Tank cleaning day...

My African Cichlids don't really fight anymore, I finally got the right mix of fish. I used to keep Pseudotropheus demasoni in there, a black and blue banded Mbuna that was discovered in 1994. They look like this:

https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/11...g?v=1465722204

I actually bought 50 of them to start. Then they kept killing off each other so I set up several smaller tanks and for years I would fish out the females with babies in their mouths and let them raise their babies in small tanks, then put them all back in the big tank. It was a real hassle so I decided to let them do their own thing in the big tank. After a few months I was down to one big mean male that finally died. Real mean fish, and they would only attack and kill their own kind.

I replaced them with Maingano (Pseudotropheus cyaneorhabdos). Similar colors but they don't fight as much. They used to fight like crazy when I first got them, now I have two big males, one on each side of the tank and a couple females that go back and forth and every now and then I have new babies that pop up. They look like this:

https://ball-pythons.net/forums/cach...Hmm/s-l300.jpg

I also have a few 'Red Zebra' (Metriaclima Estherae). I bought six large Red Zebra years ago and one big male killed the rest, I thought I only had one left but now I see several in my tank, apparently there was a small female baby in there somewhere that grew up and bred back. Now I think I have four or five of them. They are really bright orange. Some strains are not that bright. They look like this:

https://ball-pythons.net/forums/cach...ra-300x144.jpg

And of course most of my fish are 'Yellow Labs' (Labidochromis caeruleus). These are the most gentle African Cichlids (Mbuna) and they won't fight with anyone.

https://ball-pythons.net/forums/cach...6d44308e08.jpg

Also, if you put together African Cichlids of very different colors they won't interbreed, or so they say. I do have a few 'muts' in the tank that look like greyed out yellow labs, I'm guessing it's a cross between my Acei.

Speaking of Acei, ( Pseudotropheus acei) I have just one big male. I had several in there that were all killed years ago except one big male that has made it through. I'm guessing he may have interbred since he doesn't have a mate. Probably the most peaceful fish in the tank, he looks like this:

https://ball-pythons.net/forums/cach...acei-1-jpg.jpg

Craig any pics?

how many Oscars to a tank??

oscars were my first love and a fish I still think about getting!

i had a pair of albinos that were just marvelous. Miss those big footballs !

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Originally Posted by Phillydubs

Craig any pics?

how many Oscars to a tank??

oscars were my first love and a fish I still think about getting!

i had a pair of albinos that were just marvelous. Miss those big footballs !

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No pics right now, most are on a flash drive, but my laptop crapped the bed. I'll get some soon.

I have one in the 55 and two in the 75. They are awesome fish, I've always loved them. My old albino was the best, he would eat out of my hand all the time, and if I put my hand in the tank he would brush against my hand as if he wanted me to "pet" him. I have 2 tigers and an albino now, the biggest is about 10 inches and the smallest is probably about 7 inches.

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Originally Posted by Phillydubs

That’s a stunning tank there Mr hardwick!!

I had lake Malawi peacocks and haps for a while. Hardy fish but nasty to one another at times and act like a mib family I tell ya. The mbuna you have are even fiestier. If they want to off someone they do and it ain’t pretty. But they sure do breed like mad. It’s fun seeing the babies hide in the rocks and scavenge for food until they grow and grow.

Here is my last tank before my life went flip turned upside down so I’d like to take a minute just sit right there I’ll tell you how I became the... oh wait wrong forum that’s 90s TV LOL
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

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I was singing along with you!

I pulled up to house about 7 or 8 yelled to the cabbie..yo Homes smell ya later....

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Originally Posted by Sunnieskys

I was singing along with you!

I pulled up to house about 7 or 8 yelled to the cabbie..yo Homes smell ya later....

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I looked at my kingdom, I was finally there...

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Originally Posted by craigafrechette

I still love all my fish, but man have I grown to hate tank cleaning day. Snakes are sooooooo much easier!!

...end rant.

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Man so true! I had fish before snakes and I always tell people how much easier they are to own than fish and let's be honest more enjoyable. Water changes are the worst lol.
You guys got some nice looking tanks. Rope Fish are pretty cool if you've ever seen them or Blue crayfish.

I got rid of my large tanks and started a new tank, still in the works but looking at heavily planting it before any fish go in.



https://i.imgur.com/itpUCV8.jpg

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Phillydubs

Here is my last tank before my life went flip turned upside down so I’d like to take a minute just sit right there I’ll tell you how I became the... oh wait wrong forum that’s 90s TV LOL

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Quote:

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Originally Posted by Sunnieskys

I was singing along with you!

I pulled up to house about 7 or 8 yelled to the cabbie..yo Homes smell ya later....

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Quote:

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Originally Posted by craigafrechette

I looked at my kingdom, I was finally there...

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thread digression i busted out this shirt just for you guys

https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/201...8a2416d237.jpg

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Originally Posted by tttaylorrr

thread digression i busted out this shirt just for you guys

https://ball-pythons.net/forums/cach...8a2416d237.jpg

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Yesssssssssssss!

BAHAHAHAHAHHAAHAH

Third thread has become all out karaoke with t shirt lyrics. !!! Love it


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