14 replies to this topic

[Andrew]

Hey everyone is anyone putting any malawi cichlids outside in a pond this summer? if so what sorts? I know Andrea used to do this with f. rostratus and aceii to name a few, its just that i was hoping to get rid of my big koi and goldies and put some c moori out back. any help appreciated

[keenas]

Andrew, I have been thinking the same, but not sure of the dynamics with all the different fish in together. I wouldnt be able to shut down all tanks as I have many species that will/could cross if they were in the same environment. So really I would need 2 ponds. Hmmm, need to work on the missus again. If anyoe does set up a pond for cichlids, I would really appreciate it if I could come and look at the setup.

[Fox]

What size ponds are we talking?
Wouldnt mind giving it a try..

[Andrew]

mine would be 1200lt at a guess but iam thinking of getting something like a water tank with an open top, kind of like what andrea had. i have pics of her setup and could post them if she sees this post and oks it

[Den]

I've kept many malawis in my pond, including rostratus,H Moorii, zebras, maingano etc. Just be sure to take them out before it gets too cold (roughly around May) because they will die. I used bore water to fill the pond and also for water changes and they loved it.

I now keep Americans in there and they can survive all year round, have got Texas, brasilienses, Jack Dempseys in there. Also many corys can surivive year around in a pond, had a pair of Julies in there for a few years, gave them to a friend a few months ago, alot of people dont realise that many corys come from cold streams.

Pic of my pond last year, its a bit buggered ATM, its getting revamped this summer with a new pump and filter:

[Andrew]

is extreme growth the only benefit of ponding cichlids over summer? anyone selling f rostratus?

[Jeromy_Syndrome]

wouldnt there be the problem of predatory birds for you beloved fish in these ponds?

[kuhni]

I remember when we had our pond, a spoonbill would always come and terrorise our goldfish.

I mean it's hard enough to find a spoonbill in the wild but the first one I see is one in my backyard eating my goldfish...

how the world works lol....

[Den]

I get a frequently visiting heron, but I have not noticed any fish missing. I have created alot of places for the fish to hide.

[Fox]

Do they spawn in the pond Den?
Would love to throw my colony of Dimi.comps in a pond for spawning and growth.


Might go up to pond shop on the weekend.... :wink:

[Den]

Yes they all spawn as long as you have pairs .

[Andrew]

what sort of growth rates did you get in malawis' den? did you feed them or did they just eat algae/bugs?

[Den]

I had mainly adult fish in there, there were quite a few babies that survived but I wasnt feeding too much so growth rates were slow to average.

[Barramundi]

I often used to move cichlids out to my ponds & outdoor tanks over summer, their colouration changes is what motivated me. they would colour up magnificently!!! Especially in the outdoor tanks (tubs really).

I was lent some big 250L black tubs & in the dark the colours were truly incredible. eg Juli. Dickfeldi - I have never seen them so richly coloured with the deepest blue highlights to their fins & gill covers. Haven't ever seen anything as strong in an indoor aquarium. Some may have achieved it obviously I've just never seen anything like it.

Strongly recommend you try it, you'll be amazed. & is especially good for fry you're geting ready to sell, I found growth rates 25-50% faster in the large - 1000+L - pond(water changes are still a vital part of that though IME).

[Den]

The colours you see outside has alot to do with lighting, if your tank has crappy old flouro globes you will not see the same kinds of colours that you see when the same fish is viewed in full sunlight. I've noticed a "slight" improvement in some colours in some species when they have been kept outside and then brought back inside but most of the difference I have noticed has to do with the lighting.

I have grown fry much faster in tanks than the growth rate in my pond but this is mainly due to the pond getting less frequent feeding than my tank raised babies. Having kept various cichlids from Malawis to south and central american cichlids in my pond I think there is no difference in keeping them in a tank as long as the tank is an appropriate size for the fish being kept and is well maintained with good water quality.

For example if you take a gibbi out of a scabby 4 foot tank and throw it in a big pond it is only natural that you will get a growth rate improvement, but if you took that same gibbi and threw it into a well maintained 8 foot tank with good food supply you will get the same great result as throwing it into a big pond. Apart from water quality growth rate is related simply to food supply, I have a few gibbies I bought at the same size, 2 are in a 10 foot tank and the third one is in a 2 foot tank, the one in the 2 foot tank is nearly twice the size of the ones in the 10 footer, simply because the one in the 2 footer gets more food as he has less competition during feeding and is able to find and get to the food easier in a small tank.