Topic: Chocolate Cichlid

[saorsa]

Just lost my tank of four rotkeils a few days ago. Totally gutted losing them after all the hard work of rearing them on from eggs.
Was going to pack fishkeeping in, but I've decided to have another go.
Ive been offered some juv orange severums, or a breeding pair of chocolate cichlids or a group of choc juveniles.
Ive already had severums so was more interested in the chocolate cichlids.
Just wondering if anyone here has any experience of these fish, and if they are basically the same as severums regarding nature, caring for them, etc...


Thanks

[Gerry]

Sorry to hear of your loss 

The Chocolates have much the same requirements as the Sevs as far as I know. Dan has one as far as I know and might be able to shed more info for you

[Antonia]

Very sorry to hear that you lost some,especially after rasing them from eggs.
I hope all goes well with the Chocolates.

[Luke]

from my experience they are a fairly peaceful and laid back fish that get on well with most things

tracey has written a good profile on them here

[saorsa]

Thanks....I managed to rehome 11 other rotkeils from the same batch, so it was'nt a total disaster.

I'll try and find out more on the chocolates, probably go with them.


Thanks for the link Luke.

[Stormbringer]

sorry to hear of your loss 
good luck with the chocolates tho bonny fish but ive never kept them

[tracey]

I haven't kept them myself but have a good friend who has.  About the only thing that I could add to that profile is that sometimes they can get a little picky about their food.  They can go through stages where they'll refuse to eat things they've always eaten in the past.  But from what my friend has told me, frozen bloodworms are never refused, so that is what she used to get them past their picky stages.

[saorsa]

Ok I'll keep that in mind.
Ive got lots of frozen bloodworm and brine shrimp in the freezer.

Thanks everyone.

[Ezekial]

I had one for a time.  While young he was just like an Oscar, very outgoing and interactive.  Once he hit about 6" he became very shy and would not eat for me.  He didn't eat for almost 3 months and I couldn't believe he was still alive and not only that but looked healthy.  That's when I found out they love snails and I had dozens of trumpet snails in my tank he was eating.  That sounds like a similar experience to Tracy's friend.  Nice looking fish.  I ended up trading mine in as he turned a little too shy for my tastes. 

[saorsa]

Got a call from my local fish shop today, saying he had a pair of archocentrus nanoluteus (yellow convict cichlid) for me.
I can get them on loan to breed for him if I want.

Went and had a look, they seem nice looking fish, although the colours were'nt as bright as they will be. Because they were a little stressed, etc.

I was really going to go for the chocolates, but being offered these yellow convict cichlids has made me think again.

Has anyone else had these fish or know anything about them?

Thanks

[tracey]

Again, haven't kept them myself, they're not available in NZ, but have heard that while they breed much like Convicts and have the same basic personality, they're no where near as aggressive and are much easier to keep as pairs in a tank with other fish.

[saorsa]

Ok, thanks for the info Tracey.

[Dan]

    I had one for awhile, and yes, they are as friendly as Oscars, once they get used to you.  They are pretty easy to raise too as I had mine with Uarus and Severums, so you should be fine.   They are great fish and very owner friendly.  Chocolates are very under-rated Cichlids. Good luck! 

[saorsa]

Thanks Dan sounds good.
Im still trying to decide between the chocolates and the archocentrus nanoluteus at the moment. 

[Dan]

Thanks Dan sounds good.
Im still trying to decide between the chocolates and the archocentrus nanoluteus at the moment. 

No problem.   Good luck with whatever you decide.