Cichlid tank question.

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ClownPleco - 04 May 2005 20:16 GMT

54 corner
110 Watts Power Compact
Small CO2 generator
lots of rock formations
50% of tank is covered with plants (tall grasses)
couple of logs for the plecos

About 6 months ago I made a stupid mistake and whipped out all of my
Lake Tanganyikan cichlids. So this gave me the chance to restock. I
purchased 10-12 J. Marlieri and 10-12 N. Lelupi and 4 N. Brichardi.
Previously I had a pair of breeding N. Brichadi and they pretty much
desimated any attempts to add other types of fish.

I'm happy to report that I now have a pair of N. Lelupis and J.
Marlieri breeding. My question is, should I try to remove some of the
fish? My guess is that it is going to be very difficult with the
plants and rocks to try to net anything. I have also read that the J.
Malieris might stop breeding if the decor gets moved.

My alternative is to leave well enough alone.

Thoughts?

Thanks

Rick

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Amateur Cichlids - 04 May 2005 23:13 GMT

> 54 corner
> 110 Watts Power Compact
[quoted text clipped - 16 lines]
>
> My alternative is to leave well enough alone.

Move any excess fish at night a couple hours after the lights are all out.
Utilize a flashlight to briefly locate the fish. Using a clear plastic bag
rather than a net can also help get the fish without them realizing they're
caught. The excess fish should be away from the breeding pairs and not too
hard to locate. For the ones hiding among the rocks and grass, I'd leave
them there for now.
Tim
www.fishaholics.org

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Frank - 05 May 2005 06:05 GMT

If your going to try to keep any of the fry, your going to have to
eather remove the other fish, or the fry. Try to syphon out the fry -
or trap the other fish. Two plastic soda bottles with the bottoms cut
off, invert the tops and slide the open bottoms togeather, bait and
sink it in the tank. To remove traped fish, simpily pull the bottles
apart......... Frank

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Jim Anderson - 05 May 2005 16:50 GMT

> 54 corner
> 110 Watts Power Compact
[quoted text clipped - 22 lines]
>
> Rick

<http://www.floridadriftwood.com/fish_trap.htm>

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Jim Anderson
( 8(|) To email me just pull my_finger

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Ridley Scoot - 08 May 2006 21:13 GMT

> My question is, should I try to remove some of the
> fish?

[....]

> My alternative is to leave well enough alone.
>
> Thoughts?
>
> Thanks
> Rick

Rick,

As far as the "well enough" option, hopefully some other will be able
to provide a more experienced opinion. In lieu of that, here's what I
can tell you:

I've read in a few places that some (all?) Julie species co-habitate
fine with multiple generations of fry. Hopefully that means you are OK
on the Julie front.

I'm sure that with all the other predators/opportunists in the tank
there will be some degree of predation of the fry. This may establish
a workable "balance" in the fish population. (aka "well enough")

However, your tank isn't getting any bigger.

Regardless of whether the community will socially establish itself,
that sounds to me like a loaded tank. Given that, having a
persistently increasing bio-load (young fish growing up and new fish
being born) isn't probably the best plan.

I'd consider removing at least one of those populations of fish (I
suggest N. leleupi). I would wager on minimal problems going forward
if you can.

Good luck!

-Matt

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Pet Forum / Aquaria / Cichlids / May 2006

Cichlid tank question.