Well despite popular decision I will most likely be going with my pair of cubans. I felt it was the right choice for many reasons.
1.Midas get HUGE and thick. Males get 14" and females 12" plus they are thick fish. If I had my own place I would just upgrade to a larger tank in the near future. Something the size of an 180 or larger but I don't. I just wouldn't feel comfortable keeping these guys in my tank. i really think they deserve a larger tank. I know 125 is minimum for a pair and people have kept them in smaller successfully but I personally would want to give them more space.
2.Despite the high aggression between the original 5 cubans I had the pair I have now are getting along very well much better than my midas pair. The male cuban is much more gentle with his female than the midas is. They constantly follow each other around the tank and there is no biting between them at all. Unlike the midas whose violent tail slapping and flaring get so rough substrate flies everywhere. When the female is in the mood to spawn it's ok but otherwise he is just too persistent.
3. As far as personality I believe the cubans have that one too. Don't get me wrong both species greet me at the front of the tank but as soon as my midas realize they are not being fed they go back to harassing eachother. The cubans on the other hand seem perfectly contempt watching me. They are not looking for food nor are they flaring at me aggressively but seem to just be curious as to what is happening outside their tank. The midas tend to hide a little bit more also while the cubans are always out and about. Also when I re-arrange the tank my midas always hide or go to the other end but my cubans will actually swim right up to my hand and "investigate".
4. My cubans also have a better food response than my midas. IDK if it is just my fish but my cubans(as well as my silver dollars) are much more efficient at getting food than my midas are. SO much so that they often eat the food intended for my midas.
5.Giving away/selling cuban fry will be much easier than giving away/seling midas fry at least in my area. Although whatever I can't give away/sell will probably go to my tegu.
All the reasons except for the first one are pretty minor. I would have loved to keep both pairs if I had the tank space but I don't. And despite all the minor resons I am choosing the cubans I am still very attached to my midas. So my plan it to get atleast one spawn from them and grow one out to keep in the 125 temporarily. So I always have amphilophus in my tank. I don't know how much longer I will have them but they will be leaving my tank. Despite me choosing the cubans I will always have a soft spot for amphilophus and they remain one of my favorite fish to keep
.
PS:both pairs are very aggressive and and both my male cuban and male midas have bitten me
.
1.Midas get HUGE and thick. Males get 14" and females 12" plus they are thick fish. If I had my own place I would just upgrade to a larger tank in the near future. Something the size of an 180 or larger but I don't. I just wouldn't feel comfortable keeping these guys in my tank. i really think they deserve a larger tank. I know 125 is minimum for a pair and people have kept them in smaller successfully but I personally would want to give them more space.
2.Despite the high aggression between the original 5 cubans I had the pair I have now are getting along very well much better than my midas pair. The male cuban is much more gentle with his female than the midas is. They constantly follow each other around the tank and there is no biting between them at all. Unlike the midas whose violent tail slapping and flaring get so rough substrate flies everywhere. When the female is in the mood to spawn it's ok but otherwise he is just too persistent.
3. As far as personality I believe the cubans have that one too. Don't get me wrong both species greet me at the front of the tank but as soon as my midas realize they are not being fed they go back to harassing eachother. The cubans on the other hand seem perfectly contempt watching me. They are not looking for food nor are they flaring at me aggressively but seem to just be curious as to what is happening outside their tank. The midas tend to hide a little bit more also while the cubans are always out and about. Also when I re-arrange the tank my midas always hide or go to the other end but my cubans will actually swim right up to my hand and "investigate".
4. My cubans also have a better food response than my midas. IDK if it is just my fish but my cubans(as well as my silver dollars) are much more efficient at getting food than my midas are. SO much so that they often eat the food intended for my midas.
5.Giving away/selling cuban fry will be much easier than giving away/seling midas fry at least in my area. Although whatever I can't give away/sell will probably go to my tegu.
All the reasons except for the first one are pretty minor. I would have loved to keep both pairs if I had the tank space but I don't. And despite all the minor resons I am choosing the cubans I am still very attached to my midas. So my plan it to get atleast one spawn from them and grow one out to keep in the 125 temporarily. So I always have amphilophus in my tank. I don't know how much longer I will have them but they will be leaving my tank. Despite me choosing the cubans I will always have a soft spot for amphilophus and they remain one of my favorite fish to keep
.PS:both pairs are very aggressive and and both my male cuban and male midas have bitten me
.
. They are becoming more like their parents every day. The male is even developing the orange on his lip like yours have.
