Large Cichlids

[marsupialvomit]

I want to start raising larger cichlids now that I've had my 4.5in things for a long time. Can you recommend a big chiclid (prefreably african since my tanks already set up for them)

[SayersWeb]

There aren't very many common African cichlids that get large. Frontosa is the first that comes to mind. They can be a bit lazy and spend most of their time hiding though.

One of my favorites was always the Hap Moorii. They get this big bump on their hear and can reach 8"

Another of my favorites is Haplochromis Venustus. They can reach 10".

A less common one is the Chilotilapia Rhoadesii. It can reach 8-10" and is absolutely beautiful.

I used to breed African cichlids many years ago..... I had 17 tanks of them!

[marsupialvomit]

I wish I had your kind of money








how do i put a portrait of me like you have that colorful fish?

[SayersWeb]

Originally posted by marsupialvomit
I wish I had your kind of money

how do i put a portrait of me like you have that colorful fish? I traded African Cichlid babies for store credit and bought the tanks that way....

In the User CP section of this site (see buttons top right of this page) there is a place for you to upload a custom Avatar. I think you must have 50 posts before you can do this though. That's how you can get your picture up there.

[marsupialvomit]

I'm going to become a breeder and sell my stock to mom and pop shops. Thanks

[SayersWeb]

LOL! Well.... It may not be as easy as it was 15 years ago.... But, it's worth a shot! :)

I used to pay $80 for a pair of Peacocks (Regal, Sunshine, etc.) or Electric Blues. I've not looked into Africans recently. Are the premium breeds still that expensive?

I'm afraid to check myself because I will start wanting Africans again. :shake:

[marsupialvomit]

which type are better to handel...south american, african, Malwai, etc. (I used to be a really good sales person for a store caled RMS which was exclusively fish based and was huge, but I quit after a kid asked to see little nemo and I lifted her and she farted in my face).

[SayersWeb]

Originally posted by marsupialvomit
which type are better to handel...south american, african, Malwai, etc. (I used to be a really good sales person for a store caled RMS which was exclusively fish based and was huge, but I quit after a kid asked to see little nemo and I lifted her and she farted in my face). ROFLMAO! I would quit too!

I personally think the Africans are easier to breed. Especially the mouth brooders. They are also smaller when at breeding age, so you can have more in a tank. There were occassions where I had 6 females holding eggs at once in a single 55 to 75 gallon tank.

But... be fore-warned. At that point, it is no longer a hobby. It's impossible to have tanks nicely decorated and pretty when you are trying to catch females every few days to retrieve the eggs from their mouths. It gets old pretty quickly.

[marsupialvomit]

please don't say things like that, i get discouraged quickly.

[valerie]

When my africans breed i raise the babies to sell to the LFS but you really don't make much money. Once you factor in how much you have to actaully spend to raise the fish untill they are sellable sizes(water changes,foods). You really wouldn'tmake much profit unless you had a whole breeding setup going. Around here LFS will buy africans for about 0.50$-1$ea. for common africans, 2-3$ for harder to get africans andabout 5$ea for hard to find and fancy africans.It will vary to each store and city.

If you really want to breed for money go and ask the LFs what fish they would want to buy and breed those.

[marsupialvomit]

what are LF's?

[valerie]

local fish stores, the small mom and pop stores not the petstores

[marsupialvomit]

thanks for clarifiying