When to introduce Saulosi into mature tank?

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highgrovemanor

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Oct 27, 2003
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My LFS FINALLY got some Ps Saulosi in ($9/each, at 2"!), and they've been in the q-tank for awhile. I don't think I've seen them since I bought 'em at least 6 or 7 years ago (though I go through phases of not window shopping).

But I'm wondering when the best time would be to put them into the tank with my adults? I have had one or two fry survive in there (totally suprised me to see the little rascals), so I do have plenty of hiding places.

But I'm in no rush to take down the q-tank, so I can grow them out some if that would be whats best.


Thoughts?


Thanks!


Steve
 
What size is the main tank, what have you got in there at the moment, and what sizes are they ?

In an all mbuna tank probably the main worry is the smaller guys being stressed to death, if you have e.g. very large tank and some deepwater haps then you're worried about them being ate as well. Also how many Saulosi are you introducing ? Broadly speaking, a batch of 4 - 6 would be better if they are considerably smaller than your main population. You could also re-arrange your rockwork substantially to unsettle the guys who are in there already while your saulosi slot in. I think at two inches, presuming you have all adult mbuna, introducing them like this would be reasonably likely to succeed.

At the same time, if you're happy enough to keep them in the QT then maybe do that until they bulk up another inch or so; especially as you waited so long to get them.

Lovely little fish - very hard to get over here too. congrats on the pick up.
 
Excellent. The main tank is a 29, with only the 2 adult salousi males, and me having 4 ladies to introduce. I'll wait abit more, as I'm sure the chase will be on.

I'm always alittle paranoid of squishing somebody when re-arranging, but I'll definetly shake it up when the girls go in.


These are awesome fish, and the only Cichlids I've kept (outside of some Angles in my big planted tank). I'm so happy to restock!

Thanks!
 
Funny story about the tank:

It was originally a planted tank, and I converted it into a cichlid tank when I got my 135. Coming home from work 1 day, all the ladies where out and swimming normal, but the fellas where all hiding and acting nervous. And I found the pleco that hadn't been move to the big tank as stiff as a board. I never did figure out who took the pleco out, but it was funny seeing such different behavior in the aftermath.
 
Oh ok - so you're just adding females to males; sorry if I missed that. I'd say they should be fine to go now or in the near future. Are they the only stock in the main tank (the 2 male saulosi) ?
 
Yep, salousi only tank. So Coler, does your last comment imply the residents are more likely to bang newbies of the same gender? Probably won't be stocking any more, but just trying to learn something here. :)


Thanks again everybody!
 
Well, for African harem breeders - all mbuna and peacocks for a start - you want 1 male to 2 or 3 females, if you are mixing genders.

So if you have 2 males you want minimum 4 females, 5 or 6 would be better. Either that or you stick at 1 male specimen only. 2 males in the absence of females will kill each other, males in the presence of insufficient females will harass the female(s) to death.
 
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