View Full Version : Bumble-Bee cichlids
Dangerdoll
06-07-2003, 11:01 PM
Was in the LFS store today and took a walk past the tanks (of course), and happened acrossed a tank of Bumble bee cichlids. The list on the tank only indicated that they get up to 4". I tried to research them on the net but couldn't come up with anything. Was giving them some thought when I get my tank rolling again (currently in the process of an unknown disease control), can anyone tell me anything about these guys? What type of water they prefer? If there are differences between the males and females?
Its latin name is Pseudotropheus crabo
http://www.malawicichlidhomepage.com/other/pseudotropheus_crabro.html
SBee used to have a pair...a male and a female...
the male was bigger than 4" when he died...without a doubt.
the female was probably about 4" when she took her back to the LFS (no room for her).
They were both highly aggressive, but very fun fish with lots of character. The male was black with a sort of creamy color between his stripes, while the female was black with bright yellow/orange between her stripes.
Click Here (http://www.stjinks.com/album.php?page=7&category=13#265)
^ Some pictures (not very good ones...) of SBee's Bumblebee's...
Oh ya...I notice on that Petsmart link they advise to feed all sorts of worms etc. to crabro's...but as these guys are from Lake Malawi, I would certainly avoid a high-protein diet such as this!! As a general rule, I ignore anything Pet smart says , because they often offer incorrect info!
Well done Jinks.
I'm absolutely with Jinks on the feeding habbits petsmart is recommanding.
Sorry for not reading this topic.(should be more carefull with things like that).
I have removed the link just incase.
Jimmy
vilhelm
06-08-2003, 2:44 PM
hmm,i dont think the crabro care alot of the food,he is a all-eater,often conect to the big catfish B.meridionalis in the lake malawi,not all malawi ciklids lives on algea
I agree, but most "mbuna" does, hence the name.
Jimmy
vilhelm
06-08-2003, 3:00 PM
yes,jimbo,mbuna= african= eats algea(not sure this corect in english),The crabro feeds on parasites on that catfish,also on theirs eggs and larvea,and all they can get.
That's exactely what the article from MCH says.
That's also the link i posted to "dangerdoll" so I guess that's OK.
But it wasn't OK with the link to Petsmart, the food they recommend is not exactely the food I would give to my mbuna's, and I don't think anyone else would.
Jimmy
vilhelm
06-08-2003, 3:39 PM
MCH what is that? this fish have "hang around" from the 70"s-80"s,and every book of quality has their food behivor in it,it also been a common fish in my country.sorry pal jimbo but you begin to walk on thin ice here,what i can see ,you now something of malawi ciklids,but you just scratch the top ..so show a little respect of....they who now better. then a tip.if you think you can id a fish,please whrigt I THINK IT IS,often you came whith wrong id:s,so please calm down.
I really don't know where you're getting at.
What is wrong with posting a link for someone who's looking for some information about a curtain species.
What is wrong with being agree with someone.
And what is wrong by deleting a link which gives the wrong info.
(Just go to the link I posted to Dangerdoll and find out what MCH is)
If it's something peronal you have against me, just PM me, I don't think this forum is meant for things like this.
Jimmy
Dangerdoll
06-08-2003, 4:27 PM
ok, thanks for the info guys, do you know what pH they prefer? Now what I am understanding is that they "can" have the worms and things like that, but do they also accept flakes? Also, seeing it's mentioned that they can be aggressive, I guess putting them in a community cichlid tank may be a bad idea.....or would other cichlids be able to stand the aggression?
Another note (just a random thought) it seems funny to me that with any species, the males seem to be more brightly colored than the females but with these guys it seems the opposite...... still contemplating these guys....why am I so intrigued?? :D
vilhelm
06-08-2003, 4:31 PM
Ok,sorry if i lose my tempere,maybe(possible) there is a lang***(cant spell it)barrier here,i think you mean i read the article and whrote it in my answer,i didnt,I still think the crabro doesnt care much about the food,so is it not a real mbuna.once again sorry if i be flameable.
vilhelm
06-08-2003, 4:46 PM
dangerdoll: the ph can be neutral and upper.they do accept flakes.
they can do well i n a community mbuna tank whith alot of caves,it is hard sometimes to say whitch species who get along well together,it depends on tank size,if you want little trouble get a big tank whith many hiding places.and one male whith 4-5 females.
Dangerdoll
06-08-2003, 5:20 PM
well, I've already got a 55 gallon that has been running but am in the middle of flushing out some disease. I've had the tank empty but running for a little over a week and was contemplating what to start it with once I get back on track with it. Was suggested that I wait about a month before restocking with continuing maintenance to ensure the disease has passed. Once my time has come, do you think the 55 gallon would suffice?
net_shark512
06-08-2003, 5:54 PM
Dangerdoll I would be concerned that you keep the tank cycled. Without any fish for a month I would think the bio load is gonna break down.
Dangerdoll
06-08-2003, 6:03 PM
Originally posted by net_shark512
Dangerdoll I would be concerned that you keep the tank cycled. Without any fish for a month I would think the bio load is gonna break down.
hmmmmm..... well, I just lost a lot of fish due to some disease that ran rampant in the tank so I move the remainder out. The remainder consisted of some cories, plecos, an algae eater, and a danio (also had puffers but wont be returning them to the tank). I thought running the tank empty would rid the tank of whatever attacked it in the first place. Do you suggest I return some of the fish? I just don't want to lose anymore though it's been running empty for a little over a week..... what can I do? eeeek, help!! :(
(ps....just when I thought I had all my ducks in a row, with this info, this disease catastrophe is still haunting me I guess :rolleyes: )
net_shark512
06-08-2003, 6:12 PM
I wouldn't put the fish back in a tank with a sickness. But also I don't know what to say. I don't want to give the wrong info. Maybe someone else that knows more would chime in on this. I just think you may have to recycle the tank if you go a month without fish. I am not sure if I am correct. If I am wrong I am sorry for causing you any more concerns than you already have.
Dangerdoll
06-08-2003, 6:36 PM
Thanks, I appreciate that. I have been tossing in some flakes (not many) every 3rd or 4th day if that makes a difference though. I don't know why I do it but thought it might keep the bio load going. Hope that's not screwing me any more than I have been......