Mixing Vics w/ Malawi

[Donzi]

Looking to add something different to an all male malawi peacock/hap tank. Would like to add a few of the red colored vics to get a little contrast in there without spending $100+ on a true red peacock. Got a flameback from Phil (igetbombed) that looked good in his tank and ok in mine for a couple days but has since turned mostly silver, tried several things to get him to color up (except add females) I eneded up giving him to a friend who wants to try to breed him. Are there species better suited to keeping colored up in an all male enviroment without being too aggressive for my peacocks. What would help in keeping them colored up? Any help would be greatly appreciated.

[AMBUSHPREDATOR]

You could probably get a nice red peacock for 30 or less. As far as keeping male vic's colored right now I have a male and no fem's but he seem's to be in at least 50% color, but then again he's taken a liking to a small male red empress. At least they won't breed. But I'm not telling them. Who am I to judge.

[Donzi]

If you know of anyone who has the true red strain of peacock (wudi/jmexotics etc.) not the typical orange/red strain for $30 please tell me who they are and I will buy one right now. That is why I am trying to mix in some true red thru male Vics and trying to keep them colored up. Thanks for your help.

[AMBUSHPREDATOR]

Donzi jmex get's 140 a fish and his stuff is real nice. But I'm sure that even a high quality red strain will have more constant red than a red vic will . And I bet you can get a real nice 3-4" red peacock for thirty. I actually have a couple at 2.5" that are orange-red on there way to pure red / blue-red face but it'll take another month or two until they look like what you want. If anyone has any nice red's in the 20-40 dollar range please post them and help me prove the point. We'll see ?

[Donzi]

I would be happy to be wrong on this and get a true red peacock for under $40. If anyone has one for sale I would be willing to travel for pickup. Thanks for the advice on the Vics. I do appreciate the feedback.

[AMBUSHPREDATOR]

I'm kindoff getting hung out to dry , let's give it a week and see what turn's up. I have seen alot of descent size peacock's sold over the year's with good color for 20- 40 no B.S. really. I actually posted recently for red's and albino red's and got no answer either. Try C.F. wanted forum if nothing turns up. Good Luck AP.

[nick a]

Sounds like you're looking in the right direction anyway. I don't think you'd be happy with a Vic choice long-term. Most are either waaaay too aggressive for peacocks or will do exactly what the flameback did. Just in my limited Vic experience it seems that they require femmes AND a decent dominance position in the tank to really color up all the way.

[Donzi]

Well - thanks for the input. AP it seems as if the $30-$40 true red peacock is a bit more rare than you thought. Maybe I can grab 1 of yours when they get a bit older/bigger. I guess I will just keep looking.

[pkut]

I am breeding the Red Peacocks that you speak of. It will be a while before I have any adults for sale though. The second picture shows a male and female.

http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b158/pkut/The%20RED/RubyRedPeacocks023.jpg

http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b158/pkut/The%20RED/RubyRedPeacocks034.jpg

[DNICE]

i've mixed vics w/ malawi w/ no problems. The "obliquedens" (normal or zebra) have a nice amount of red and at under $10 can't be beat

[AMBUSHPREDATOR]

Well a true red peacock is not cheap but a nice red one is in the range I mentioned. Once again the last fish shown is the taiwan bred $140 fish .