Convict Cichlid odd behavior

On 03/20/2016 08:04 AM, Stephen Wolstenholme wrote:
Some cichlids will position themselves to get the light overhead but
most are OK with light from any direction. This is almost certainly
the behaviour as he is normal when the lights are out. 5 years is not
too old for convict cichlid if the tank is big enough. I haven't kept
American cichlids for years but I know some of the larger ones can
live for 10 or more years in big tanks.

Steve


Thanks for the fast response, Steve. When I posted initially, I sort of
thought it might be weeks for a response but happy I was wrong. The
latest issue was with the heater. It became stuck on maximum, but I
discovered it in time before Jake was fried. I now have a temp
controller on the way that the new heater will be plugged into. Sort of
security in case this sort of thing happens again.

Bill

On Sun, 20 Mar 2016 08:19:24 -0400, Bill Baxter
wrote:

On 03/20/2016 08:04 AM, Stephen Wolstenholme wrote:
Some cichlids will position themselves to get the light overhead but
most are OK with light from any direction. This is almost certainly
the behaviour as he is normal when the lights are out. 5 years is not
too old for convict cichlid if the tank is big enough. I haven't kept
American cichlids for years but I know some of the larger ones can
live for 10 or more years in big tanks.

Steve


Thanks for the fast response, Steve. When I posted initially, I sort of
thought it might be weeks for a response but happy I was wrong. The
latest issue was with the heater. It became stuck on maximum, but I
discovered it in time before Jake was fried. I now have a temp
controller on the way that the new heater will be plugged into. Sort of
security in case this sort of thing happens again.

Bill

There are a ways to prevent tanks getting too warm. The easiest way is
to combine more heaters to heat the tank. Each heater needs to be too
low power to overheat the tank if any stick on. Electronic heaters
never stick but they are expensive.

Steve

--
Neural Network Software for Windows http://www.npsnn.com

On 03/20/2016 09:11 AM, Stephen Wolstenholme wrote:
On Sun, 20 Mar 2016 08:19:24 -0400, Bill Baxter
wrote:

On 03/20/2016 08:04 AM, Stephen Wolstenholme wrote:
Some cichlids will position themselves to get the light overhead but
most are OK with light from any direction. This is almost certainly
the behaviour as he is normal when the lights are out. 5 years is not
too old for convict cichlid if the tank is big enough. I haven't kept
American cichlids for years but I know some of the larger ones can
live for 10 or more years in big tanks.

Steve


Thanks for the fast response, Steve. When I posted initially, I sort of
thought it might be weeks for a response but happy I was wrong. The
latest issue was with the heater. It became stuck on maximum, but I
discovered it in time before Jake was fried. I now have a temp
controller on the way that the new heater will be plugged into. Sort of
security in case this sort of thing happens again.

Bill

There are a ways to prevent tanks getting too warm. The easiest way is
to combine more heaters to heat the tank. Each heater needs to be too
low power to overheat the tank if any stick on. Electronic heaters
never stick but they are expensive.

Steve


Steve,

Can you provide an example of a non-sticking "electronic heater"?

Thanks, Bill

On Tue, 22 Mar 2016 05:07:34 -0400, Bill Baxter
wrote:

On 03/20/2016 09:11 AM, Stephen Wolstenholme wrote:
On Sun, 20 Mar 2016 08:19:24 -0400, Bill Baxter
wrote:

On 03/20/2016 08:04 AM, Stephen Wolstenholme wrote:
Some cichlids will position themselves to get the light overhead but
most are OK with light from any direction. This is almost certainly
the behaviour as he is normal when the lights are out. 5 years is not
too old for convict cichlid if the tank is big enough. I haven't kept
American cichlids for years but I know some of the larger ones can
live for 10 or more years in big tanks.

Steve


Thanks for the fast response, Steve. When I posted initially, I sort of
thought it might be weeks for a response but happy I was wrong. The
latest issue was with the heater. It became stuck on maximum, but I
discovered it in time before Jake was fried. I now have a temp
controller on the way that the new heater will be plugged into. Sort of
security in case this sort of thing happens again.

Bill

There are a ways to prevent tanks getting too warm. The easiest way is
to combine more heaters to heat the tank. Each heater needs to be too
low power to overheat the tank if any stick on. Electronic heaters
never stick but they are expensive.

Steve


Steve,

Can you provide an example of a non-sticking "electronic heater"?

Thanks, Bill

Fluval do a range of electronic heaters but there are lots of others.

Steve

--
Neural Network Software for Windows http://www.npsnn.com

On 03/22/2016 05:20 AM, Stephen Wolstenholme wrote:
On Tue, 22 Mar 2016 05:07:34 -0400, Bill Baxter
wrote:

On 03/20/2016 09:11 AM, Stephen Wolstenholme wrote:
On Sun, 20 Mar 2016 08:19:24 -0400, Bill Baxter
wrote:

On 03/20/2016 08:04 AM, Stephen Wolstenholme wrote:
Some cichlids will position themselves to get the light overhead but
most are OK with light from any direction. This is almost certainly
the behaviour as he is normal when the lights are out. 5 years is not
too old for convict cichlid if the tank is big enough. I haven't kept
American cichlids for years but I know some of the larger ones can
live for 10 or more years in big tanks.

Steve


Thanks for the fast response, Steve. When I posted initially, I sort of
thought it might be weeks for a response but happy I was wrong. The
latest issue was with the heater. It became stuck on maximum, but I
discovered it in time before Jake was fried. I now have a temp
controller on the way that the new heater will be plugged into. Sort of
security in case this sort of thing happens again.

Bill

There are a ways to prevent tanks getting too warm. The easiest way is
to combine more heaters to heat the tank. Each heater needs to be too
low power to overheat the tank if any stick on. Electronic heaters
never stick but they are expensive.

Steve


Steve,

Can you provide an example of a non-sticking "electronic heater"?

Thanks, Bill

Fluval do a range of electronic heaters but there are lots of others.

Steve


I ended up adding a regulator that's in series with the heater. Seems
to be doing a good job keeping the temperature constant.

One problem I'm now having though..... At the same time I added the
regulator, I decided to place a small, ceramic "cave" into the aquarium
as I never had anything in there before. Now, my convict spends 95% of
the time in the "cave" and I hardly ever see him. In fact, even when I
add flakes, he darts out of the cave so quickly that he misses about
half of the flakes. I'm not sure I should have added the cave.

Bill