Re: First tank

["Walter McCree" <wmccree@usa.net>]

While I agree with some of what you say and I am definatly no expert by any
means, and I haven't published any books. ;-)

 I have had little to no problems with removing fry from the parents that
are housed in smaller tanks.  I have 2  pairs both in separate 15 gallon(by
themselves) and one pair in a 75 gallon.  I remove the fry from the smaller
tanks after about 3 weeks.  Keep in mind that I have never had, or seen,
Kribs with 300 to 400 fry so 3 weeks works out ok for me. The only advantage
I've had with the pair in the 75 is letting the fry grow to a larger size.

I also agree that it can be kind of difficult to get anything for them at
the LFS, but I have yet to have one turn me away for trading for some fish
food.

If Mary Bailey is having a fit right about now I apologize.  I'm just
posting my opinion and experience that has worked for me.

You didn't mention what Dwarfs, if any, you would recommend for a 10 gallon.

Thanks,
Walter McCree
wmccree@usa.net

-----Original Message-----
From: alex pastor <alexp@idirect.com>
To: apisto@admin.listbox.com <apisto@admin.listbox.com>
Date: Sunday, February 28, 1999 8:44 PM
Subject: Re: First tank


>Walter McCree writes
>-
>
>>I would go with a single pair of P. pulcher.  In my opinion this is a
>>perfect choice for the first dwarf cichlid.
>>
>>Your main problem with a 10 gallon is going to be finding someone to take
>>the fry from you before they get too large/many for the tank.
>>
>P. pulcher according to the Baensch atlas, Mary Bailey of the British
>Cichlid Association, and Richter's book on Dwarf cichlids recommend that
the
>absolute minimum tank size for these fish is 24 inches, 36 inches,  30
>inches plus respectively.  That's all bigger than a 10 gallon.  Mary Bailey
>would take an absolute fit if she found out about your recommendation.
>She's an interesting read, by the way.  She has a Cichlid page in
"Practical
>Fishkeeping", a British magazine.  I've been reading her responses to
>letters, and she does not mince her words. I would even say that she is
>quite feisty at times.
>
>These fish grow to 3 inches (female) and 4 inches (male).  They can lay
>anywhere from 200 to 300 eggs on the roof of a cave.  It is recommended
that
>the fry should be kept with the parents until they are ready to spawn
again.
>If the fry are removed too soon the male wants to spawn again while the
>female does not, and he becomes aggressive.  This is from Baensch.
>
>That would make life rather difficult for these fish in a 10 gallon tank.
>My cousin has a pair in a 50 gallon tank.  There are now 42+ one inch long
>juveniles and 20+ half inch fry plus the parents.  (He's moving the larger
>ones tomorrow - I hope.  It's kind of getting crowded in there.  Good thing
>half the tank is full of Java moss so there is some buffer zone between the
>parents who are guarding their younger fry from the older ones. )
>
>I agree with you Walter that P. pulcher are an ideal starter fish.  They
>exhibit extraordinary parental care.  They don't even harm their older
brood
>while the younger one is in the tank.  However, other fish are in danger
for
>their lives. There is a  problem in finding someone to take the juveniles.
>LFSs are not all that eager to take them unless they are something extra
>special or it's a chain store that can distribute them.
>
>In the past I posted a question as to how long these fish live and for how
>long do they spawn.  I was informed that they live for about 8 years, and
>that I should get myself a small heated river!  At that time we had over 60
>juveniles spread out between 5 grow out tanks of 10,15 and 40 gallons.  And
>the parents had another 40+ in their care.  I was wondering if my cousin
>would have to start using his bathtub for the fish and take his showers at
>my place. :):)  He even had a dozen over at my place, except they grew so
>fast that they ate some of my borelliis. :(  They were summarily evicted.
>
>G. Kadar
>
>
>
>
>
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