Malawi Mansion in the Making Journal

Update on additional juvi's:

the planned collection of the juvi's have not happened yet with the hectic end of year school program, that will be sometime early Dec 12. @ Rikus - the breeder and I think Scotty told me to keep any new fish in the fry basket for a few days - I had one or 2 timid juvi's from the bulk buy and they all made it after being harassed, now part of tank after a few days in the fry basket...

happy fish keeping...

 

Interesting observation on another thread by @Rowland on color intensity & Tetrabits : Labidochromis Caeruleus: mine went an intense dark yolk yellow... poultry farmers (more specific egg farmers) would refer to this a mielie yolk's...

 

oh no! rethinking, planning and more thinking... Could be starting a new back drop soon - like the planted terrace idea...

Dramatic AquaScapes - DIY Aquarium Backgrounds Photo Gallery - Page 1

 

today I sourced some new fish
4 Metriaclima estherae - Red Zebra Cichlid
4 Metriaclima greshakei - ice blue

2 Tropheus duboisi - dubiosi

- will post more details and pics tomorrow, everyone is settling in now...

 

Duboisi!! love those little fish! Just a shame they lose their spots.....

 

with any luck I could add

2 F1 Zim Rock males and 1 Copadichromis trewavasae male (wild caught) to my tank...

A friend has a saying "you never know your luck in a big city" which really happened yesterday...

Tomorrow I go and view them and IF I like them, I will bring them home...

Talk about raising the bar from liquorish all sorts "fishies' in early tank days, to malawi x-cross breeds, to F1 and wild caught... Feels like graduation almost and have I paid school fees!

 

just released into my tank:

3 males, size 7-9cm on average:

F1: Otopharynx Lithobates (zim rock) http://www.cichlid-forum.com/profiles/species.php?id=2292

Wild Caught: Copadichromis trewavasae http://www.cichlid-forum.com/articles/c_trewavasae.php

F1: Aulonocara Chilumba Copadichromis Aulonocara stuartgranti sp. Chilumba (not the best weblink with info on it, but will try for better later)

will load pictures of actual fish tomorrow...

 

:huh: tragedy struck the Mansion, 16 Haps and Peacocks succumbed to decease after the introduction of the healthy and decease free fish in post 47... Tank is still in medication period but seems to have settled now as no more bodies were found floating in the last 36 hours...

At the same time I have made contact with a great guy in southern suburbs who specializes in Marine setups, what a great aide and wealth of knowledge...

Due to the heat spikes in the tank, we have invested in a chiller, it is on order from the wholesaler... Pricy but if I want to do it properly and stock the tank within the next year with high quality fish, I need to ensure my setup is pristine...

Candidate Species under consideration for the final setup:
Zim Rocks, or
Frontosa, or
DuBuosi, or
Trewavasae, or
Ice Blue - also a possibility

For now I just need to get through the meds period and install the chiller... Until the final decision is made, I will just stick with the remaining residents...

 

Polla, just a question... Who sold you the F1 Otopharynx Lithobates?

 

a breeder from Somerset West... Do you have any input, insights into Otopharynx Lithobates stock availability? Please PM me is so

 

With all due respect, I know these fish have not been imported from the wild for some time. Zimbawe Rock (yes, not Zimbabwe) occurs within the National Park and is therefore out of bounds to all of the collecting companies running operations along the Lake. I struggle to understand how you could have purchased F1 fish. If it is someone trying to drive up interest and price, its sad, as these fish are beautiful enough not to commit fraud when advertising.
Having climbed off my high horse now, there are some very nice specimens avaialble locally now. I have sold just under a 1000 in the last 18 months, all of which coloured up quite nicely, but were not of wild origin at all.

 

Rowland - I am very aware that wild caught are not possible any longer...

He apparently got his stock from a very reputable breeder off Bottelary Rd, but as I just wanted 1 or 2, driving that distance did not make sense if I have some available within 40km's... It is really very sad how poor ethics and money spinns the hobby... I know of 3 breeders currently having stock to sell - as for now, I am not in the market, I need to sort my tanks health and install the chiller...

My lessons are certainly learned, my next purchases will only be from the guy I should have driven to in the first place, paid a little more...

Your contribution is appreciated...

 

@Polla, beautiful fish, looks very similar to Metriclima meekii, my mind is rusty and my book is at home.

Another beautiful fish. I'm so glad I managed to breed mine.

 

very interesting article http://www.cichlid-forum.com/articles/haps_vs_mbuna.php

 

Been to George for the weekend... Popped in @scotty - oh if only I knew what lovely species he has swimming in his tanks, I would have planned the trip better...

 

today I start my new backdrop for the tank... after disease reduced my fish numbers, the time is right for me to do another one... The first was a good exercise, but this time it will be a great exercise...

This time round I will be using:
1 sheet styrofoam
some marine silicon
some (ok lots) liquid styrofoam (not toxic once dry and cured for 2 days in farm dam floating upside down!)
my kitchen tourch / flame
again some Dlahla paint to add color

Idea is to incorporate some of these look-n-feel elements with hollow "rocks" / caves...

I will be keeping a photographic process flow to post in a second thread once complete and installed...

 

Finally that Chiller arrived - installed and tank temp range set @ 24-26 degrees... Come Boland, bring on your heat waves...

Nice very nice...

 

On way back, stopped at Malawi breeder, sourced some F1 fish - apart from 1 or 2:

1 x Pseudotropheus polit male
1x OB Peacock Male
1 x Aulonocara jacobfreibergi Male
2 x Aulonocara "Rubescens Albino" Male and Female
1 x Protomelas spilonotus (Mara Rocks) Male
1 x Protomelas sp. "Steveni Taiwan" male
2 x Melanochromis chipokae male & female

2 x Astatotilapia latifasciata 2males from Lake Victoria

Lovely 4-5cm fish already released and will see in next 2 day how all settle...

 

Started work on the new backdrop - it is exciting... Will post a photo journal once finished - possibly a different thread...

Newly introduced fish is doing well... The Protomelas Spilonotus is all attitude - whats with these flakes woman, give me my krill / malawi mix! LOL little piece of attitude stares me down....

 

Did you put your new fish into a quarantine tank for a week before adding them to your main tank?