I got this fellow at Petsmart last week (he was sold as a Red Texas, but I didn't think he was a flowerhorn or a real Red, but he cost the same as the Green Texas', of which they were out, so I got him anyway.... he *IS* a Green Texas, isn't he?). I had him shortly with a firemouth and a severum, of similar size, but he kept them hiding 99% and I'd only seen him once a day, if at all. Now that I was able to pick up a 55gal for a growout for some cichlids to mix with my oscar (a future 150, and only the ones that get along passably), I left him alone in a growout 40gal breeder. He's let me see him MUCH MORE (plus, the firemouth and severum are much braver in their other tank too!), but he's still a bit shy. I hope this will pass? I tried to give him several hiding spots, but I wonder, does he need some kind of dither fish? If there is something he can get along with, just until he gets close to being too big for this tank? I plan to leave the other fish(plural?) in this tank when he vacates to a 60 or a 75, so hopefully something that can keep the 40 as a permanent home? And how long is it safe (to prevent stunting) to keep him in the 40? As of now, he has a HOB filter rated for 50gal, and a sponge filter that's for a 20 or so, I forgot the exact specs. Twice monthly water changes of about 60-70%, or at least it's how I kept the goldies that were in here until I moved them to a pond. I figure it's an OK schedule? Any other advice? I can only find a little info on these fellows online, so I'd appreciate all I can get!
