Chocolate Cichlids

[FishAddict]

so i finally got them back!!! When my ex and i split back in April I left my 140G saltwater tank at his house due to not having a vehicle not large enough to move it. He had a 120 g FW tank with Chocolate Cichlids in it. Well he recently decided to move out of that house due to a job that keeps him out of state most of the time (4-6 weeks on, with one week off) He told me he was going to take my beloved Chocolates to Keller farms and just give them to them. I was like OMG no way, lets just trade tanks, so i traded him my empty 140G SW set up for his stocked 120G set up. These chocolates have gotten ALOT bigger since the last time i saw them. My male, Rufus, is about 9-10inches long now with the head of a bulldozer, and my female, she doesnt have a name, is about 6-7 inches long. They are relatively good health surprisingly after the neglect this tank was in. It will take some work to get this tank back up to where it was.

http://i51.photobucket.com/albums/f381/jesslynnp/rufus.jpg

that picture was taken back in January, i think... they are a lot bigger now. In case yall were wondering, Chocolate Cichlids can get from 12-15 inches.

[BC1976]

Congrats on winning custody back!!!

[FishAddict]

Finally got a new pic, they are still a bit stressed from the move. I cleaned one of the canister filters out today and it is pushing WAY more water now, hence all the junk floating around in the water. I also finally got the caked on algae off 95% of the front glass so i can see these guys now. The male is 10inches or so and the female is about 6-7inches. Male is towards the back, female towards the front

http://i51.photobucket.com/albums/f381/jesslynnp/chocolate-1.jpg

[EAST_TX_RN]

So glad you got them back! I was so wanting some chocolates until I found out about their total length!

[FishAddict]

more :)

[FlamandalayBay]

Ooooo Preeeeety...I still want some...I seriouslygotta find my tapemeasure for the tank of Joe's!

[TanyaQ2000]

these are beautiful...congrats!

[BenChod]

they look great..

[Haiven]

I'm embarrassed to say that I always assumed chocolate cichlids would be brown and unimpressive.

Was I ever wrong! Those fish are awesome in size and color!

[FishAddict]

They still have a bit of growing to do. the male should max out at around 12-15inches. I am going to sell the severum once she is well adn the jack dempsey. that way the only thing in the tank are the chocolates and i might get a school of something, maybe some large rainbow fish. they are pretty docile in deminor.

That tank currently holds the two chocolates.
a female jack dempsey (7inches and for sale)
a female red shoulder severum (she has fungus right now but once she is well she will be for sale too)
two awesome clown loaches (5inches each)
a flagtail catfish, but he hides a lot
and 2 algae eaters (not plyco)

Its got live plants and i think im going to hook CO2 up to it so i can get some more plants. Throw a school of about 12 rainbow fish or something similar and poof!!!! done.... oh i have african driftwood root wood in there as well and some stones. I just picked up some anti bacterial/fungal medication for the fungus and tail rot they all have. I think now that they are out of my ex's house they will be much happier because unlike him. I actually believe in water changes!

[BFinley]

Awesome Chocolate cichlids!!!I want some now!

[donkey]

I'm embarrassed to say that I always assumed chocolate cichlids would be brown and unimpressive

They are pretty unimpressive when they are small but as they start to get big they really start showing their colors.I currently have 1 big one and 4 smaller ones.

[zekni]

When those things spawn, you put me down for a few fry :) Might be interested in the severum as well..

[1badbluehb]

Gorgeous fish!

[oscar-lover]

chocolates...yummy....:D

[tropics007]

They look GREAT...:)

[Lp14301]

Good looking chocolate's!

[intensitti]

Great looking fish

[FishAddict]

So i need some thoughts...

I recently had a ich breakout in my tank which houses my chocolates... the chocolates showed symptoms for a day, but quickly shook it. The ich only really effected my clown loaches, i lost one that was 7 inches and the second one i have which is about 6 inches seems to finally be on the up hill. Well on top of that my large male chocolate (about 10 inches) "Rufus" beat the snot out of my smaller female chocolate "Dufus" she is about 7 inches. They are seperated now but i am not sure if i will be able to mix them again without aggression so i am on the fence of selling them. I wouldnt even know what a fair price for them would be, or if i will even sell them for that matter. Thoughts please!

[Myfish13]

Cool fish!!

[Lfj74]

Nice fish. I've never seen one before.