I'm new too Cichlids.

[cowelder]

Okay I have a 2 and a half gallon tank. I have four Electric yellows. Now the people at walmart did not know what they were doing and I ended up getting 3 males and 1 female. Do I need to get another tank for the males or what? And what should I be feeding them to keep them as healthy and pretty as possible? And finally should I buy a test kit to make sure the Ph levels are ok? Any help would be appriciated.

[cowelder]

Oh and is there a better way to find out the gender of an electric yellow?

[Schism]

well first of all a 2.5g tank will not be able to house those labs u def need to get a bigger tank or take back those fish, u cant really do too much with a 2.5G tank i would suggest in getting a bigger tank.

[Bear]

Yea i would say you should get rid of the labs and get a betta or guppy. That is until you can get a larger tank.

http://www.cichlid-forum.com/profile...es.php?id=1669

This is what u have...wont fit

[JustOneMore20]

If you want to keep them, get atleast a 30g tank and exchange 2 of the males for females.

If you can't get a bigger tank, return the labs and get a betta.

Walmart isn't the best place to get fish from because they don't know what their doing (as you see) and sold you labs for a 2.5g tank which is way too small!

[Laura Ann]

Another person taken advantage of by the fools at Wally World.

2.5 gallons is too small for any sort of African cichlid.

I know you are new to the world of cichlids, but with help you can become a wonderful fishkeeper.

First of all, since labitos are very peaceful, you can keep the males together. I have had complete success with keeping multiple males to less females. They may chase each other a bit, but it never got to the point where they were killing each other. So you will be alright there.

I also wanted to add, since no one else awnsered you original questions, that yes, feed them, and yes, get a test kit.

Now, I think you need to find you a bigger tank. You can get them from about anywhere, PetsMart is where I got mine. They usually have 30-40 gallons on sale for dirt cheap.

I hope I have helped you out a bit! I'll stay updated on this here thread. If you need any help, just ask!

[Dr_House]

Just to add to some of the excellent advice...

Now that you have this forum as a resource, make sure you use it before you impulse buy. If you see a fish you like, ask about it before you start drooling on the tank and grab the first employee you can to throw it in a bag for you (something almost every fish-keeper is guilty of early on).

I'd also check PetCo for an aquarium. They will sometimes have good deals, too. However, I wouldn't recommend buying fish from them. In my area, they are in fierce competition with Wal Mart for who has the worst fish and the most ignorant employees.

Let us know if there is anything else we can help you with.

[cowelder]

Originally Posted by Laura Ann

Another person taken advantage of by the fools at Wally World.

2.5 gallons is too small for any sort of African cichlid.

I know you are new to the world of cichlids, but with help you can become a wonderful fishkeeper.

First of all, since labitos are very peaceful, you can keep the males together. I have had complete success with keeping multiple males to less females. They may chase each other a bit, but it never got to the point where they were killing each other. So you will be alright there.

I also wanted to add, since no one else awnsered you original questions, that yes, feed them, and yes, get a test kit.

Now, I think you need to find you a bigger tank. You can get them from about anywhere, PetsMart is where I got mine. They usually have 30-40 gallons on sale for dirt cheap.

I hope I have helped you out a bit! I'll stay updated on this here thread. If you need any help, just ask!

No WHAT should I feed them?

I don't have the space for a 30 gallon tank.....or the money.

[Puffer Pita]

That's the point. You shouldn't be feeding them, you should be returning them. You are killing them by keeping them in a tank that is WAY too small. Hopefully you cycled the tank before you added them but I'm guessing probably not. If you don't have the money to properly care for them, you shouldn't have them. You should have something that you CAN properly care for, such as a betta. There are very few other fish, and none available at Wal-Marts, that can live in a 2.5g tank for any amount of time.

[cowelder]

Okay let me explain why I got a small tank. I had to BEG my mother to let me buy the fish and a new tank (our others are craked) with my own money! And when we got there she wouldn't let me buy anything over 2.5 gallon because they were so big and we don't have much room, unless I put them in our basement. Plus we live in a small town and we don't have a petsmart or petco, it's an hour and a half drive to the closest one! So I didn't have a chance to go there. Cause I hate walmart!

[Christine]

If you can't upgrade the tank you *really* need to take them back or try to rehome them. I can't imagine one 4-5 inch fish in a 2 gallon, much less 4. With a tank that size there really aren't a ton of approriate choices... a male guppy or 2 (not a female because then you have the baby problem), a betta, a pair of smaller type killifish, maybe some shrimp if you like those. Each one of those would be a choice, definitely not a combination thing. And if you don't have experience keeping fish, I would highly recommend that you take back the 2.5g and get a 10g. Then you have many more choices and the tank will be MUCH more stable than a smaller 2.5 gallon & they cost about the same. Additionally, you should read up on the nitrogen cycle & cycling your tank.

[cowelder]

Originally Posted by Boxermom

That's the point. You shouldn't be feeding them, you should be returning them. You are killing them by keeping them in a tank that is WAY too small. Hopefully you cycled the tank before you added them but I'm guessing probably not. If you don't have the money to properly care for them, you shouldn't have them. You should have something that you CAN properly care for, such as a betta. There are very few other fish, and none available at Wal-Marts, that can live in a 2.5g tank for any amount of time.

No I didn't get a chance to cycle the tank. Hey don't get mad at me! I wanted a 10 gallon tank and only two fish! But when my mom finally said yes she said qoute"If your gonna get them you might as well get two males and two females!" me and my dad just wanted a male and female! And I wanted a bigger tank but SOME people arn't allowed to buy them! And I do have enugh money I'm just not allowed to use it!

[Puffer Pita]

Having money and not being allowed to use it is the same thing as not having money. No one is getting mad at you, we're just concerned that you are killing the fish. And yes, you are. You need to tell your parents that they need to be returned to the store, and explain to them nicely that experienced fishkeepers have told you that they will die a very quick death in that tiny tank and you might as well have just flushed the money down the toilet that you spent on them, because that's where the fish are going to end up.

[Christine]

Its not about being mad at you. If all you are allowed to have is a 2.5 gallon, then you need to be responsible and pick fish appropriate for a 2.5 gallon. You cant just take any fish you want and put them in whatever you want and expect good results. Fish, just like any other animal have needs that have to be met. Your fish may be very small today, but they are not close to full grown (knowing what my walmart labs look like anyway). Even if the fish were full grown at the size they are now, its still too many fish for the tank. It's really not about the forced circumstance. It's about being responsible for a living thing that you bought to care for.

[cowelder]

Originally Posted by Christine

If you can't upgrade the tank you *really* need to take them back or try to rehome them. I can't imagine one 4-5 inch fish in a 2 gallon, much less 4. With a tank that size there really aren't a ton of approriate choices... a male guppy or 2 (not a female because then you have the baby problem), a betta, a pair of smaller type killifish, maybe some shrimp if you like those. Each one of those would be a choice, definitely not a combination thing. And if you don't have experience keeping fish, I would highly recommend that you take back the 2.5g and get a 10g. Then you have many more choices and the tank will be MUCH more stable than a smaller 2.5 gallon & they cost about the same. Additionally, you should read up on the nitrogen cycle & cycling your tank.

Well when they start growing bigger I can convince my mom into getting a bigger tank. And yes I have had allot of fish, just not any cichlids. And yes I have read about cycling a tank.

[cowelder]

Originally Posted by Christine

Its not about being mad at you. If all you are allowed to have is a 2.5 gallon, then you need to be responsible and pick fish appropriate for a 2.5 gallon. You cant just take any fish you want and put them in whatever you want and expect good results. Fish, just like any other animal have needs that have to be met. Your fish may be very small today, but they are not close to full grown (knowing what my walmart labs look like anyway). Even if the fish were full grown at the size they are now, its still too many fish for the tank. It's really not about the forced circumstance. It's about being responsible for a living thing that you bought to care for.

Well me and my dad were gonna get a 10 gallon tank and two fish I thought that would work. Because I know how big they get! And when they start growing I can EASILY convince my mom into letting me buy a big tank or possibly two depending on how big the tank is. I'm not afraid to empty my savings account to help these little critters keep from dieing because of a small tank or anything I can keep from happening.

[Christine]

Well, not sure why you asked for advice about keeping them healthy since you don't really want it. Good luck with that.

[cowelder]

Originally Posted by Christine

Well, not sure why you asked for advice about keeping them healthy since you don't really want it. Good luck with that.

BECAUSE I WANT THEM TO LIVE!!! YOU DON'T UNDERSTAND I WILL BUY THE TANK I JUST HAVE TO EXPLAIN THIS TO MY MOTHER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Puffer Pita]

They aren't going to grow bigger. They are going to be stunted and will die long before they ever get a chance to start growing bigger. They are basically living on death row right now, with apparently no chance of reprieve since you aren't going to take them back.

[cowelder]

Originally Posted by Boxermom

They aren't going to grow bigger. They are going to be stunted and will die long before they ever get a chance to start growing bigger. They are basically living on death row right now, with apparently no chance of reprieve since you aren't going to take them back.

THAT'S WHY I'M GONNA TRY TO FIND A TANK!