Hi, I'm a noob

[Laurel]

Hello!
My name is Laurel, and I just recently got into fishkeeping, and I've gone a little crazy. I have a 75 gallon african cichlid tank, and my boyfriend just set up a 29 gallon marine tank. I went to the GSAS meeting in November and met a few very nice people, but something online is easier for me to get involved with on a regular basis. Just figured that I'd say hi, and that I'm looking for homes for 8 of my mbuna, and after that, looking for 6-8 good quality saulosi if any of you have any that won't stop making babies.

Thanks for looking,
Laurel

 

[JackCastle]

Welcome fellow noobian

I don't have a home for your mbuna. And do not have any saulosi, but since the saulosi is like a dwarf mbuna couldn't you just wash them in hot water not sure, but that worked on my ac/dc shirt my gf washed.

gl

 

[seabeaver]

Haha GL! Same thing, only different!!:lol:

Hi Laurel! Be careful here, this forum deals with critters of overpowering beauty. Your post got me thinking about when I first started checking out salt systems and what they were all about. I'd played with fresh water for awhile, and I was curious. So I see you checking this place out, and I thought hmm, 2 scenarios could happen.

A) You find a new home for you mbunas, and acquire some new african gems, and your boyfriend enjoys his 29 gallon, and life goes on...OR...

B) You find a new home for your mbunas, but hold off on the acquiring any new ancient rift lake fishies...
...the addiction to the iridescence under the sea will have taken hold. You're half-way there, talking to us junkies right here is a good 'foot in the door' to some of the most amazing things you'll ever see in someones house/garage/basement/attic?/bathroom-[new thread idea: where's you're weirdest tank location?] Next thing you know, you think 'hey! my 75 gallon tank is a great size to start a FOWLR (Fish Only With Live Rock) display...I've already got most of the filtration and the lighting necessary for a simple set-up!'

The rest is downhill...:eek2:::lol::

Don't get me wrong, I love cichlids. Such an immensely diverse family, with the African varieties displaying intense metallic color that are about as close as one can get (imho) to the vivid nature of salt water species' boldness. A great group to learn the ropes of aquatic chemistry and the dynamics of fish physiology. In the end, it just seems like we all end up here for a reason...

Anywho-
W~E~L~C~O~M~E Laurel!! And good luck with your cichlids
-Tony

 

[Laurel]

lol. Well I have 16 in the tank and only looking for a new home for 8 of them. They all have their own personalities, and I love almost all of them. Plus they do that cute mouthbrooding thing.

Besides, I'm a student, and can't afford a 75 gallon marine tank. Plus I'd have to get it drilled, and it's so crystal clear, but my boyfriend is already trying to talk me into giving him my 75! I keep telling him that he can have it if I get a 125 gallon in it's place. I wouldn't mind buying another filter and a little more rock for that.

We actually ended up with mbuna because they looked the closest to saltwater fish out of most freshwater ones. Plus, with the cichlids, any minor mistake can generally be corrected without any loss of life. It seems as though it you sneeze at a saltwater system, you've got some serious trouble on your hands. Here are some photos of MY little guys.

 

[Herefishyfishy]

Great photos!

 

[seabeaver]

Seriously, those are great shots.

Increased captive breeding of marine species has produced a variety of fish that are hardier in captive environs than their wild caught counterparts-you're just watching out for a few more parameters in addition to the pH, alkalinity, and nitrogen that you're keeping an eye on with your freshwater africans. Remember when discus first entered the market? Quite difficult to keep alive-though after years of captive breeding, vivid colorations are far more prevalent (sp?) and easier to keep healthy, though still sensitive. I do agree though, salt fish, as a whole, are a little more difficult to keep successfully

Its obvious that you have an eye for beauty though-really nice fish!

 

[Laurel]

Thank you. I love just sitting in front of the tank with all the lights out taking hundreds of photos of them. Luckily, they like investigating whatever I, as the bringer of food, am doing, so they come up to the camera.

I'm sure I'll eventually learn enough about saltwater that I feel confident with it, but it's still an unknown world to me!

 

[JackCastle]

Whow, amazingly detailed pics. The personality of the fish is well captured.