Nanochromis Parilus

[Jeffery Doty]

Hello All,

After a few months break from dwarf's, I am starting again. Today I picked up a pair of N. Parilus, and would love to get advice on how to best keep them. Currently they are in a 20 long (12 x 12 x30), by themselves, with sand, java moss and a flower pot. Temp is 78, and water is soft and about 6.5. Am I on the right track?

Thank you.

Jeff
Oregon

 

[tjudy]

Sounds good Jeff. I have always used dithers with this species. I like rasboras or platies personally. Most African tetras that are readily available are expensive, large and sometimes aggressive.

 

[Neil]

Hey Jeff!
Sounds good to me and I have also found it to be very helpful to use dithers to cut down on aggression between the pair. They can be mean little buggers. Accordingly, it would be helpful to give them some more structure in the tank, including other caves. I have found that they like lower caves that they can dig out a little before spawning. This seems to increase the courtship process and pair bond. Good luck with them. They aren't an easy fish.
Neil

 

[Jeffery Doty]

Ted, Neil,

Thanks for the help. Yes, I am finding out that the male is a wife beater! She looks ready to spawn, he looks ready to kill. How about adding another pair of something else, like a common krib? Neil, what did you use for dithers?

Thanks.

Jeff
Oregon

 

[tjudy]

:? I had a Pel. taeniatus 'nyete' male that was a wife beater. I isolaated him in a net up in the upper corner fo the tank for a couple weeks. It took two incarceration periods, but after the second week the female was in condition and in the mood, and they have been good ever since.

 

[Jeffery Doty]

Thanks for the help everyone. I have fry!!

I added a mess of rocks and a handfull of peat moss to the tank, as well as a pair of rams a couple weeks ago. Must have done the trick, because tonight I saw freeswimming fry. They are really cool, head down, sifting in the substrate, just like Mom and Dad. Even at this tiny size.

The rams have managed to stay out of harms way, due to the large amount of rock and java moss. But, they parents are not nice to say the least.

Anyway, feeling pretty good about this one.

Jeff
Oregon

 

[Neil]

Jeffery Doty,
Congratulations!

Anyway, feeling pretty good about this one.

You should. That is a good spawn. If I would have responded to your last question, I would have told you that I use another cichlid as a target and no dithers. How did the rams fair in the process?
Neil