Michigan Cichlid Association

Pics and Video => Fish pics => Topic started by: Steve on December 13, 2013, 02:04:16 PM

Title: FINALLy got a Venustus
Post by: Steve on December 13, 2013, 02:04:16 PM
Every since I got back into fish keeping about 13 months ago I have been wanting a nice venustus, but with as big as they get I didn't want to put one in my 55g's so I was waiting till I got my 265g up and running till I got one. Well a couple weeks ago one of my favorite LFS just down the street from me had someone trade in a really BIG and beautifully colored male venustus. I am still a couple weeks away from the 265g up and running so I have just been visiting the venustus at the LFS every few days ;D making sure he is healthy and hoping no one bought him. Today I couldn't take it any longer so I decided 1-2 weeks in a 55g shouldn't stress him too bad till his new 265g home is wet and ready for him.

I'll tryin get some better pics of him later with all the lights on but here's a quick one of him. He's a full 11"

(http://img826.imageshack.us/img826/2463/t1ec.jpg)
Title: Re: FINALLy got a Venustus
Post by: rcombs on December 13, 2013, 02:36:41 PM
WOW you did better than I would have been able to. Its like when someone has an addiction. Sometimes its just hard to go any longer and ya just jump in lol. AWESOME VENUSTUS.
Title: Re: FINALLy got a Venustus
Post by: Ogre44 on December 13, 2013, 02:39:06 PM
Gorgeous fish!
Title: Re: FINALLy got a Venustus
Post by: Regalblue on December 13, 2013, 03:18:22 PM
Cool Steve,  Nice giraffe
Title: Re: FINALLy got a Venustus
Post by: Rob S on December 13, 2013, 05:18:51 PM
Beast! One of my all-time favorites.
Title: Re: FINALLy got a Venustus
Post by: Steve on December 14, 2013, 02:06:35 AM
Thanks guys I really like him. He's super active as well yet very mellow with the other fish. He was in a tank with peacocks that were as small as 3" at the lfs shop and didn't mess with them, and hasn't bothered any of my smaller guys since being home either.

Looks like someone else likes him as well  ;D

(http://img707.imageshack.us/img707/3872/bv9o.jpg)
Title: Re: FINALLy got a Venustus
Post by: four_by_ken on December 17, 2013, 07:20:26 AM
Very nice!

I have one too that I got real small and is now second in size only to my Livingstoni. 

Its very mellow.  I think it might be a female though.  No hint of blue in the face like yours has.

Wish mine looked like that!
Title: Re: FINALLy got a Venustus
Post by: Steve on December 17, 2013, 09:20:37 AM
Quote
I have one too that I got real small and is now second in size only to my Livingstoni. 

That's another one that is on my short list for the big tank (Livingstoni). They had a nice looking 6-7" one in the tank right next to the Venusutus at the shop, but they didn't know if it was a male or not. If it was for sure a male I probably would have brought him home as well :D
Title: Re: FINALLy got a Venustus
Post by: four_by_ken on December 17, 2013, 09:57:29 AM
Mine is a male for sure.   8)
Title: Re: FINALLy got a Venustus
Post by: LoveTheFishies on December 17, 2013, 10:25:07 AM
My cat will sit there and look at the fish, while the fish sit there and look at the cat.   :)
Title: Re: FINALLy got a Venustus
Post by: rcombs on December 17, 2013, 10:29:37 AM
so are Venustus peaceful? or is it hit and miss.
Title: Re: FINALLy got a Venustus
Post by: Steve on December 17, 2013, 11:58:45 AM
I can't speak on other ones because this is my first Venustus, but so far so good with mine. He is super mellow. Doesn't bother anyone at all right now and hasn't shown any signs of being territorial at all yet.
Title: Re: FINALLy got a Venustus
Post by: Mastiffman on December 18, 2013, 10:29:11 PM
I can't speak on other ones because this is my first Venustus, but so far so good with mine. He is super mellow. Doesn't bother anyone at all right now and hasn't shown any signs of being territorial at all yet.

 Nice! Congrats! Venustus are Very nice Fish! Josh has mine Ex-Colony and his males are pretty nice as well! Big Dogs too! Should be a good 9-10" by now!

 You should start looking for a Nimbochromis fuscotaeniatus! Those are another nice Nimbo!
Title: Re: FINALLy got a Venustus
Post by: Steve on December 18, 2013, 11:42:24 PM
Quote
You should start looking for a Nimbochromis fuscotaeniatus! Those are another nice Nimbo!

It's funny you mentioned that because just a couple days ago I was looking through the Hap pricelist on the website of one of the online places I have ordered from before and one of the fish I was looking at that they sell is the Nimbochromis fuscotaeniatus. They have 3.5"-4" males for $38 and 5.5"-6" males for $65. I don't think I have seen any local though.
Title: Re: FINALLy got a Venustus
Post by: Mastiffman on December 19, 2013, 12:30:09 AM
Quote
You should start looking for a Nimbochromis fuscotaeniatus! Those are another nice Nimbo!

It's funny you mentioned that because just a couple days ago I was looking through the Hap pricelist on the website of one of the online places I have ordered from before and one of the fish I was looking at that they sell is the Nimbochromis fuscotaeniatus. They have 3.5"-4" males for $38 and 5.5"-6" males for $65. I don't think I have seen any local though.

 Nice! it's up to you but you may want to hop on that if you are seriously considering one.
Title: Re: FINALLy got a Venustus
Post by: Steve on December 19, 2013, 12:38:54 AM
There's actually a few I'm considering getting from them hopefully after Christmas when I can free up some more funds.

Nimbochromis fuscotaeniatus 5.5"-6" $65
Dimidiochromis compressiceps 4.5" $49
Nimbochromis livingstoni 6" $55

And a Aristochromis christyi but they only have a 3" one of those on hand for $20 at the moment.
Title: Re: FINALLy got a Venustus
Post by: Mastiffman on December 19, 2013, 12:58:50 AM
you should get all of those!

 very nice! would look amazing in a male show tank!
Title: Re: FINALLy got a Venustus
Post by: Steve on December 21, 2013, 01:51:50 AM
I've had him for about a week now and he really hasn't ate anything yet ??? He seems perfectly healthy, so not sure if just he's still not quite use to the change yet or he's use to eating something else maybe? Tried both flake and pellets. Anything else Venustus this size prefer maybe?
Title: Re: FINALLy got a Venustus
Post by: djlamonica on December 21, 2013, 03:50:50 AM
Diet

It is an exclusive piscivore in nature but there is no need to feed live fish in aquaria as it accepts dead foods readily. Feed a meaty diet of prawns, lancefish, whitebait etc. Do not feed animal meat of any kind.

I googled v enustus diet
Title: Re: FINALLy got a Venustus
Post by: Steve on December 21, 2013, 11:34:54 AM
Thanks I'll have to hit the shop and see if I can find any of those for him today.
Title: Re: FINALLy got a Venustus
Post by: Mastiffman on December 21, 2013, 12:44:45 PM
Thanks I'll have to hit the shop and see if I can find any of those for him today.

 try thawed frozen krill..

 That usually jump starts any fish eating.
Title: Re: FINALLy got a Venustus
Post by: Steve on December 21, 2013, 01:54:57 PM
Thanks for the help guys, I just got back from the shop and bought some Sally's frozen kill. letting a small piece thaw right now and will see if he likes that.
Title: Re: FINALLy got a Venustus
Post by: Steve on December 21, 2013, 02:35:30 PM
Mastiffman I owe you a big thanks. I thawed out a chunk of krill that had about 4-5 pieces in it, put some pellets in the left side of the tank so the other fish would go there and then dropped the krill into the right side right next to the Venustus....he jumped on it like a fat kid to cake! ;D He loved it, he was swimming all over the tank hyper as hell for a good minute afterwards looking for more.
Title: Re: FINALLy got a Venustus
Post by: Mastiffman on December 21, 2013, 04:46:18 PM
Mastiffman I owe you a big thanks. I thawed out a chunk of krill that had about 4-5 pieces in it, put some pellets in the left side of the tank so the other fish would go there and then dropped the krill into the right side right next to the Venustus....he jumped on it like a fat kid to cake! ;D He loved it, he was swimming all over the tank hyper as hell for a good minute afterwards looking for more.

 Glad to help. That stuff even makes Me hungry! lol
Title: Re: FINALLy got a Venustus
Post by: Steve on December 23, 2013, 09:21:09 PM
How often should I fee the krill to him? I tried looking online and about the only thing I could find on feeding frozen foods like this to large Venustus said about twice per week on one site. Does that sound about right?
Title: Re: FINALLy got a Venustus
Post by: Mastiffman on December 23, 2013, 09:26:29 PM
How often should I fee the krill to him? I tried looking online and about the only thing I could find on feeding frozen foods like this to large Venustus said about twice per week on one site. Does that sound about right?

 Well if you can get them to switch over to waht the rest are eating then I would try and do that. But Krill will be good for them. Nimbos are Hogs! lol
Title: Re: FINALLy got a Venustus
Post by: Steve on December 23, 2013, 09:45:38 PM
He still doesn't seem to care for pellets yet for some reason. Today he finally took 1 pellet but that was it. Hopefully he'll slowly get switched over to all pellets at some point before summer because there's no way to feed him krill in auto feeders while I go on fishing trips next summer ;D
Title: Re: FINALLy got a Venustus
Post by: four_by_ken on December 24, 2013, 12:20:00 AM
I've heard of people stuffing shrimp and whatnot with pellets for extra nutrition.
Title: Re: FINALLy got a Venustus
Post by: Steve on December 24, 2013, 12:34:28 AM
lol kind'a like how I use to give pills to my Doberman...stuff them in a marshmellow ;D
Title: Re: FINALLy got a Venustus
Post by: Mastiffman on December 24, 2013, 02:20:01 AM
Now that you know he only picky... Just start feeding the tank normal food. Hell catch on.

 Or try starving the tank for a few days. Then feed them all and he might just devour the pellets.
Title: Re: FINALLy got a Venustus
Post by: spas on January 14, 2014, 04:09:19 PM
Hey Steve,

I also recommend getting all of the ones you have listed!

I have all of the below and many more rare predator haps in my 265.  For these guys to get along in the long run it is a good idea to overstock to calm the aggression.

Here is a link to my tank:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R4z0VGZQyxo (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R4z0VGZQyxo)


Take Care,
Steve

There's actually a few I'm considering getting from them hopefully after Christmas when I can free up some more funds.

Nimbochromis fuscotaeniatus 5.5"-6" $65
Dimidiochromis compressiceps 4.5" $49
Nimbochromis livingstoni 6" $55

And a Aristochromis christyi but they only have a 3" one of those on hand for $20 at the moment.
Title: Re: FINALLy got a Venustus
Post by: Steve on January 15, 2014, 03:46:31 AM
You got some great looking haps in there 8) How many total do you have in the 265 in the video? Is your 265 same dimensions as mine 84"x24"x30" ?
Title: Re: FINALLy got a Venustus
Post by: Motorcity7.3 on January 29, 2014, 07:33:23 PM
WOW! jealous,i have been trying to find one forever!!!!
Title: Re: FINALLy got a Venustus
Post by: Steve on January 30, 2014, 09:34:29 PM
WOW! jealous,i have been trying to find one forever!!!!

Go up to the Aquarium Shop in Royal Oak ASAP then. I was just up there about 4 hours ago and they have another one that is between 6"- 7" with really nice colors and perfect shape fins ($39.99)
Title: Re: FINALLy got a Venustus
Post by: Sean on January 30, 2014, 10:53:34 PM
The aquarium shop almost always has some nice mature males of something. So does royal tropical, but theyre priced wayyyyyy too high for me. Last time I was in the aquarium shop I picked up some nice albino Bengas and an albino Taiwan reef.
Title: Re: FINALLy got a Venustus
Post by: Steve on January 30, 2014, 11:06:52 PM
Did you get that albino Taiwan reef pretty recently? Just wondered if it was the one in the top corner tank on the back wall that I was looking at a few times about 4-6 weeks ago. He was a good looking fish  8)
Title: Re: FINALLy got a Venustus
Post by: Sean on January 30, 2014, 11:15:38 PM
I got it about a week ago, they had a bunch of 2" juvies i go one that was what they thought was a young male but after getting it home im mot sure that it is. the sunshines were the same size but the one I got is almost definitely male
Title: Re: FINALLy got a Venustus
Post by: Steve on January 30, 2014, 11:24:24 PM
Ah okay, I saw the juvies too, they were nice looking as well.
Title: Re: FINALLy got a Venustus
Post by: Sean on January 30, 2014, 11:29:35 PM
I didn't see a big male in there. I originally went in looking for lightbulbs and got sidetracked by those guys. I may go back and pik up a couple more just to ensure I get a male
Title: Re: FINALLy got a Venustus
Post by: Steve on January 31, 2014, 01:27:57 AM
I didn't see him today when I was there so he may be gone now but they did have a male and female albino Taiwan reef about a month or so ago. The male was around 4".
Title: Re: FINALLy got a Venustus
Post by: Sean on January 31, 2014, 06:44:51 AM
I wish I had Gone in there sooner then lol. This was the first time I've been in there in a while.
Title: Re: FINALLy got a Venustus
Post by: four_by_ken on January 31, 2014, 06:46:35 AM
I need to go to The Aquarium Shop when you guys go. 

Whenever I am there, the selection is minimal and what they have is not very impressive.
Title: Re: FINALLy got a Venustus
Post by: Sean on January 31, 2014, 09:05:35 AM
they had some pretty cool stuff last time. white calvus, albino benga, albino taiwans, big cyrtocara moorii, nice big lemon jake, yellow blaze pair
Title: Re: FINALLy got a Venustus
Post by: Maize-N-Blue-D on January 31, 2014, 11:04:31 AM
I need to go to The Aquarium Shop when you guys go. 

Whenever I am there, the selection is minimal and what they have is not very impressive.

LOL - I believe they get thier shipments in on Thursdays,  so I try to stop by on Friday...Might want to keep this in mind ...
Title: Re: FINALLy got a Venustus
Post by: Steve on January 31, 2014, 01:17:29 PM
I need to go to The Aquarium Shop when you guys go. 

Whenever I am there, the selection is minimal and what they have is not very impressive.

LOL - I believe they get thier shipments in on Thursdays,  so I try to stop by on Friday...Might want to keep this in mind ...

Yep Ken you have to either go right after a shipment, or get lucky and stop in right after someone trades in a good fish. They get African shipments about every other week on Thursday evenings and most the locals know it and will be there first thing Friday morning so if you don't get there by early on a Friday after they get a shipment then you will miss seeing at least 50% of what actually came in. Since I only live less than a mile from them I usually stop in at least 2-3 times per week so I am able to snag some of my fish right after someone drops off a trade in/too big a fish etc etc so that works out well for me.

Right now their selection is not as good as usual because the last shipment of Africans which they had come in about 2 weeks ago got stuck at the airport for over 72 hrs due to that big snow storm we had. I stopped in as Mike was unloading the fish and at least 75% of them were dead because they were stuck in the cold storage for 3 days in Chicago.