I bought a 1 3/4" electric yellow cichlid at the LFS. He'd been there for a long while fighting with a 'sunset peacock' cichlid 3 times his size for the one cave they offered in the tank. I made the classic error and bought him out of sympathy.
Don't get me wrong. I'm wanting and preparing to create a cichlid tank of my very own. It's something I've been wanting for a while now. I want to do a very dramatic, diachromatic yellow and blue scheme with electric yellows and a blue striped cichlid who's name escapes me at the moment. Through extensive research, I've come to understand they grow to be about 4 inches in total length. I've also researched that they have similar pH preferences AND that I should be able to acclimate my bichir to live amongst them as well in my larger aquarium.
I say this to let everyone know it is **NOT** my intention to leave him in his current situation. That said, 'Lem' is currently habitating a 10-gallon with an albino corydoras and my 4-inch senegal bichir. I've had him since yesterday morning. He trailed around behind my cory for a long time and now he seems to be trying to stake out a hidey-hole for himself. I don't think the one I provided is dark enough for him, so he looks a little.... uncomfortable?
Other than that, he is proving a bit tricky to feed. I intend to ask the lfs what they fed him before (I had a bit of an emergency call me when I bought him, so I got flustered and forgot to ask) and the only food he's accepted so far was a few little tidbits of cooked shrimp, but only when he saw it floating around in the water. I haven't been able to find a cichlid pellet that would be small enough for him to eat at any of the stores I've looked in so far.
Any suggestions?
*** Note, I understand that cories like to be in groups. I understand that the cichlid will need more growing room. I understand that the senegal will eventually be up to 18 inches long. As I've said, the situation is temporary. I'm well on the way to setting up a 36 gallon aquarium and am saving up for something 100g+ in the near future. Please keep in mind their situation is as temporary as I can make it and I have full intentions of looking out for their well-being in any way I can until then.
Don't get me wrong. I'm wanting and preparing to create a cichlid tank of my very own. It's something I've been wanting for a while now. I want to do a very dramatic, diachromatic yellow and blue scheme with electric yellows and a blue striped cichlid who's name escapes me at the moment. Through extensive research, I've come to understand they grow to be about 4 inches in total length. I've also researched that they have similar pH preferences AND that I should be able to acclimate my bichir to live amongst them as well in my larger aquarium.
I say this to let everyone know it is **NOT** my intention to leave him in his current situation. That said, 'Lem' is currently habitating a 10-gallon with an albino corydoras and my 4-inch senegal bichir. I've had him since yesterday morning. He trailed around behind my cory for a long time and now he seems to be trying to stake out a hidey-hole for himself. I don't think the one I provided is dark enough for him, so he looks a little.... uncomfortable?
Other than that, he is proving a bit tricky to feed. I intend to ask the lfs what they fed him before (I had a bit of an emergency call me when I bought him, so I got flustered and forgot to ask) and the only food he's accepted so far was a few little tidbits of cooked shrimp, but only when he saw it floating around in the water. I haven't been able to find a cichlid pellet that would be small enough for him to eat at any of the stores I've looked in so far.
Any suggestions?
*** Note, I understand that cories like to be in groups. I understand that the cichlid will need more growing room. I understand that the senegal will eventually be up to 18 inches long. As I've said, the situation is temporary. I'm well on the way to setting up a 36 gallon aquarium and am saving up for something 100g+ in the near future. Please keep in mind their situation is as temporary as I can make it and I have full intentions of looking out for their well-being in any way I can until then.
