OMG. What was I thinking???? Help!!

Mantis_22

Blue Dreams Webmaster
Mar 24, 2003
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Somerset, KY
www.blueskyff.s5.com
Ok heres the scoop. My sister just came over and gave me two African Chiclids. I know nothing about these guys but I have them in my 10gl with three other cories and two ghost shrimp. She gave them to me because she had nowhere else to put them (Figures). I moved them in and they are like moving all around the tank with the cories. What should I do? I know they are only agressive during mating but i have no clue about these species, temp. foods and if this tank is actually big enough FOR NOW??? Help please for all who can :(
 
Well is the are haps the need at least a 75 gallon tank. If they are mbuna htey need at least a 55 gallon tank. So no the tank is not big enough. Those corys will be fish food pretty soon too. I dont know about the shrimp but i wouldnt cont on a peaceful death for that either. I would move them up to a 50 gallon tank or see if ur lfs will take them.
 
`i dont think they will eat the cories... they might harrass them, but i doubt they will be fish food... you can feed them flakes... and i 10 wont work for a long term tank.... i think they usually get aggressive when they mature and when they breed...
 
i dont think you would need daily changes, but it cant hurt i guess... and i have two (which were also given to me as a gift :rolleyes: ) in a 55g with a lot of cories and they have no problems with them (oh yeah, tiger barbs also) and i feed mine flakes...
 
ok maybe daily changes is harsh, ill go for every 2-3 days for now till i get a bigger tank, whats they PH range and also whats there enviorments? I dont care if they eat the shrimps, 33cents is nothing off of me lol. I just need a home for these guys till later on. They are blue also, not yellow like the ones in the pictures i seen in a book, whats up with that?
 
There are many different African species with many different colors. They grow to a wide range of sizes and temperments. I keep SA/CA and have seen some that will attack the glass when you walk by, let alone a shrimp in the tank. I would also say that if they are more aggressive they will not eat they cories but they will certainly try, resulting most likely in the death of both fish. Unless you are willing to buy the proper tank to house the fish you have, do the right thing and take them to the LFS. I have made the same mistake of taking free fish from someone else and believe me when I say it usually only results in trouble. I would say post a pic in the cichlid section of this forum and you will have an ID within twenty four hours then house them appropriately or take them to a store and donate them. I have been reading your posts and you have worked very hard on this tank, these cichlids will destroy it because it is to small and then die if you don't move them (if they don't kill each other first). Not to rain on your parade or anything, just calling it like I see it.
 
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