View Full Version : help...when do i uprade tank for growing cichlids?
hi all
ive recently started up my 35ltr jebo(7.7gal) and then proceeded to visit my LFS for some advice and fish(not the same day).i came home with 1 firemouth and 1 geophagus rio pindare.i then did my internet research and found out that these two species are gonna be way too big for this tank(which the LFS was informed of by the way).my question is-
How big can they get before i have to move them(thats if they survive my newbiness)?
thanks again
note: ive learnt my lesson not to trust my LFS
tarheels910
10-14-2007, 10:01 AM
:22_yikes: In a 7.7 gallon? They need to be moved asap. They could get stumped for life. How long have they been in there?
djork
10-14-2007, 10:02 AM
1 week
djork
10-14-2007, 10:03 AM
they are only about 5cm long
tarheels910
10-14-2007, 10:14 AM
They wont last much longer.
djork
10-14-2007, 10:19 AM
what are we talking weeks? months?how big do they have to be for me to get them out(cm)?
dont forget, newb here
thanks
ps-here are the tank dimensions-38cm length x 27cm width x 46 cm height
tarheels910
10-14-2007, 10:41 AM
Days, they should be removed. Even if they are put in something like a 20 gallon long, they will be fine for a little while. You could stump them by keeping them in that tank, where when you move them, they wont grow.
djork
10-14-2007, 10:44 AM
is stumping a bad thing if i only have these two fish in a tank?
tarheels910
10-14-2007, 10:48 AM
Since they are in such a small tank, they have no room to grow. So their body gets stumped and their growth rate will stop. Even if you move them to a bigger tank, they will still not grow. Stumping can lead to deformities, and your fish not attaining their normal colors, etc. It is very bad.
djork
10-14-2007, 10:53 AM
thank you for your help tarheels.
surely my LFS would have known this
tarheels910
10-14-2007, 10:53 AM
Just here to help.
rosita
10-14-2007, 6:33 PM
Sorry, I just have to jump in here and correct a term: a "stump" is what is left when you cut a tree down, or the cut-off end of a body limb: "she had a stump left below her elbow," or a shading tool for drawing with pencils. A "newb" should have the correct word for what could possibly happen to these tiny fish--"stunt"--"The fish was stunted in external size due to poor water, lack of food, and not enough space in which to grow."
Personally, I think a 7.7g for two fish who are only 5c. is plenty of room for a month or so--they'll not grow too fast, certainly not like an oscar!! Start looking and planning for a larger tank, geo's can top out at a foot under the right conditions over a proper growing up period. You won't be stunting them if you give yourself time to get the right setup. Good luck!!!
i went back to the lfs today and told him about my concerns.he said that these fish have been aquarium bred since the 70's because they arent allowed to be imported here(australia) and that these fish wont grow that big anyway 10-12cm.i'd like to believe him cause of all the shops around here he's seems to have the most professionally run shop.in anycase i still want to uprade sooner rather than later but because im a newb, spending more money on another setup still frightens me in a sense(i dont want this to be a fad) plus i'm not made of money but i still dont want these fish to suffer.im really stuck in the middle here.......oh well lets see if i can keep them alive for now.