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I caught one of my cichlids biting on the tail fin of another. She's looking pretty ragged, and I'm not sure what to do for her, if anything. Her fins are torn, and she's hanging out at the top of the tank, right where the filtered water comes out. Otherwise she's right next to the heater. I've never doctored a cichlid. Help!

Well, when I went to the fish store yesterday, I saw these itty bitty cichlids for $1 each. Another of my blue spot cichlids died, so in this huge 75 gallon tank, I had one cichlid and 2 huge plecos.

So, I got 5 little ones. One is bright yellow, one red zebra, 2 vertical black stripes and one with horizontal stripes. The horizontal striped one is the runt of the litter -- really teensy, and I was afraid the plecos or the blue spot would get him. But, he's found these various hiding places in the coral and volcanic rock holding the silk plant. I saw him briefly this morning, and he was darting around. So far all 5 are alive and well. Blue spot doesn't seem to know what to think about it all. And yellow guy actually nibbled on one of the pleco's tail. I cracked up.

Nan

Congrats Nann! It's always fun to bring home new fish! I just got a 29 gallon long tank..lighted hood included...for FREE!!! What a deal! (too bad it's not a 55, but I'll take what I can get and like it! <img src="/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" /> )

A lady I know gave it away and it cleaned up real nice. It was all covered in calcium deposits but a bit of straight white vinegar was all it needed, it looks almost brand new. They had the same fish in this tank for 17 years!! The last one finally went belly up a while ago. I guess after 17 years they both had had enough of aquariums. Good news for me!

Now, I just have to figure out what I want to do with it!

Sigh, the horizontal stripe is nowhere to be found, and a friend saw the blue spot biting the smaller of the horizontal striped guys. I caught the blue spot and separated him by putting him into a net, but then another of the new fish started chasing the little guy. So, I got a drinking glass, and put the teeny guy in it. He seems happy, ate all the flakes I put on the water -- one was bigger than him! <img src="/images/graemlins/tongue.gif" alt="" /> He seemed in good condition again this morning, so I'm hoping he'll grow a bit bigger in the glass, then I'll put him back into the community.
Nan

Nann, do you have one of those plastic containers that hang on the side of the tank? If you can get one I bet that would work well until he grows big enough.

It would also help them all to get accustom to each other if he is there were they can see each other and interact without getting hurt. Of course it would be good to have something in there with him that he could hide in...if such a thing were possible with those containers...depending on it's size.

Just a thought Nann <img src="/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

Well, I went out today and picked up a tank stand for that new aquarium. I found out it isn't a 29 gallon...but a 20 long. Oh well, 29 would be better, but I still got if for free!

I have the 20 on top and the 15 on the bottom shelf. Need a lighted hood for the 15 and not sure if I should use the filter that I have for the 20. It's for tanks up to 50 gallons and I'm thinking it may be a bit overkill for a 20 gallon tank...any thoughts ?? It's a penguin 170 biowheel filter. I bought it back when I was considering the 36 corner aquarium.

Going to go slow setting these up. I think I want to try chichlids or something. It would be nice to have one good sized fish and a few smaller variety...just have to figure out which ones are compatible with each other. This will be fun! <img src="/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" />

Sigh,
I found that the second striped guy was MIA, and had put the one from the drinking glass back into the tank, next morning, no striped fishies, and I could swear blue spot was burping. Reminded me of the song Timothy.

So, I now have one blue spot, one orange and one yellow cichlid, plus two large plecostami in a 75 gallon tank. (Sounds like the 12 days of Christmas) I've got music on the brain today!
Nan

I decided on a plain tropical community tank for this 20 gallon. I have 4 long finned danios in there now..and this a.m. they were spawning for crying out loud! Guess they like the tank...lol

I'm also planning on putting some dwarf gouramis in that tank as well..just 2...either the neon dwarf or powder blue. Also an algea eater of some kind..maybe an octo cat. I read that they can live pretty well in a tank that is planted and has some algea in it. I have lots of plants in there, hope they do o.k...and I'm sure the algea will show up sooner or later.

Just waiting for the tank to cycle properly before I get anymore fish in there...sure is hard to wait...lol.

is 2.5 gallons not a good size for just one small angelfish?

I suppose you could keep one small angel in a 2 1/2 if you do regular water changes and the like, but I think angels are a social fish and really should be with others of thier kind and 2 1/2 gallons would be too small for 2.

Another thing....I don't know of any angels that really stay very small for long April. Most get up to about 6 inches at adult size.