75 gallon wet pet

As the title hints, I am looking for a wet pet to stock in a 75 alone. Something around the 12-14" area. I've tried a couple threads like this before and I guess the common ideas for wet pets aren't overly appealing. Oscars, Midas, carpintis, jags, and others are just a few examples of fish I've been recommended. I'm not a big fan of nuchal humps or fish that look obese when adults, though of course the pictures I've seen could simply be over fed fish. Long story short, I can be picky....unfortunately.

A few ideas I've had in the past and would still consider include bocourti, female festae, and pearsei. Some genus I have interest in are Hericthys, ex-Cichlasoma, Vieja, Thoricthys, Cryptoheros, Andinoacara, Aequidens, Heros, Satanoperca, and Guinacara.

I got a m/f pair of Andinoacara rivulatus 'white saums' a couple weeks ago and love having them. The male is 6" and the female is about 5". I also currently have a 4" notatus severum, a 5" Aequidens 'Jenaro Herrera', a 3.5" Aequidens 'Jenaro Herrera', and 4 Guinacara stergiosi ranging from 2.5" to 4".

I think one of the problems with my indecisive choices and rapid rotation of stock over the last few years has been largely due to the small sizes I've always gotten my fish at. Until I got my rivulatus, I had never obtained a fish larger than 3" or had one grow to more than 6", but most only grew an inch or two before I got bored and found other homes for them. And because fry tend to lack their adult colors and be shyer than adults, it only added to my desire for something else. I'm looking to break this cycle and I think buying large juveniles or young adult adult cichlids is the key.

Anyways, I'd love to hear any suggestions you guys and gals have for me. I appreciate all the I input I can get. Thanks everyone!


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ponce77 said:

Syn, Cuban, carpintis? GL


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I think I will pass on a Cuban. I'm juggling the idea of a carpintis until I know for sure what if adults have a natural chunky look or if they are just fat fish because of overfeeding. A synspilum might be nice. They have beautiful color and I've read they seem to be pretty personable. The killer for me would be if it ends up with a nuchal hump.

brich999 said:

Tilapia buttikoferi like in my avatar dont get much if any nunchal hump and usually dont get too "chunky"

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Don't buttikoferi get to be 18"? I think such a beast would be a little too cramped in a 75 for life.

Quo Vadis said:

What about a Cuban, Beani, or Deppi?

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Not nuts about the Cuban and the deppi pictures on Google seem to look very much like carpintis or cyanoguttatus. I love the look of all three species when they are younger, but adults (especially males) seem to get obese looking around the head when they are full grown. Any idea if this trait is genetic or due to people overfeeding?

I really like the look of beani. I have only done a few minutes of reading on them, but it seems they are a very sensitive fish. Bloat issues apparently run rampant under 3-4" due to stress from water quality, diet, aggression from tankmates, and a wide variety of other issues. I wouldn't mind a challenge, but if I could manage to get my hands on a 4-5" specimen, I think I would stand a good chance of raising one out. Are they personable at all?

Crazy mike said:

Blackbelt View attachment 1034774


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Not sure if its Google giving me a confused answer or not, but I pulled up a wide variety of color patterns from ones with a lot of blue and red to ones almost entirely black and white. I am intrigued by this species and am interested, but I would want one that is mostly blue and red rather than black and white. Is there a color morph within the species, is it line breeding, is it breeding dress, or is it just random?


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