in the pic above the fish is a 5" female, she was with blood parrots, firemouths a bichir a pleco and a jag i was growing out, so yeah they can be kept with a variety of tankmates they are very personable fish 
vieja zonatum info?
- Thread starter freebyrd
- Start date
I've owned a male and female in the past. First we all know Cichlids are the way they are if you put a stronger one with a weaker one in an enclosed space.. We expect biting.
Then it comes down to the individual fish and the combination you put in the tank or how they tolerate tank mates.. I assume wild fishes are harder for that because they arent used to being next to other fishes. Even though I've never kept Wilds b4(not that I cant get. Just dont find it important).
But Zonatus was the first Vieja I went after.
But any way. U gonna hear a lot of different stuff because every individual is different really.
The male Zonatus I had was 8-9". He was cvery shy. And these guys: if youre not home, they can kill. They are not mean and straight out like doviis and stuff but they can kill.. I've had a Guttu killed a Fene when I left out and came bAck.
Then it comes down to the individual fish and the combination you put in the tank or how they tolerate tank mates.. I assume wild fishes are harder for that because they arent used to being next to other fishes. Even though I've never kept Wilds b4(not that I cant get. Just dont find it important).
But Zonatus was the first Vieja I went after.
But any way. U gonna hear a lot of different stuff because every individual is different really.
The male Zonatus I had was 8-9". He was cvery shy. And these guys: if youre not home, they can kill. They are not mean and straight out like doviis and stuff but they can kill.. I've had a Guttu killed a Fene when I left out and came bAck.
I keep my pair with a pair of amphilophus and a group of young festae in a 150. The male is over a foot and the female is about 8". The aggression is manageable but I wouldn't keep them with anything in the same genus. Nor would I keep the pair alone even though they are a proven pair.
I kept an 11 inch male in a 75 by hinself he would not have any tankmates. His colors were stunning. Check out aquamojo's 14 inch male.
Yeah, but have you seen any for sale lately? They seem to be MIA from the hobby at the moment.
Florida Tropical Fish Direct has Veija Zonatus available in two sizes, 1.5" and 3". Pricing is very cheap as well. http://www.floridatropicalfishdirect.com/5152/index.html
I know this thread started a year ago, but it looks like it is going again, so I would like to add.
I currently have a 250 gal Vieja/Paratheraps tank going. It currently houses argentea, black belts, regani, zonatus, fenestratus, bifasciatas, with a pair of nics. There is definitely some aggression as to the pecking order, but nothing unusual. The fish average 4" to 6". I know that they still haven't reached their full maturity, but they all look great so far. As for temperment, the argentea and the blackbelts seem to run the asylum. The regani is far less aggressive, and the bifasciatus are absolute pussy cats. They are big, colorful, and mellow.
I also have a mating pair of Zonatus by them selves. The male is 10.5" and the female 7". They are awesome. The male has never (knock on wood) been aggressive towards her. They are wonderful parents. I just took a video of them today, if you all would like to see it, let me know.
As for the Heterospila. I agree, cant find them anywhere. I did get one donated to me from a friend. It is about 11", and very beautiful, but cant find anymore.
So I guess as aggression goes, its a crap shoot. I have people stop by all the time and are absolutely amazed at the fish that I have coexisting in the same tanks. I dont know if it is luck or what, but I have know complaints about any of the Vieja or the Paratheraps.
I currently have a 250 gal Vieja/Paratheraps tank going. It currently houses argentea, black belts, regani, zonatus, fenestratus, bifasciatas, with a pair of nics. There is definitely some aggression as to the pecking order, but nothing unusual. The fish average 4" to 6". I know that they still haven't reached their full maturity, but they all look great so far. As for temperment, the argentea and the blackbelts seem to run the asylum. The regani is far less aggressive, and the bifasciatus are absolute pussy cats. They are big, colorful, and mellow.
I also have a mating pair of Zonatus by them selves. The male is 10.5" and the female 7". They are awesome. The male has never (knock on wood) been aggressive towards her. They are wonderful parents. I just took a video of them today, if you all would like to see it, let me know.
As for the Heterospila. I agree, cant find them anywhere. I did get one donated to me from a friend. It is about 11", and very beautiful, but cant find anymore.
So I guess as aggression goes, its a crap shoot. I have people stop by all the time and are absolutely amazed at the fish that I have coexisting in the same tanks. I dont know if it is luck or what, but I have know complaints about any of the Vieja or the Paratheraps.
