christmas fulu's

[Utterdark]

I'm am about to purchase a few christmas fulu's . I was hoping some of you had some experience you would like to share about thees fish. good..bad ..indifferent.tx for you input. I have read about them but i would love to here what you have to say web sites don't always tell the whole story:)

[LadyBarbara001]

OK, I keep these. Xystichromis phytophagus is the scientific name. They are pretty aggressive fish, not unmanageably so, but enough where decent numbers would be good. 1 male per 3 to 4 females is a great ratio, and I'd keep a group of no less than 6. The females can be just as aggressive as the males. I had a bunch of holding females, and ran out of room for holding mothers. I put a couple together...one ate her fry, beat up and killed another female.

These fish are herbivores, so best bet would be a spirulina based food source. Some protein is necessary, so go light on the meaty foods.

This fish will cross breed with other Victorians, as the females have a similar look to a lot of the other Victorians. Good mothers, if allowed to be in isolation with the fry. Spawns up to 25 aren't uncommon in small females. Very prolific.

Anything else?

[Utterdark]

tx for the input my plan is to keep them by themselves in a 55 i will get about 1/2 doz as you suggest

[LadyBarbara001]

If you are keeping them alone in a 55, you can easily stock more than 6. I'd shoot for 10-12 or so. Just remember how many fry you can have from this species!

[Utterdark]

I'm not stuck on a spices tank any suggestions for tank mates ?

[LadyBarbara001]

Hmm, another Victorian species, I'd look at something piebald like Paralabidochromis chromogynos. Totally different markings, and another fairly aggressive fish. Should not have too many problems.

For a mbuna? Something along the lines of a yellow lab, Pseudotropheus acei, something not massively aggressive, but enough to hold their own.

[Bre001]

If I were you I would go with the Chromogynos...They are beautiful fish and the females are piebald as well. That was my dominant male Chromogynos in my avatar, to give you an idea what they look like.