Tell me all you know about Cichlasoma Grammodes (w/pics pretty please)...

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terd ferguson

terd ferguson

Jack Dempsey
MFK Member
Aug 6, 2007
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Concord, NC
I've got a 54 corner tank full of africans. I just bought a used 55 and would like to do something a little different. I think I've decided on the Cichlasoma Grammodes. I like them because they are big, mean, nasty, but not too big for a 55.

Tell me all you know about keeping them. Ideally, I'd like to have a pair or three, but from what i'm finding, this may not be possible. What are your experiences? Again, I'd like to know all there is to know about these fish. My research attempts are coming up short (aside from talking to a couple of folks who've kept them).

Thanks very much in advance for any and all help and/or suggestions and thanks for this great forum.:headbang2
 
Wow, slown down people. This is too much information to take at one time. :D

Somebody besides ---XR--- (who is trying to help me via pm's) is keeping cichlasoma Grammodes, aren't they?
 
My only experience with one is that it got sucked into the overflow and died in my sump.

I was going to leave that out, but I don't want you to have to wait any longer for information.
If for some reason you have an overflow large enough to suck one in it, make sure it has a guard.
 
rallysman;1068530; said:
My only experience with one is that it got sucked into the overflow and died in my sump.

I was going to leave that out, but I don't want you to have to wait any longer for information.
If for some reason you have an overflow large enough to suck one in it, make sure it has a guard.
Click to expand...

I don't have a sump, so I don't think I'll have to worry about that one. I'm mainly looking for people's experiences with keeping them and what they're like, what their habits are, interaction with keepers and other fishes (same species or different), feeding habits, would you keep them again, are they intersting/fun, grammodes specific problems to watch for, etc.. There's just not the wealth of informatin available on grammodes as there is about other large mean cichlids (dovii's, jag's, jack dempsey's, etc.). At least not that I'm finding anyway.

My large, mean, aggressive cichlid choice would be an easy one if I had a bigger tank. I'd get a dovii. But being limited to 55 gallons, I want a fish that will be happy in there for life. I certainly don't want to have to rush out and come up with a grand in 8 months to buy a bigger tank (I'm sure I'll come up with some excuse to do just that anyway, lol. I have a problem, I'm addicted to feesh).

Thanks very much for sharing your experiences (albeit a short one).:D
 
Profiles here
and here

Pics of mine

Just about 2 weeks ago


Yesterday.

Very Aggressive. 2nd day in my tank (55g) almost took an eye from my Rainbow cichlid. Have since seperated; 1 week Grammodes behind the divider solo.

Half aday no divider. Had to erect the barrier and this time put the Rainbow solo.

Now 3 days into Grammodes with my other fish (in sig), still have the Rainbow separated. Otherwise so far so good. Has surprisingly grown a 1/4" but it could just be wishful thinking.

He was/is skittish but gets better everyday. It did eat the first day in the tank so I thought very good sign :D

Otherwise I got a spare 29g incase violence gets bad.

Good luck with yours loving mine everyday.
 
ewok;1068649; said:
search search search, search search search! :D
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I've done a lot of searching, here and on the web. There's just not a lot of info about cichlasoma grammodes besides the basic profile (water ph, temp., where they're from, etc.) or a couple of pictures in a thread about other, more popular fishes. I'd really like to get info from those that have kept them to find out more specific info like I've asked for above.

There's only two videos of grammodes on all of youtube, do a search for red devil and you come up with hundreds. There's just something about this fish that interests me. I guess it's the look and the aggressive reputation (they are called mini dovii's after all) that is attracting me to them. I'd just like to find out more about them.

Most on here (in my searching) have said not to keep more than one because you'll end up with only one. But Jeff Rapps (tangled up in cichlids) says that 3 or 4 or more is the best way to keep them. I'd have loved to talked with him more about these fish, but I didn't want to take up his whole day. Contradicitons like that is why I'd like to talk to people with experience with the grammodes.

But thanks anyway though.:grinno:
 
Dude i've done searches far and wide and the little there is known about them amazes me. I'm guessing it's up to us now who are keeping grammodes to share as much as we can. Hell i'm only 2 weeks into having one. Still looking for info.
 
ProblEmZ;1068679; said:
Dude i've done searches far and wide and the little there is known about them amazes me. I'm guessing it's up to us now who are keeping grammodes to share as much as we can. Hell i'm only 2 weeks into having one. Still looking for info.
Click to expand...

Finally, someone who understans what I'm going through here, lol. I seriously appreciate the help. Any other info you can give me along the way is also appreciated, just drop me a pm. Thanks again very much.:)

***Edited to add*** Thanks also for the profiles, I've seen those before. That's about all the whole interweb has to offer about these fish, lol.
 
Ok....

Here is my personal experience with Grammys......

a 55 would be fine for a permanant home as a solo fish, They do not get big, they are mean, I had a grammy that I gave to a friend (3.5") take out a 7" Jag....They need their space.....Slow growers....Ive seen a few, but polomax. bigkill, and darthodo have the best ones I have seen (adults). I have one who is in a grow out tank now (The runt of my 7 total) and the only one left, he will be joining a gen pop of similar sized Festae, Trimac, RedTexas, RedDevil, Barred Midas (all juvi) in a 220 gallon tank. Take care of that fish and you will be rewarded, mine were very skittish at first, but I have had them (I have only 1 left) for 6 months, and he is now very responsive to me....now....before, I was irritated, as I got no response.....I have been rewarded with a 2" stone cold killa.....Great fish....The reason I got rid of the rest is they were hyper dominating my 125, started out ok, but slowly they took over from fish 2 times their size.

I will recommend that you break up the "Speed Lane" of your tank, ie: put some driftwood or rockwork in the middle of your tank to stop/slow down the ability of these fish and their "quick strike" ability, as they will streak across the tank building up speed to attack their prey/target(s). Breaking up the middle slows down the ability to fast track and kill a target fish. I learned that from a very experienced fish keeper in the GCCA who gave me feedback on my old 125 and what I could do to stem the aggression of these fish....

Thats my experience, good luck and I wish you well, they are rewarding fish to keep......

IMHO

Chris
 
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