Providing Kilesa's environment

[youngcichlid]

Hi

I am about to keep Kelisa in their species' tank. I plan to keep them(two males and one female) in 60 gallon tank. (48 inch long x 15 inch deep x 18 inch high) What is the ideal number of Kelisa in 60 gallon tank? What is the breeding ratio for keeping in 60 gallon tank? Thanks.

Young

ps. I do have more question about Kilesa. If you have Kilesa what do you feed them? and how do you collect their fry? and about their water parimeter, landscaping, etc. Thanks in advance!

[youngcichlid]

Hi all,
I read a article about Kilesa but your experience and your advice are always welcomed.

Thanks.

[Thomas Andersen]

Hi Young,

in a tank this size I guess you could keep 2 males with 3-4 females. The bottom should consist of fine sand, and you could make some shelter for the females, where they could get some peace and quiet, e.g. by having groups of water-plants (groups of Vallisneria is perfect for this) in each end of the tank

As for feeding, Kilesa is carnivore, so a mix of cyclops, mysis, artemia and depending on their size, krill and shrimps cut to pieces, will work fine. The also eagerly take flakes, but in order to get the females into proper breeding condition, this should not be their main diet.

Good luck with them!

Thomas

[youngcichlid]

Thanks Xenos,

It is not easy to get females only. The sellers in US around me want to sell same ratio or more males. It means that if I want to have 3 females, I need to have 3 males too. What about 2inch F1? I found many shops having f1. Do you think this is good idea or need to wait until I find more females?

Young

[Thomas Andersen]

If you buy the 2 inch F1, you´ll have great difficulties sexing them; you may be lucky and get more females than males, but also the opposite, even more males

And yes, most shopkeepers aren´t exactly thrilled of selling females only; I would go for 2 or 3 of both sexes; maybe you know someone that would be delighted to have, or seek, a couple of males?

All the best,

Thomas

[Barbie]

I purchased a group of 10 young E. kilesa a few years back. Once they were grown I discovered I had 9 males and 1 female. The males weren't overly rough on her and in a large enough tank, I wouldn't forsee any problem at all keeping pairs, rather than harems. You'll be enchanted watching these guys. Congratulations! I kept mine with Cyp. leptosoma "Utinta" and was very pleased with the look and lack of aggression in the tank. Good luck with yours!

Barbie

[youngcichlid]

Hello, what would be good tank size for 12 Kilesa(6pairs)? Let me know. Master Xenos please respond! young

[Thomas Andersen]

Hi Young,

I think I´ve stated in previous posts that I personelly wouldn´t keep kilesa or melanogenys in less than a 5 foot tank (150 cm), in order to have enough room for several displaying males, and also room for incubating females to find some peace and quiet

Are you considering adding a group to the three ones you allready have?

All the best,

Thomas