Just some cichlid questions . . . .

[mandy-2007]

Hi, i have a few questions about my cichlids and i am getting really concerned.

ok, so here are the questions:::
one: breeding livingstoni :
ok, so i have 2 livingstoni, one of them is a deffinant male (has great blue colouring), and i was wondering if anyone has bred these before and can give my some facts, and if anyone knows what size they must be before they are sexually mature, that would be a great help.

two: my texas:
My texas was such a cutie when he was young (he had great turqoise colouring), but as he has aged he has turned really black with a white-like head, it isn't very pleasing to look at, and he is also getting these little red bumps like pimples on his body. My father treats the tank and they disapear and then come back weeks later, also none of the other fish in the tank has this problem.

three: wishful thinking:
well, my one of my LFS are closing down this sunday and im begging my dad to get me a tank. (the tank is really small)
(it is about this size maybe a bit bigger, picture is from google though).
I was just wondering if any cichlids would fit in it such as a pair of firemouths or convicts or even a pair of kribs, or should i use it as a gow out tank, if neither ill probaly just wait and put a betta in it .

well i think this is all my questions. If you need any of infomation just ask , comments are appreciated and btw i have a concern that my cichlid tank is overstocked but has been fine with all the same fish in it for about a year ( the only ones i have lost is a female johanni (overworked by my male) and a female crimson tide who was deformed when i bought her home from the lfs.

Thanks all (hope it wasn't too long :S)
Amanda

 

[liv2padl]

i have 2 livingstoni, one of them is a deffinant male

african cichlids do not form "pairs". they are polygamous mouth brooders and need to be kept in a sexual ratio of one male + 3-4 females. if you have a definite male, get yourself 3 more females if you hope to (a) breed these fish and (b) not have the male kill the female. what size is this tank, what other fish are in it and how many fish are in it in total.

my one of my LFS are closing down this sunday and im begging my dad to get me a tank. (the tank is really small)

what size is the tank you're talking about?

My texas was such a cutie when he was young (he had great turqoise colouring), but as he has aged he has turned really black with a white-like head, it isn't very pleasing to look at, and he is also getting these little red bumps like pimples on his body. My father treats the tank and they disapear and then come back weeks later, also none of the other fish in the tank has this problem.

(a) what does your dad treat the tank with), (b) how many other fish are in this tank and what are they, (c) what size is the tank. have you checked your ammonia, nitrite and nitrate levels ... if so, what are they. if not, get test kits and check those parameters.

i have a concern that my cichlid tank is overstocked but has been fine with all the same fish in it for about a year ( the only ones i have lost is a female johanni (overworked by my male)

as i said above, these are not pair forming cichlids and if you don't keep them in the sexual ratio i described above, this is the result.