Also, Fronts like groups, so I would not keep just one.

[AcTwisted]

thanks for all the advice! :)


sounds like I'm going with a bachelor tank of assorted peacock males. (possibly just one Frontosa too)


I knew Hap ahli are not peacocks, but they are very sharp looking & I read they are compatible with Aulonocara. I would only get one.

[jimbo]

Originally posted by AcTwisted
I knew Hap ahli are not peacocks, but they are very sharp looking & I read they are compatible with Aulonocara. I would only get one.
Question; Is anything else but Aulonocara refered to as Hap
Hap ahli is to my knowledge Sciaenchromis ahli or Fryeri (new name) and not a Hap.
Haps(Haplochromis) are for as far I know, inhabitants from Lake Tanganyika.

[AcTwisted]

so what would be the best diet for these fish to bring out the best potential in there color? I assume a varied diet would be best? Spirulina flakes, brine shimp? bloodworms? is there a name brand product I should buy like Tetra or Hikari?

[Oxboy666]

All the foods you mention are fine.

You'll see the full range of opinions on these boards and in books about what to feed and how often. Some feed the same thing day after day with little variance, stating that it's not good to shock the cichlids' digestive systems with too much change in diet. Others will feed something different every day of the week. Heck, I once even threw a small cocktail shrimp in for mine, shell and all. They gobbled it up like a shark feeding frenzy. I wouldn't recommend this that often though, just as a treat. Also make sure it's thawed out. :)

Hikari is ok - I don't like Tetra because they use more undigestable filler in their food, which basically just means more waste without the benefit of nutrients. Oh, and stay away from Tubifex worms too, which are reported to be linked with systemic health problems.

Two or three times a week, just throw in food that specifically states that it enhances color and you should be fine.

[ChilDawg]

Originally posted by jimbo

Question; Is anything else but Aulonocara refered to as Hap
Hap ahli is to my knowledge Sciaenchromis ahli or Fryeri (new name) and not a Hap.
Haps(Haplochromis) are for as far I know, inhabitants from Lake Tanganyika.

Haplochromis is still a catch-all, much like Cichlasoma. There are still Haps in the three major lake basins of Africa and a few that are strewn about the continent, but that should change as time passes...many former Haps now have new generic names, and many more will follow in the coming months/years.