Jewel Cichlids - All Grown Up
January 31st, 2008Remember back in the summer when I brought home the wild Jewel cichlids from Florida, and they immediately spawned? The fry were so tiny back then.
Now, only about 6-7 months later, the then fry, are now nearly as large as the adults. What may be even more amazing is that the two parents are living peacefully with their 2 remaining children in a 20H. I gave the other fry away when they were only an inch or two.
While not quite as large or colorful as their parents, they are starting to look fairly decent. The “jewels” are becoming more visible and intense on their face, and their body is staying a nice dark cobalt color.
I imagine that they won’t ever look as good as their dominant parents until they move on to a tank of their own. I’m trying to maintain the peace by regularly feeding them large meals of blackworms, spectrum, or the occasional feeder guppy. They’re voracious eaters, but don’t seem to fight each other for food.
When we went on our short weekend trip for four days, I didn’t line up a special feeding regimen, however, and they didn’t beat each other up, so I must assume that they’ve worked out a living arrangement amongst themselves. Hopefully that’ll last for a long time. I imagine that if they ever spawn again, trouble might result. Until then, they’re a fun, and personable group of fish that seem to recognize me, and watch me from the right corner of the tank, whenever I’m in the room.
February 1st, 2008 at 8:30 am
Wow! I hope I get the same luck as you, on my next net fishing trip. I am considering getting a better net, any suggestions?
February 1st, 2008 at 9:02 am
The net we used was like a crab net on a pole, but with a finer mesh. Unfortunately, I don’t know where they got them because they weren’t mine. Just note, if you get any Jewels, make sure to keep them in a tank by themselves because they will kill your other fish.
February 1st, 2008 at 9:29 am
Thanks for the update on the jewels! I’ve been thinking about setting myself up a tank of these after I’ve had a taste of cichlid life with my kribs
February 1st, 2008 at 9:40 am
Just like Kribs, prepare for lots of babies if they settle into a tank.
I’ve been lucky with mine that I haven’t had a ton, but I’ve heard some stories of people ending up with hundreds of fish from just a couple pairs.
February 1st, 2008 at 10:15 am
Kris
http://www.aquanovel.com/atlas/bimaculatus.htm
This is the version of Jewels that I have, also have one thats similar to yours in another tank that I received from someone that couldnt keep him anymore. My Jewels have had no problems with other fish in the tank, although they are in a 75 gallon with Ameca Splendens and a few other similar sized cichlids. My breeding pair is in a twenty long with about ten of their offspring without problems. The ones in the 75 are from the first batch of offspring. Mine are slightly smaller, more the 4-5 in range.
February 1st, 2008 at 10:22 am
Rob, thanks for the info! Your fish are quite pretty too! That’s encouraging to hear that your jewels coexist in a 75G. I imagine that if you have enough space, and enough similarly sized cichlids, the aggression will be dispersed enough. I just know that any smaller fish I’ve put into my Jewel tank, it promptly hunted and exterminated.
February 1st, 2008 at 10:30 am
The Ameca Splendens are smaller but I think they breed prolifically enough to outperform any hunting. There are only two or three other cichlids in the tank. Probably about a dozen Jewels in the tank. The ameca splenden babies also come out 1/2′ right out of the gate which gives them an advantage as well.
February 1st, 2008 at 10:40 am
Sounds like a nice setup! I’ve never kept Ameca splendens. Do they do a good job on algae like I read?
February 1st, 2008 at 11:06 am
Too a point. I leave the lights on too much in that tank because its at my parents but I have had them a long time and they are pretty good algae removers.
April 27th, 2008 at 7:05 pm
Hello:
I just started getting involve in the cichlids. Any advice you could give me. And actually, I have understood there are two kinds of the lake malawaki cichlids. I have a royal blue with yellow fins and a complete electric yellow cichlids the regular once any one can get in Petco. Could you tell me the scientific name?
April 27th, 2008 at 7:39 pm
Hi Chris! I was searching the Web for locations of jewel cichids and came across your post. What part of Florida did you catch them in?
Bob
April 27th, 2008 at 9:08 pm
Holy G, unfortunately, I’ve never kept Lake Africans, so I really haven’t a clue. I’d imagine that they’re relatively common if they’re from Petco, so you should be able to find your answer on one of the cichlid forums on the net.
Bob, we found ours in some of the canals around Miami. I really don’t remember the exact location, but we did find them in multiple places, so they’re definitely distributed.