It’s finally happening

[Jwitho]

I’m finally getting a trio of Ivanacara bimaculata in the coming weeks, set up a small grow out tank as they’re only 3cm currently to grow them in, then they’ll likely enter my main 48x24x24 Amazon tank for a few months while I get a separate 36x24x12 set up for them to live permanently

The grow out tank is made entirely of spare equipment, it pays to hoard sometimes haha

 

[anewbie]

Just remember they are pair forming so if mixed sex the odd person will be unwelcomed.

 

[MacZ]

That's a.... small tank. I'd also remove the rocks (because this is a type of lime stone and will raise hardness) and replace them with wood,

 

[Jwitho]

That's a.... small tank. I'd also remove the rocks (because this is a type of lime stone and will raise hardness) and replace them with wood,

Oh no it’s a small tank indeed, it’s purely a temporary holding tank with a much bigger tank to move on into and eventually a separate tank for themselves, but the opportunity of getting a trio for £15 presented itself
I’m using RO water so the rock won’t be a problem really, I’ll just account for its impact of hardness

Just remember they are pair forming so if mixed sex the odd person will be unwelcomed.

The trio is purely to get a pair, the remaining one will either live in my main Amazon tank or be taken to the shop I work at to find new waters

 

[Mike Wise]

I don't know if you can see differences in sex at 3cm/1¼". Can you see the white vent diagnostic of females on any of them?

 

[Jwitho]

I don't know if you can see differences in sex at 3cm/1¼". Can you see the white vent diagnostic of females on any of them?

I have the benefit of working in a shop where we’re holding a group, so I’ll be able to choose from 13 individuals

 

[MacZ]

I’m using RO water so the rock won’t be a problem really, I’ll just account for its impact of hardness

In such a small tank you will have hardness and pH rising inbetween waterchanges followed by a drop with every waterchange. That is what you will want to prevent.

 

[Jwitho]

In such a small tank you will have hardness and pH rising inbetween waterchanges followed by a drop with every waterchange. That is what you will want to prevent.

That’s a valid point, Ill swap out for some slate I have instead

 

[dw1305]

Hi all,

That’s a valid point, Ill swap out for some slate I have instead

Personally I wouldn't have any rocks, just "twiggy" wood and lots of structural leaf litter.

You want the structural elements to break up "line of sight" and rock doesn't really offer that. Once the plants have grown in they perform the blocking function.

I pyo all my wood and mainly use "stag-headed" Oak (Quercus spp.) and Corkscrew Hazel (Corylus avellana "Tortuosa") from the garden.

Cheers Darrel

 

[KenL]

May I ask where your shop is?
Good luck.

 

[KenL]

ps don’t expect much sympathy on here.

 

[dw1305]

Hi all,

ps don’t expect much sympathy on here.

Not much sympathy, but a lot of good advice.

@Jwitho are you in the UK? I can post some "structural leaves" if you are.

I know what I prefer, but I'd go for "firm but fair".

Cheers Darrel

 

[Jwitho]

Hi all,

Personally I wouldn't have any rocks, just "twiggy" wood and lots of structural leaf litter.

You want the structural elements to break up "line of sight" and rock doesn't really offer that. Once the plants have grown in they perform the blocking function.

I pyo all my wood and mainly use "stag-headed" Oak (Quercus spp.) and Corkscrew Hazel (Corylus avellana "Tortuosa") from the garden.

Cheers Darrel

To be honest, the rocks were just used as it’s what I had spare, all my wood pieces are huge, but rock is getting removed

May I ask where your shop is?
Good luck.

it’s in the West Midlands Uk, sedgley road aquarium

Hi all,

Not much sympathy, but a lot of good advice.

@Jwitho are you in the UK? I can post some "structural leaves" if you are.

I know what I prefer, but I'd go for "firm but fair".

Cheers Darrel

im pretty thick skinned, advice is always welcomed!
I have a ton of seed pods, savu and cappucia that I’m boiling so they’ll be getting dropped in anyway but I appreciate the offer!
I’ve kept and bred a fair few apistos, but bimaculata have been on my wishlist for 5 years now, so I’d much rather get this spot on

 

[rasmusW]

Good luck with them. Looking forward to see them in their final home.

Keep an eye on aggression in that small holding tank.

-r

 

[Jwitho]

Good luck with them. Looking forward to see them in their final home.

Keep an eye on aggression in that small holding tank.

-r

Thank you, it’s definitely been a long time coming
And I will be, I’ve got 2 back up plans if things do go sour, I know the current tank isn’t ideal for anything more than a few months at most

 

[dw1305]

Hi all,

I have a ton of seed pods, savu and cappucia that I’m boiling so they’ll be getting dropped in anyway but I appreciate the offer!

PM me if you change your mind, I always have spare <"Magnolia grandiflora"> leaves.

What I would say is that structural leaf litter offers a lot of hiding places for the fish and also provides some natural activity and <"environmental enrichment"">. I'm personally convinced that this reduces stress and bullying.

cheers Darrel

 

[Jwitho]

Hi all,

PM me if you change your mind, I always have spare <"Magnolia grandiflora"> leaves.

What I would say is that structural leaf litter offers a lot of hiding places for the fish and also provides some natural activity and <"environmental enrichment"">. I'm personally convinced that this reduces stress and bullying.

cheers Darrel

I actually have quite a lot of magnolia leaves myself, they’re incredibly useful aren’t they!

 

[anewbie]

Hi all,

PM me if you change your mind, I always have spare <"Magnolia grandiflora"> leaves.

What I would say is that structural leaf litter offers a lot of hiding places for the fish and also provides some natural activity and <"environmental enrichment"">. I'm personally convinced that this reduces stress and bullying.

cheers Darrel

My experience with IB is hiding is less of an issue then with dwarf child that are polygamous - ignoring that these fishes have very low level of aggression to begin with they do not suffer from the male/female cycle between breeding.

However i suspect very low ph is required for successful breeding. My pair bred numerous times with ec around 30 but the eggs never hatched - of course (and i have had this issue with other fishes) where the male or female are infertile (for example my winkelfleck eggs would never hatched and replacing the female instantly fixed the issue); i never did pay attention to ph in that aquarium since the ec was so low but i suspect it might have been an issue. I still have the male/female but they have been moved to another aquarium that is very soft but not suitable for breeding.

 

[Mike Wise]

Cichlasomines, like I. bimaculata, tend to have very different habitat needs compared to geophagines like apistos.

 

[Jwitho]

Cichlasomines, like I. bimaculata, tend to have very different habitat needs compared to geophagines like apistos.

In which way? Water parameters would be pretty much the same, I’m guessing in terms of physical habitat