WARNING: DONT go to Global Aquatics

[Dieboldly]

Not moving can be a sign of acclimation, if purchased today this isn't odd at all. Medication is mostly unnecessary in this situation just watch for signs of infection. Salt will naturally promote an environment that makes it difficult for more infections to take hold and fish will naturally heal fin damage quite quickly. If the damage is extreme and down to the base of the fish it could become permanent but that is not observed frequently so chances are everything will be okay. That said, festae are not terribly friendly to other fish, including other festae so they may end up damaging eachother more when they are comfortable.

They were purchased yesterday and usually I have no issue with a fish not being active after rehoming. How are they compared to the green terror?

 

[Dieboldly]

W

If the oddly spelled species is Heterotilapia buttikoferi you're in for more issues. These fish are extremely aggressive and territorial.

ow really? I didn't know that. I've see. Them big in lfs and they get along with the other fish find

 

[Dieboldly]

Lol, yep it's gonna be on like Donkey Kong.

Lol great

 

[Dieboldly]

Haha yes it is and I'm not sure why the guy bagged those fish together but I would have requested that they be bagged separately..

Yea I know...they were actually fine when I got them home

 

[Dieboldly]

I hate not knowing how these fish would do in my tanks together lol now I'm stuck with them lol

 

[krichardson]

Yea I know...they were actually fine when I got them home

That young butti could have shredded the other two cichlids during the ride home.

 

[Dieboldly]

That young butti could have shredded the other two cichlids during the ride home.

**** probably! I didn't know he was really that aggressive. These guys should've known to separate the fish....smh. I'm really annoyed with this place. Another bad review on yelp coming lol

 

[Woefulrelic]

They were purchased yesterday and usually I have no issue with a fish not being active after rehoming. How are they compared to the green terror?

A lot lot of things can factor into this. If they recently arrived at the LFS they could still be out of sorts, especially if wild caught. Some fish can take months to settle in properly, but usually a few days is more normal. Do they currently have tank mates? If something bothers them it will extend the process generally. Compared to green terrors they are bigger, meaner and more territorial. Your best bet would be to have a male and female, even then the male can beat up the female.

 

[Dieboldly]

A lot lot of things can factor into this. If they recently arrived at the LFS they could still be out of sorts, especially if wild caught. Some fish can take months to settle in properly, but usually a few days is more normal. Do they currently have tank mates? If something bothers them it will extend the process generally. Compared to green terrors they are bigger, meaner and more territorial. Your best bet would be to have a male and female, even then the male can beat up the female.

They were in a tank with butterkofii....and the guy said he had them since they where a fry...

 

[duanes]

Hetertilapia buttikoferi is one of the larger and most aggressive Tilapines. When I had some, they easily hit 15" in a very short time (I have heard of individuals hitting 20" or more), that after killing every other fish in a 150 gal tank. Yes, mine was an impulse buy 30 years ago, before I knew what I was getting myself into. I bought a few, but ended up with 1 in a kiddy pool outside,after a murderous ti-raid.
They are never found in small streams or small bodies of water in Africa, usually only in large, deep rivers, so a tank of 300 gallons or more for 1 or 2 individuals should be thought of as minimum. They have strong vegetarian tendencies, and are great recyclers in nature, and can be found following hippos, eating their dung.