punman

I really need to keep it simple. Cyps and featherfins need plenty of swimming space and a few boundaries (Rock Piles) for security and bower building separation for the Foai. These are not fish that dwell in caves or hide in rock crevices.

I was so excited to see a female foai holding eggs on December 23 and I thought I had a Christmas present come early. To my disappointment, on Christmas morning, two days later, she was no longer holding. Well, at least I know I have males and females, and that they are mature. Two males continue to build nests. The biggest fish has the biggest nest, but I think that the smaller fish is showing the brighter colours at the moment. I update you with another picture. (Apologies for the size - I seem to have trouble shrinking it on this site).

I cannot comment on this year's prices but I had a 180 gallon ordered through Gold Aquarium in the spring of 2005 for $450 including glass top. $200 for a metal stand and I was ready to go. I already had a light and a couple of filters so just bought a heater and one more filter and I was happy. I used paneling to cover the stand. It looks decent enough for the basement TV room and for about $800 I got new whereas many people wanted over $1000 for their used setups that size.

Well, today was the day. I caught the holding female from the 180 gallon tank without too much trouble. She didn't spit in the tank and didn't spit in the net. I put her in an ice cream bucket and she didn't spit in there either. I took the edge of a toothpick, opened her mouth and stripped out three fry. I left her alone for 10 minutes and she spit two more. She and the fry are in a 20 gallon tank. I took a couple of pictures of the fry. They are shown below. I plan on leaving mom with the fry for a couple of weeks so she can get her strength back. I hear that cyps don't bother their fry.

Well, it has been two weeks now. I think I may strip her around the middle of next week. Here is another picture. You can see an eye. It is really weird.

Many people strive for a more "natural" look - but if your water is good and the food is good, and the fish are happy - and you are happy -- what else really matters?

Another update - more colour and a pit dug a foot in diameter.

A Utinta female was discovered holding eggs yesterday so I snapped a picture. She is pretty small herself compared to the males. When I put the picture on the computer screen I was surprised to see eggs right through her so I am posting the picture below. Since she is with feather fins as well, I don't want to lose fry and would like to remove her when the fry are viable. Would that be at maybe 18 days? I hear they are notorious for spitting in the net so don't want to do it too soon. I have had other mouth brooders (frontosas, mbuna, etc.) but never Cyps until now.

I own three Eheim Classics - but - if you like the AC 500 - just buy one more. I have two AC110s (the old version was AC500) on my 90 gallon tank and they keep things clean just fine.

I don't mess with the Calgary water. I wouldn't start adding stuff unless you have to. Quantity of fish is an issue but diversity is another. For example, 30 fish with three species and 10 of each that get along might work better than 15 different kinds of fish and two of each.

Just an update. One of my Sibwesa foai has started to colour up and he is nest building. Below is a picture. Do you think he will really colour up very soon or does this phase last a long time?

How terrible to lose so much in such a short time. I hope you don't lose interest in the hobby though.

Thanks to all for the input. Based on suggestions from fish forums, I made the decision to put the Cyps and Foai in the 180 gallon together. I put the Foai Sibwesas in first and left them by themselves for twelve hours. They seemed to huddle together and not move much. They had seemed more active in the 90 gallon tank. Then I added the Cyprichromis Utintas. Within ten minutes all fish were swimming around happily. This morning it seems that one Cyp and one Foai have staked out territories in different parts of the tank and chase away other intruders. The great thing is that there is room for all and no one gets cornered or beat up. I post below, pictures of the 180 gallon tank. The setup is similar to the 90 gallon – sparse rock piles with plenty of swimming room. That seems to suit these types of fish but should anyone have better ideas, let me know what works with these two species. Just click on the images to see them larger.

But a 90 really wouldn't be big enough for 13 Cyps and 10 Featherfins would it?

Two months ago I bought 13 Cyprichromis Utinta that were 2-3 inches long --5 males for sure with great color and it looks like the others could be females. They are by themselves in a 4 foot, 45 gallon tank. The males are starting to chase each other. A month ago I bought 10 C. Foai Sibwesa that are 3-4 inches long and I put them alone in a 90 gallon tank. I see a few small pits in the sand but no color in the fish and I don't know the gender of them. I have finally cleared out my 6 foot 180 gallon tank of Malawi cichlids and want to put the two above groups in that 180 gallon tank together. I want both of these fish to breed, and I don't mind stripping or removing females. Is this a good time to make the move and does anyone see any reason why I should not do this?

That is exciting. I bred blue dolphins for two years and sold hundreds of fry in Alberta. My largest spawning was 95 fry! I sold my breeding group in the spring but kept a few fry that are almost mature. They are a great fish to have. What size tank are you using?

What % of water did you change that time? PS - Did all those fish make back to Edmonton okay last week?

These are good suggestions. I will have to try the flower pot setup.

I was looking for information on breeding S. petricola. I have 8 that I purchased two and a half years ago. I don’t know how many males or females I have but three of them look kind of “plump” – bellies are fatter. Are there some good links to this or people with experience? I have a 33 gallon tank I could dedicate for this purpose if it is big enough. They are very active when mixed in with other fish in my 45 gallon or 90 gallon tank but I don’t know the signs of spawning behaviour or how to go about making it a success.

Just got home from the Calgary Stampeder football game, seeing Calgary lose by one. Walk by the tank in the living room and see a petricola catfish swimming in the cat's water dish. It seems that it jumped out the top of the tank where the Aqua Clear 110 has its outflow. It must have done a four foot dive into the bowl of water. It would have been there a maximum of four hours. I think I will name the catfish Lucky.

Thank you for sharing that with us.

That was my logic too. Also, I noticed with my breeding group, the females were more "blotchy", especially when holding.

I have raised Blue Dolphins for three years and have sold a lot of fry. Nevertheless, telling the sexes even in adults can be a challenge. I recently sold my breeding group but kept back 6 fry 18 months ago. Two of them jumped ship so I have four approaching 4 inches in length. I post below the four pictures for your evaluation. I am wondering if the first two are males, last two females; but I do not know.

I have ten fish - most are three inches and a couple are four inches. I can't tell males from females but hope to weed out and pare down to maybe two males and four females if possible.

Just got some 3-4 inch Cyathopharynx foai (Sibwesa) Thought I'd share a couple of pictures. I don't know how many people have foai in Alberta. I can't wait to see them colour up. They are in my 90 gallon but I will move them up to the 180 when they show breeding activity.