Convict Cichlids are so called due to the pattern of black bars adorning thier blue-grey bodies. Females will often have bright red, pink, or orange coloration on their bellies, particularly when she is spawning. As quite an aggressive cichlid, Convicts are best kept with cichlids of larger size or equal temperament. While they will uproot most plants and enjoy digging and moving things around in their home, suitable decoration includes rockwork, driftwood, plants, and any other areas that will provide shelter and hiding space. Convicts are very easy to breed and pairs form quite easily. They may breed numerous times throughout the year, leaving you with a plethora of young fish. Feed Convicts a variety of meaty foods, as well as vegetable matter, like lettuce. A hearty flake or pellet is fine as a staple diet.
Filed under Freshwater Fish by on Sep 1st, 2010. Comment. 
This big and beautiful cichlid features a varying coloration. Females are the typical dull gray-brown, while males will sport anything from violet, green, and blue metallic shades with rusty-colored highlights and sometimes black spots around the head. As the common name implies, in the wild, this fish sifts through the sand for its food. Because of this behavior, provide a tank with ample bottom area and a fine, soft gravel or sand. Rock and other decor is fine, as well. A large tank is also important because of the eventual adult size. This particular cichlid is peaceful with most other large cichlids, though they can be semi-aggressive toward other Fossochromis. They may also eat smaller tankmates, so choose carefully. A diet of frozen meaty foods and a basic flake or pellet should suffice. They are a typical mouth brooder.
Filed under Freshwater Fish by on Aug 31st, 2010. Comment.
The Royal Pleco is one popular pleco sought after by hobbyists. Their pronounced forehead and striking patterns make them a striking addition to any aquarium. The color is normally a dark green with various types of black lines and/or spots running along their body in a horizontal fashion. The markings vary between individual specimens. Eye color will also vary from a dark orange to a vibrant red. Royal Plecos are quite secretive and do not move around the aquarium very often. For this reason caves or other types of hiding spaces will need to be provided. They get along with most fish and work well in community tanks. Provide driftwood for their diet along with a form of pellet food that contains both vegetative and meaty material. Frozen food can be given to them but shouid be reserved as a treat for them and not a regular food source.
Filed under Freshwater Fish by on Aug 30th, 2010. Comment.
South American Bumblebee Catfish are attractive bottom dwelling cats. They are named for their broad light and dark bands. They should not be mistaken for the Asian Bumblebee Cat which grows much larger. These cats are non-aggressive and do well with other fish, including other cats, as long as they are not too tiny and able to be swallowed. They are not fussy eaters and will enjoy small meaty foods thaat sink to the bottom for them to scoop up.The tank should be furnished with rocks or wood and other dim areas for the fish to hide in.
Filed under Freshwater Fish by on Aug 26th, 2010. Comment.
This particular juli has many color variations, all white and black/brown in assorted horizontal/vertical/broken striped patterns. Females get larger than males. Julies require a deep, soft substrate and lots of rocks. They will stay toward the bottom of the aquarium, ususally hovering over their “territory”. Any fish that stays toward the top should be a good tankmate, as well as other Tanganyikans of similar aggression. Julies require a predominantly meaty diet of frozen brine, mysis, or other small items, though a staple flake should be acceptable as a daily diet, as well. Julies are substrate spawners. They form pairs and both will guard the eggs and fry. These pairs are very fragile and often “divorce” quite abruptly and with much quarreling.
Filed under Freshwater Fish by on Aug 26th, 2010. Comment.
