jonclark96
Past CCA President
Anyone else have a species that they've tried to keep, but for whatever reason just can't keep them alive? For me, it is parachromis motaguense. I'm going on my 3rd failed attempt in less than 2 years.
The first try was the summer of 2011 after the ACA. I picked up 4 2"+ juvies and put them in a 75 with several other similar sized fish. I lost the first one within days, and the other three over the next few weeks. I chalked it up to shipping stress and aggression.
I tried again last spring when DQ had a brood from his pair. I got 6-8 fry from him, but they turned out to be a bit smaller than I thought, so I had to move some fish around to have space. I threw the group in a breeder net overnight until I had time to rearrange things the next day. I woke up to find the largest one had killed all the others in a period of 12 hours. The large one went into the original tank I had planned with other grow outs and perished soon there after.
The third time was an order I made from Cichlids of the Americas a few weeks ago. This time I ordered another 6 1" fish. There was an extra in the bag, but it didn't look well upon arrival and died shortly thereafter. I put the other 6 in a 10 gallon. I lost the next one the first night, then things seemed to calm down. The fry were VERY reclusive, hiding among the drift wood and fake plants in the tank. I decided to throw some endlers in to help make them more comfortable. I thought there was no way that endlers could push around parachromis of equal size. Still, I never saw the parachromis except the occasional dart out of their hiding spot to grab a flake. Saturday, there were two dead on the bottom of the tank. I did a big water change and left the lights off since then. I came home today to find two more floating. Maybe its another case of the alpha fish killing all its siblings, but I haven't seen anything out and about in the tank except the endlers. Talk about frustrating.
Anyone got any pointers? Similar experiences with a species you've really want to keep and breed but just no luck?
The first try was the summer of 2011 after the ACA. I picked up 4 2"+ juvies and put them in a 75 with several other similar sized fish. I lost the first one within days, and the other three over the next few weeks. I chalked it up to shipping stress and aggression.
I tried again last spring when DQ had a brood from his pair. I got 6-8 fry from him, but they turned out to be a bit smaller than I thought, so I had to move some fish around to have space. I threw the group in a breeder net overnight until I had time to rearrange things the next day. I woke up to find the largest one had killed all the others in a period of 12 hours. The large one went into the original tank I had planned with other grow outs and perished soon there after.
The third time was an order I made from Cichlids of the Americas a few weeks ago. This time I ordered another 6 1" fish. There was an extra in the bag, but it didn't look well upon arrival and died shortly thereafter. I put the other 6 in a 10 gallon. I lost the next one the first night, then things seemed to calm down. The fry were VERY reclusive, hiding among the drift wood and fake plants in the tank. I decided to throw some endlers in to help make them more comfortable. I thought there was no way that endlers could push around parachromis of equal size. Still, I never saw the parachromis except the occasional dart out of their hiding spot to grab a flake. Saturday, there were two dead on the bottom of the tank. I did a big water change and left the lights off since then. I came home today to find two more floating. Maybe its another case of the alpha fish killing all its siblings, but I haven't seen anything out and about in the tank except the endlers. Talk about frustrating.
Anyone got any pointers? Similar experiences with a species you've really want to keep and breed but just no luck?
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