New tank - What food and ID?

[Hunter555]

Hi everyone.

I decided to get into the wonderful world of cichlids.
I've never kept them before so it's like a new experience for me.
Here is a pic of the tank:
http://users.tpg.com.au/adsl8p4j/images/cichlidnew.jpg

The ihabitants are:
* Electric Yellow
* Blue Cobalt
* Synodontis multipunctatus ??
* Melanochromis johannii ???

Now I'm not sure on that last one... here is a pic:
http://users.tpg.com.au/adsl8p4j/images/whoami.jpg

Is that what he is?

Next question: What should I be feeding them? So far they are on a diet of sinking algae sticks (Novo Rift), Novo Stick M, and occasional blood worms. Is this correct and which of those foods should be fed most regularly?

Thanks!
Hunter.

[~*LuvMyKribs*~]

You should skip the blood worms. Algae sticks are good, and spiraluna is very good as well. They are mainly vegetarian so no meaty foods.

Its hard to tell by the pic what you have, but could be johanii or maingano.

What size is the tank? And they will most likely rip that poor plant to shreds in no time... hehe. :p If you'd like to keep plants in the tank then anubias, valliseneria or java fern will work (most likely).


:)
-Diana

[Hunter555]

Thanks for the reply.

It's a 60 liter tank so only small. Just one I had lying around.

I don't really mind about the plant, it is just in there because my other tank is overgrown at the moment and I didn't know what to do with it. ;)

So far they have left it alone actually. Well on of them got a bit confused and got stuck in it but he just freed himself after a few seconds.

These guys are really interesting to watch. I see them peering at me all the time. The johanii (if that's what he is) tried to ram into my face when I put it close to the glass to see in one of the caves! They seem to spend all thier time in the "caves" chasing each other. The poor little electric yellow is at the bottom of the pecking order.

[~*LuvMyKribs*~]

I hate to say it but that tank is much too small for those fish..... Even the yellow lab, smallest and most peaceful when full grown, will be too large for a 15 gallon. A 20 gallon 'long' will be the absolute minimum for 1 fish...

But its not so much the size of the fish that is the problem but aggression... the most dominant will likely kill the others in a tank that small. There is a reason why they are always chasing each other... and as soon as one lays claim to the rock pile then the rest will be forced to the top of the tank and picked on. Watch them very closely and if you notice ripped fins then remove either the aggressor or the one being picked on, or else it will most likely be killed.

You can upgrade to a 33 gallon and might get away with it with those fish.

[Hunter555]

Yeah I was worried about that. The only problem is the yellow because he is so shy. The cat sticks to itself in really good hiding spots and the two blue ones seem to live in harmony together. I found that really weird but they patrol the whole tank as a pair and seem to put up with each other. The little yellow has resorted to hiding under the weed at the front of the tank because he was chased out of the rock pile. No fin nips yet. (Fingers crossed)

[Karnaaj]

I second Diana's opinion. Get at least a 30g or better yet a 40g long.

[Hunter555]

I wish I had some room. :(

This appartment is overcrowded already. My poor little fishies. :sad

[Hunter555]

I love my Melanochromis! Whenever I put my hand anywhere near the tank he flares up all his fins instantly and then drops them down again when I move it away. He's attacks the glass cleaner now too!