Tips

[Derek3975]

I'm new to the cichlid business. Can you guys help me out with common rookie errors or any other important or just good-to-know stuff? A specific question I have...I have a 55g with 6 cichlids and two rubbermouth plecos...I was thinking about getting a blue freshwater lobster to go in the tank just for "cool value". Any suggestions?

Thanks...

[WeeNe858]

high temps cause the "lobster" to get aggressive. and in the chichlid buisiness you have to do research and know which fish a more aggressive than the other.. but the fishes do have personality so you might get lucky.

[dvd_wightman]

Most cichlids do have personalities as WeeNe858 said, and a lot of them get bored easily, so throw in a toy like a ping pong ball, or a floating plastic plant.

[Derek3975]

I already started to notice some personality. Some schooling, and some dominance. You think the lobter would be ok? Who would pick on who?

[WeeNe858]

densly planted can defuse the aggression and a pingpong ball would be help nd fun :] but make sure to take it out as they get bored of that too (you can even punch a small hole and put some bloodworms in there :])


lobster would pic on the fishes


but you can get lucky .. the normal crawfishes are really aggressive i have luck wiht the tiger crawfish.. he seems to leave the fishes alone

[Derek3975]

Thanks...not sure what I'll end up doing...here's some pics of what I have now as far as cover

http://www.aquariacentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=91318

[JulieC]

Once lobsters, crabs, and crawfish get any size on them, they will attempt to eat their tankmates.

If you put one in and start missing fish, you may find that the lobster is to blame.

[rbishop]

Please forego the crayfish.

[jm1212]

it could go either way-
the little fish could get eaten by the crayfish, or the big fish could eat the crafish, so you should skip it or get a different tank for one.

[star_rider]

Many crawfish are nocturnal feeders..mainly as they are food to larger fish.

the disadvantage to you fish is many rest a night..making them targets for nocturnal feeders.

I would also nix the mudbugs.

[RoseFishWatcher]

There was a blue crawfish at the LFS that ripped the fin off a pleco. I would think it'd be best to get one in a tank of its own if at all.

[balton777]

StarRider nailed it. Cichlids sleep at night usually resting at the bottom. Lobsters, shrimp, crawfish etc will grab your smaller cichlids at night. They scavenge the entire tank top to bottom, up and down plants, decorations, wood or whatever else you have in your tank.

[Derek3975]

Well I like my fish too much to have them eaten...Guess I'll skip the pinchy guys. Thanks everyone!

[Aussie_hippie_2]

I just used a spare 10g to house a cray. No heater, no filter (at the moment) and some feeder guppies. He's a cute little bugger but dosen't do much when the lights are one. Considering I haven't spent a penny on it, it's kind of neat.