F1 Tropheus Ndole Bay - 1month Update

[catstoy66]

Hi everyone! Hope everything is going well for you all. I just wanted to post a small video update of my gang They're doing wonderful (thanks due to the great help & advice from friends here!) & are going strong. I think they're showing good growth in the 4 weeks I've had them.  This past week I've started giving them a small BBS supplement once a day between feedings.  They're fed 3x a day crushed spirulina flakes & I'm doing 30-40% pwc twice a week still for now. 

They're just a joy to watch & I swear they interact with me!! LOL Sometimes they watch the TV, which is hilarious to see.  The different range of colors they're displaying right now is very interesting... some are very deep vibrant (almost blackish) red with some yellow, some are goldish with red & orange, & then some of them are still almost colorless besides having stripes. 

I do believe I have to dominant males established already, one in each pile of rocks, with a few sub-doms hanging with each. They definitely act as if they are & the others are very submissive to them.  I hope I end up with a decent m/f ratio

Hope you enjoy the video! ~ Cat

[EB]

In the beginning I almost thought it was time lapse they were darting around so fast. They are looking good and healthy, nice clean tank. 👍👍👍

[catstoy66]

Thanks Ethan!

[Mastiffman/ Duramax7Man7]

Super Cool! Yes I agree with you though. They do 100% interact to a bit. If I get real close to the glass at the bottom and watch them they will indeed always swim up to the tank and make passes and stop for a second right in front and then all take turns doing it! Really neat for sure.

It's not a bad idea for Tropheus to change the water frequently, but with such small fish in so much water you could definitely drop it down to once a week a be totally fine. The whole point of water changes is to remove nitrates and phosphates from the water and dilute whatever is left and also to replenish the mineral content in the water that the fish consume naturally. Which at this point, they are not producing much of the former or consuming much of the later.

One thing that I can't stress enough with keeping in the care routine of Tropheus is to make sure that the substrate is vacuum well at the bare minimum every month as well as check the filtration media for build up of detritus (solid particulate of left over decomposed waste). Detritus builds up in both the substrate and filtration and is a breeding ground for bad bacteria.

If you get in the routine of doing both of those you will have your Tropheus for a long time. I do and still have the F1 females from my First group of Ikola and they are in with my wild group. They will 7 years old this year in late summer/ early fall.

They still produce and are healthy and Big Girls! Full of color as well!

[catstoy66]

Wow Andrew, 7 years! That's wonderful! I only pray mine will be healthy & happy that long.

Got ya on the vacumming & filtration upkeep. I have the outflow set to gently push any detritus into 1 corner & I vac that corner out when needed. Otherwise I vacuum the substrate every 3-4 weeks. My canisters I have on rotation: clean one 1 month, wait a month & clean the other then leave them be for 2mos & repeat. I've had great success with this method & no fear of mini-cycles

I think I will adjust the water changes to 1x weekly until they're a bit larger. No need for undue stress, right?

As always, thanks so much for your help & recommendations Andrew!!

[Mastiffman/ Duramax7Man7]

Yep. You are doing it right my friend. Yes, just take care of them and keep them on good food, in clean pristine water and substrate and regular maintenance of the filtration and plenty of Gas exchange on the surface of the water and you'll be good to go!

I recommend using carbon in your filters and changing it out monthly for those on city water and even well water as there's no guarantee what's going into the ground in your area.