Cichlids

[Proteus]

Who here would support the creation of a TRUE Australia Wide & International Cichlid Forum???

It would be set up along the lines of what we have here, being that a majority of material is Australian based, however we would actively encourage our international friends.

If established, it would mean we have all aspects of the hobby covered within the network, and would be able to offer utilities and features that no other website can offer (without copying proprietry & intellectual property of the ADN).

Speak up and let us know what you think.

Reasons for your choice would be appreciated, but are not compulsory.

[weird]

I would support it as I am very interested in learning much much more about cichlids ... while I love my non-cichlids, I found initial information about cichlids from pets stores limited to 'these are aggressive fish'.

While I am fighting for real estate space for more tanks, I would love to start an african cichlid tank. But from which lake ? I dunno ... I don't have enough information to answer that ... it would be great to be able to ask that question in a forum.

Also which cichlids do fine in your non-cichlid community tank ? Should I increase the ph of the tank to suit this fish ... by how much ?

I am very interested. I just hope there is the support out there for it.

[Fishpimpin73]

As a cichlid enthusiast from day one.

I would LOVE to see a cichlid site as part of the ADN.

Wierd...

All you have to do is ask :wink:

I have been keeping them for several years now and have had some REAL BEAUTIES that are PERFECT for community aquariums.

I think a cichlid site would be a great addition.

Pimpin

[Proteus]

did you both vote in the poll???

[kevkoi]

Maybe a cichlid section attached to the Discus Forums first? If that takes off, maybe a new forum?

Just that every Tom, D*ck, Mary and their dogs have a cichlid forum these days in Aust.... :lol:

.... and at the end of the day, discus are a cichlid too you know. ;)

[Proteus]

That seems like a good idea.

We will see how reactions go on the other sites and make a decision from there.

[kevkoi]

:lol: Gone were the days I thought cichlids (African cichlids to be exact) were all that interesting... :wink:

Oh well, I really shouldn't complain.... they did help me pay some of the bills back in the Uni days. :lol:

Weird... for starters, African cichlids do not just come from the Rift Lakes. And not all african cichlids like hard water with high pH.

IMO there are other more interesting riverine cichlids in Africa... they just don't get as much coverage.

Let me try name you some african (non rift lake) cichlids that will do well in your community tanks.

Anomalochromis thomasi (African butterfly cichlid) from West Africa

Nannacara anomala
http://www.cichlid-forum.com/articles/nannacara_anomala.php

...any of the Nanacara sp really are suitable to community tanks. They are IMO the Apistogrammas of Africa. Dwarf cichlids, who like acidic water and are relatively peaceful.

Steatocranus casuarius (Hump head/Block head cichlid) may work in a community tank with fast moving fish.
http://images.google.com/images?q=Steatocranus%20casuarius&hl=en&lr=&sa=N&tab=wi

Steatocranus tinanti is another weird looking fish which can go into a community with faster moving fish.
http://www.ciklid.se/ciklidbilder/mc_38.jpg

.......... These are just a few off the top of my head.
So many interesting fish, so few tanks... :lol:

[weird]

weird looking is good kev ... as my name suggests ! And thanks pimpin you got me googling, and I think may have found a suitable buddy for discus, the checkerboard.

cheers

[kevkoi]

Dicrossus filamentosus? Checkerboard dwarf cichlid?

Gee, we had a shipment of them when we got our dwarf south americans the last time. :wink: I think we may have sold out of them..... little pretty fish. I believe they are Protogynous hermaphrodites as well (meaning they all start out as females and the most dominant fish in the group turns into male!!). So get what look like 2 females and u will definately get a pair out of them. Interesting eh?

[dreamer]

i got 2 from sls 1 is definitely male the other one hopefully female :oops:

i think they are better off not in discus tank ..at least not with my adults ..as they kill anything small enough they even killed my rosy barbs :cry:

[weird]

Please, give us a hoy next time you have some Kev. Appreciate it.

I hope they are hermaphrodites, I only found one web site that mentioned that. So I hope that is true .... I think it is pretty kewl .. mother nature and all.

About the cichlid forum being tacked onto the discus forum, I think we will be dooming it to failure right from the start.

I think there is alot of interest in african and amercian cichlids in Australia, as Kev mentioned ...


Just that every Tom, D*ck, Mary and their dogs have a cichlid forum these days in Aust....
but that said is there an opening for another cichlid forum ???... I guess what interest shown here may be an indication.

[nicklee88]

I like the Idea, seeing i will be getting in to Cichlids hopefully by the end of the year :D

And Also Another Friendly forum to visit :wink:

[weird]

I picked up some keyholes today for my community tank ... cute peaceful little buggers. But looks like I am stuck in south america cause goldeneyes and checkerboards are probably next on the cichlid purchase ... with the exception of more discus ! Looks like my wife foundness for malawi is going to be on hold.

BTW there is already a cichlid section in ausfishforum , so there would be probably no need in adding another section here unless it is a link. Probably best to keep discus by themselves except for the tank mate section.

[kevkoi]

nice... certainly one of the cichlids I've overlooked. Great fish.

[Fishpimpin73]

There are TONS of other cichlids that many people don't get regular exposure to.

Many of them are riverine cichlids from africa or south america.

Most of them are dwarfs and do not score high on the aggresion scale.

The biggest problem is that they are rarely imported ( even in the US ) and even when they are they tend to be a little on the high dollar side.

I have kept Pelvicachromis Taeniatus and Psuedocrenilabrus Philander among others and have to admit that my first and last love where fish are concerned are these fishies and thier cousins.

To get some great info on many of these fishies goto www.apistogramma.com.

Neil runs an AWESOME SITE and has some of the most up to date info on these little beauties.

I reccomend the Yellow/Gold Cacautoides :wink:
http://www.apistogramma.com/cms/index.php?option=content&task=view&id=133&Itemid=44

Pimpin :wink:

[Proteus]

Pimpin, you have given me food for thought...

Instead of maybe just starting "Another Cichlid" forum, why not start with something a little different, whilst still catering for the mainstream.

i.e. have sections such as;

South American Dwarf Cichlids

South American Cichlids

Central American Cichlids

African Dwarf Cichlids

African Non-Rift Cichlids

Lake Malawi Cichlids

Lake Tanganyika Cichlids

Lake Victora Cichlids

Madagascar Cichlids

Hybrid Cichlids

I realise the last section would be 'sensitive' but hey, they are fish after all, and people need advise, plus it would be a good way to educate people about the do & donts without being confrontational and egotistical like some sites.

Anyways, just throwing ideas around, but with the vote the way it is here, and the 30+ votes and opinions on AUBF (96% in favour) it looks like it could be a potential optionfor y'all.

[Fishpimpin73]

I think that that would be GREAT.

Because of the diversity of fish within the species and the diversity of the people who keep them.....

Looks like we may end up with a different kind of cichlid site.

Something for everyone.

I will always love my hybrids :wink:

Pimpin

[Proteus]

FYI...

http://www.australianbettaforums.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=4683

[Cichlids_Rule]

You have my vote Proteus. Cichlid forum YEAH.

[lesley]

Was recently at the (new) Cranbourne Aquarium, looking for something interesting for a 4' tank with plants, fish and easy care. We'd been looking around for a while and not found anything very interesting after the Discus.

The Cranbourne place has some great Cichlids, sparkling clean tanks, healthy fish and will tell you if what you want will not go where you want.

We came home with two Uarus, and two red horseface (geophagus ..) I think that the horseface will be interesting, but the Uarus are great. Really interactive, prefer similar conditions to Discus, very active fish.

Some general cichlid info would be good.

Lesley

[lesley]

Was recently at the (new) Cranbourne Aquarium, looking for something interesting for a 4' tank with plants, fish and easy care. We'd been looking around for a while and not found anything very interesting after the Discus.

The Cranbourne place has some great Cichlids, sparkling clean tanks, healthy fish and will tell you if what you want will not go where you want.

We came home with two Uarus, and two red horseface (geophagus ..) I think that the horseface will be interesting, but the Uarus are great. Really interactive, prefer similar conditions to Discus, very active fish.

Some general cichlid info would be good.

Lesley

[Proteus]

We are in the process of merging 4-5 sites as one site (not including this site).

What is currently www.AusFishForum.com may become www.AquariumFishForums.com

Part of that process will be to set up a specific Cichlid area (split up into regions), and with some assistance of some experienced Cichlid keepers build on that. The ultimate view will be to break it off into its own site in the future, and build from that.

[Proteus]

new area ready to be utilised...

HERE!!! (http://www.ausfishforum.com/forum/viewforum.php?f=21)

[Proteus]

Just an update...

There will hopefully be a new Cichlid site on the Network list very soon, however, instead of just being another Cichlid forum, it will specialise specifically on Dwarf Cichlids.

Stay tuned for an announcement very soon