Hey there! This week I needed to speak about one thing a bit of completely different than my ordinary cichlid weblog. I needed to share some ideas on how you may develop spectacular coloration on tropical fish in a manner you’ll have by no means thought-about.
A number of years in the past, we moved right into a home that had a small pond within the entrance yard. It was a type of inflexible, preformed spherical ponds about 15 inches deep with a 50 to 80 gallon capability. We stored just a few goldfish in there the primary yr. They grew and made it via the winter simply superb as we anticipated.
The next Spring, I acquired maintain of some Astatotilapia aneocolor from Lake Victoria, 2 males 3 females to be actual. I used to be informed by the earlier keeper that they had been aggressive, so I put them in a 55 gallon. I figured that can be loads of area, since they had been solely 2.5 inch fish, and that they would go away one another alone in the interim.
Boy, was I unsuitable. One of many males confirmed his dominance inside 2 hours of being added to the tank, and it doesn’t matter what I did he couldn’t be swayed. I moved decorations round, gave him a trip for every week in a web breeder, and I even put him into an aquarium with 4 3 inch Black Belt Cichlids hoping he can be intimidated into submission. He went nuts in that tank, too, and began beating up the Black Belts, so again into the unique tank he went. He shortly went again to his outdated methods, dominating and terrorizing the opposite male. He lastly ripped out male no. 2’s proper eye.
The Nice Open air
I wasn’t positive what I may do for him. Then it occurred to me that I did have one other place for him to go. The temps had been excessive sufficient exterior, so why not? I made a decision to relocate One Eye to the pond exterior to give him an opportunity to recuperate. I watched to ensure that the opposite fish (goldfish) didn’t hassle him and so they didn’t. The truth is, by the top of the week ol’ One Eye was the only proprietor of the pond.
For the following few weeks, he ate properly and nonetheless got here as much as the floor to see who was across the pond when I went to feed. I solely had a bit of inside filter system on the pond, and shortly the water began turning inexperienced. Earlier than lengthy I may barely see One Eye to see his situation, however i knew he was nonetheless alive and rising, probably even bigger than the bully inside. He was consuming properly, moreover my choices he ate bugs that fell into the pond, and I additionally seen he was scraping algae off the perimeters.
In the meantime the dominant male within the 55 was attaining his astounding breeding colours. He was crimson on prime half of his physique and yellow on the underside half with black fins.
The nights began to get into the mid 60’s, so it was time to usher in ol’ One Eye. After I netted him out I used to be shocked to see that he was an inch and a half bigger than my dominant male and his colours had been unbelievable! He had a deep maroon higher half and the underside half was gold…I child you not. I imply it was so vibrant that I couldn’t assist however surprise what would occur to different fish from my assortment if that they had the identical situations. The next Spring, I upgraded the filter setup to an inside magazine drive pump pushing right into a Fluval 403 canister filter with the return line feeding a waterfall. I began retaining Albino Eureka Crimson Peacocks exterior in that pond after the improve. You may see the ends in my photograph (prime photograph, sorry it’s a bit of blurry).
There isn’t any match for the magic of pure daylight and the various food regimen tropicals can get exterior. A good friend of mine stored Crimson Terrors exterior, the place they bred for him via the season. Summer season trip exterior isn’t simply for cichlids, it will also be executed with platies, swordtails, guppies and just about something tropical when you have a spot for them. Even small patio ponds may be populated with livebearers or tetras. Think about a college of Cardinal Tetras absorbing these solar rays! Any pond will do so long as it doesn’t get too scorching or too chilly, and as lengthy the fish have a bit of cowl to guard them from can be predators like herons.
It’s a Jungle Out There
Whereas the advantages are nice, there are additionally some cautions to think about. This time I’d prefer to speak about a number of the risks and pests that will wreak havoc on our poor little fishies.
I used to be fortunate to not have my pond visited by pests, however native stray cats, opossums, raccoons, snakes or predatory birds that will determine to go to your pond at any time. Even bugs like dragonfly nymphs can prey on younger and small fish. Ample water motion and floor ripples are normally sufficient to discourage them, however extra effort could also be wanted to discourage bigger predators. There are some simple methods that you may assist to guard your fish whereas they get pleasure from their outside summer time trip. Personally, I might suggest the stay crops. You may use floating foliage like water lilies, duck weed or hyacinths for canopy and safety on your fish. Younger fish will even conceal within the roots and feed on the small bugs that stay within the roots. One other resolution is using pond netting. The netting can stop many predators from snatching your fish out of the water. Not very aesthetic, however efficient.
Pesticides and different contaminants might pose a hazard in an outside setting. Toxins could be washed right into a pond throughout heavy downpours or could also be blown into the water. The rish is small so long as you keep conscious when making use of such merchandise…one thing to remember. Even the rain itself is usually a hazard to your fish. Acidic rain can drive your ph to low ranges when you have a low kh. Relying on the species you’re retaining, such fluctuations can wipe fish out shortly. I used to be in a position to hold the kh excessive and the ph secure with weekly buffered water adjustments so thi swas by no means an issue in my experiences.
Closing Time
Cool temps are the opposite concern. It’s necessary to know when to carry them in. For me, when night time temperatures begin dipping beneath 75 F, I do know it’s time to carry them again to the tank. You might discover the fish changing into torpid, and a few might even die when you don’t pay shut consideration on the finish of summer time. I like to recommend acclimating them slowly again to indoor temperatures. If the filter working the pond is a canister filter, I might suggest retaining it working on the principle tank. Clear it out earlier than bringing it inside, however you’ll be supplying a longtime filter/organic on your indoor tank, and also you don’t have to attend for the entire biking course of. We drain the pond annually and search for infants. You may then both retailer it until the next yr or couple of set it again up in the home for the winter.
I hope this evokes another person to attempt some tropicals exterior. You wont remorse it. Let me know when you have any questions, I’ll be completely satisfied that will help you out.
Till subsequent time,
Jose
