What would be the optimal size tank to house a colony of 20 Tropheus sp. chimbas when they reach maturity?
Tropheus tank size
- Thread starter Cichlid Guy
- Start date
I disagree... I think a 75g would be sufficent... some one I know who is IMO one of the smartest people about cichlids has kept 30 in a 75g and did weekly 50% water changes and every other week cleaned the filter and he had them spawning all the time.
also, you want to have two seperate rock piles, not one big group lining up the wall that way the males can claim different territories
The answer depends on what you mean as optimal. Do you mean minimal, ok, or mazimum.
The minimum is 100G, 150G is ok. Maximum is only limited by the cost and space considerations. Lake tanganyca would do fine.
On optimum, get the biggest tank your space and budget allows. One which is longer than higher. This I identify as optimum.
The minimum is 100G, 150G is ok. Maximum is only limited by the cost and space considerations. Lake tanganyca would do fine.
On optimum, get the biggest tank your space and budget allows. One which is longer than higher. This I identify as optimum.
let me ask you guys who answered... do you keep tropheus or are you just going off of what you have heard... half of the people who give tropheus advise have never kept them so you have to watch out with that... and I always thought it was called Lake Tanganyika
wwildcats04 said:
Yes, wild cat, I have kept tropheus....and I think its great that you have had success with a 75G..frankly, I've kept them succcessfully in tanks as small as 40g - but then i've had fish for 37 years. Hehe..I've broken a lot of "rules" over the years! I too am a firm believer in heavy filtration and big, frequent water changes. But if I'm giving advice to someone who is just starting with tropheus, I wanted to give him advice that will help him succeed, and a larger tank won't hurt. I'm actually more concerned with tank area than volume, particularly with aggressive territorial fish. Most 75g today are 4 feet long.. I have an old acrylic 75 that is 5 feet long and has the same bottom dimensions as a 100 gallon tank (wish I could find more of them!). I still keep a few stray tropheus in my 90 gallon mainly mbuna tank with no problems whatsover (DOH! There goes another "rule"). So cichlid guy, if you feel comfortable with using a 75 gallon tank, go for it! Maybe you could go with 15 trophs. instead of 20.
By the way, the Tropheus "Chimba" are beautiful! I've never had that variety - here is a nice picture link I found - http://www.hagblomfoto.com/chimba.htm - let us know how it goes...hmmm...maybe i need to set up a chimba tank too!
P.S. Hey wild cat - I noticed you have a watchman goby in your salt water set up - I have one in my reef tank - my favorite! Lots of character!
Have fun folks!
I just walked out of a breeders home today and his 25 tropheus dubosi were in a 40 gal breeder tank. I have never seen or heard of that working but it does for him. I have also see with my own eyes, 30 in a 75 gal (dubosi) and another 40 in a 90 gal kept for 2 years. I agree, it you are new to this you are better off with a larger tank.
PS: I once kept 6 in a 30 with no deaths. They are now in a 55.
PS: I once kept 6 in a 30 with no deaths. They are now in a 55.