QldMick Posted May 23, 2021 Report Share Posted May 23, 2021 Placidochromis phenochilus tanzania after the move in sunlight. Males still marbling up. johnbetta, Sonofhud, ROAR99 and 2 others 4 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
QldMick Posted May 26, 2021 Author Report Share Posted May 26, 2021 I'm glad my fish survived the move better than my $260 light. johnbetta and hamishh34 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johnbetta Posted May 26, 2021 Report Share Posted May 26, 2021 sorry about your light mick its good that your fish got through the move how did your tanks go with the move cheers john QldMick 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
raycam01_au Posted May 27, 2021 Report Share Posted May 27, 2021 nice fish n moving blows johnbetta 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
QldMick Posted May 28, 2021 Author Report Share Posted May 28, 2021 On 26/05/2021 at 3:35 PM, johnbetta said: sorry about your light mick its good that your fish got through the move how did your tanks go with the move cheers john All good in the end john, I got the movers to move the 5ft, 10 years ago I lifted a 4ft into the back of a commodore buy myself, now days I'm paranoid about dropping glass tanks. The last vid didn't really show the elecy yellows and albino dragon bloods that make up the rest of the tank. johnbetta 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johnbetta Posted May 29, 2021 Report Share Posted May 29, 2021 good to hear and the fish look amazing Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
QldMick Posted May 31, 2021 Author Report Share Posted May 31, 2021 Man what a week with this tank, another light is gone (I was able to tip some water out of it, will try again after fully dried). Had 2 heaters go, 1 which was showing 17 on the display but was stuck on off, lucky I didn't lose a fish at this temp. And for the replacement it wouldn't turn off no mater what temp it was set on. Thanks for your comments john, it takes years for the Mirrorballs to fully color up so I'm in it for the long haul. johnbetta 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johnbetta Posted June 2, 2021 Report Share Posted June 2, 2021 your welcome mick sorry to hear your haveing some trouble it happens to us all part of fish keeping how long have u been keeping fish for and what got u into it very intrested to know then i will explain why i got into fish keeping and how long i have been doing it Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
QldMick Posted June 2, 2021 Author Report Share Posted June 2, 2021 I kept fish in school so 15+ years. I always wanted to keep the fish we caught whilst fishing as a kid, so I think that started my want of fish keeping. How bout you john. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johnbetta Posted June 2, 2021 Report Share Posted June 2, 2021 cool it all started for me in high school in year 11 i was studying marine biology for 2 years then been doing it ever since 23 years Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
QldMick Posted June 17, 2021 Author Report Share Posted June 17, 2021 So if you remember this post of mine, clown loaches interfering with Malawi breeding? - General Aquarium Discussion - QLD Aquarium Forum (qldaf.com), I was wondering if my clown loaches were interfering with my Mirrorball's breeding, later I've also been worried that being the most peaceful in a tank with more aggressive albino dragon bloods and Electric yellows that seem to be breeding fine, that the Mirrorballs simply were stopped from breeding by the more aggressive fish. So moving on from that clown loach post 13 months ago, when I was first worried about them not breeding, the males are now 15cm up from 10cm and I have finally divided the tank today. I'll give these guys a couple of months to see if they breed. I saw the males fight today after separating them, which I had never seen before, making me think they are already doing better with out getting shut down by the other fish whenever they try establish territory or breeding rights etc. Here's some pics from today, (as you can see I kept 1M with the others, I've decided I don't want more than 3 males, so that guys for sale). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johnbetta Posted June 17, 2021 Report Share Posted June 17, 2021 i do rember u saying that Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
QldMick Posted July 11, 2021 Author Report Share Posted July 11, 2021 Ok day one of 1m 6f separated from the other fish in half a 5ft. Will see if they start to breed now. Moved on one male and keeping 2 extra spare for now. The dominant and most marbled male is on the right (he is not lighter than the other 2 as it looks in the pic), he's easy to spot as he has a spot on his right eye. johnbetta 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johnbetta Posted July 16, 2021 Report Share Posted July 16, 2021 wicked Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
QldMick Posted August 4, 2021 Author Report Share Posted August 4, 2021 These guys still aren't doing the breeding thing, despite their electric yellows and albino dragon blood counterparts regularly doing the deed. The bad news is It looks like I won't have indoor space to raise fry out With that news I thinking moving towards a more pure display and decided I needed a little more variety in there, Haven't kept these for years but I think they have one of the coolest body shapes for a cichlid. Here they are, unfortunately looks like I'll lose one, it turned up upside down and is doing spirals in the tank. johnbetta 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johnbetta Posted August 4, 2021 Report Share Posted August 4, 2021 nicely done mate best of luck with them keep the update posts coming QldMick 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hareysfish Posted August 4, 2021 Report Share Posted August 4, 2021 There one of my old time favourites, aswell, but the strigatus only out do them with color and shape. johnbetta 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
QldMick Posted August 5, 2021 Author Report Share Posted August 5, 2021 17 hours ago, hareysfish said: There one of my old time favourites, aswell, but the strigatus only out do them with color and shape. I prefer the body shape of the compressiceps over the strigatus but their cool too, I did see some adults around 15 years or so ago but they're not very common. That one that arrived upside down died last night, I'm wondering if I should use the credit to replace it and grab another at the same time to take me up from the 4 I've got now to 6? I'm thinking 1m 3f would be ideal but I won't be purchasing more than 6 in total to guarantee it. At this stage I'm thinking of the 6 in total but it does mean I have to pay shipping again just for 2 fish, but then again moneys made to be spent. johnbetta 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
QldMick Posted August 5, 2021 Author Report Share Posted August 5, 2021 Just thought I'd say I think the female eyebiters are interesting enough as display fish themselves. They will go along with the theme of the tank of 1m 3f quads, with the electric yellows and albino dragon bloods females having good color for being ladies, even the female mirrorballs get a nice blue sheen and will cut back from 3m 6f to 3m 3f in the future. I can't see myself selling anymore males as I've raised these guys for 2 years. johnbetta 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
QldMick Posted August 5, 2021 Author Report Share Posted August 5, 2021 I have to apologize as every thing looks a little orange/yellow on my phone vid compared to viewing in person, but I made this vid to show off the new rockwork I've added. Without having to catch females to strip I can go I can go for it and in go 5 waterworn limestone pieces I've kept around for years. johnbetta 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
QldMick Posted August 5, 2021 Author Report Share Posted August 5, 2021 A little afternoon sunshine, checkout the female Mirrorballs under the natural light. Also loving how my limestone rocks go with the background. johnbetta 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johnbetta Posted August 5, 2021 Report Share Posted August 5, 2021 very nice Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hareysfish Posted August 5, 2021 Report Share Posted August 5, 2021 Here is a couple of pics of the strigs that I was breeding , when I was in Gladstone. And as you said, there not very common any more, even the comps a a bit hit and miss, at finding some.. Your tank will be full of color , even with the females , of the species in there , have good colouration, not just a plain brown or grey. johnbetta 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bender Posted August 6, 2021 Report Share Posted August 6, 2021 my phenochilus are the same very stubborn to get them to spawn have 1 male 4 female all around 15cm and have only had 1 mouthful from them and the female ate them have had the colony for around 8 months now Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
QldMick Posted August 20, 2021 Author Report Share Posted August 20, 2021 Had a unhealthy looking mirrorballl female yesterday, so checked today and there is a bit of shimmying, movement that's not quite right and some hiding that don't usually hide. I did a recent 60% or so water change and was worried I may have still had the rainwater connected and town water off, as I did for my salt tank. Anyway onto another 60% water change today, already setup for town water this time, lets hope they come good again. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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