Thanks for the input. I have decided to pass the carpentis. My tank is only 125, not large enough to accommodate a large aggressive fish. Presently, I have a 10" and 14" Vieja, along with a dozen convict size cryptoheros, thorichthys and aulonocara species. The Vieja are gentile giants, never bully the small fish or each other. The community is in in harmony, and I don't want to regret for introducing a big mean carpentis that upset the balance. The only complaint I have is the Veija are very shy. In feeding time, the small fish would swim boldly in the front . The big Vieja whould stay cautiously at the corners waiting for the small fish to start feeding before coming out. The small fish constantly quarrel with one another, but do no harm because there is plenty of room for them to run and hide in a 125. Occasionally, a spawning pair may even attack the big Vieja, but its David versus Goliath, the Veija just ignore them. I don't know why. The Vieja are the biggest but shyest fish and if startled, would jump up and make a loud splash noise. Is it because they are so big and dominant, and the lack of challenge makes them shyer. I recall that they were not as shy growing out when they were smaller fish in the community.
Questions on Herichthys carpintis
- Thread starter viejafish
- Start date
Whoa! Where was the video taken, Duane? What kinda fish are in the video? The big ones look like Synspilum, but the body shape looks a little different?
Which veija species are you talking about? They are all different species, not all exactly the same fish, which behavior varies. Also they are some of the largest sized cichlids. I mean all the species get just as large as your amphs and possibly bigger than most parachromis.
IME large fish get skittish when conditions aren't right. Even my 4" deppii was picking on the 13" melaruna when a 2" firemouth was picking on the deppii. The melaruna wasn't happy, so I sold him. I don't think I will keep a large species in my 150g unless I only have a pair or single wet pet.
The video was taken in a tiny satellite cenote about 100 yards from Cenote Azul.
The high bodied cichlids are (I believe) uropthalmus. Quite the difference in appearance between this group only 100 yards away from the the ones in my Youtube video from Azul. Just goes to show, color and even shape, are not good ID cues. There were also lots of Ramdia catfish in the satellite, but they disappeared under rocks when I entered the water. There was an even smaller pond a few yards beyond that one, with only small JDs and live bearers.
The high bodied cichlids are (I believe) uropthalmus. Quite the difference in appearance between this group only 100 yards away from the the ones in my Youtube video from Azul. Just goes to show, color and even shape, are not good ID cues. There were also lots of Ramdia catfish in the satellite, but they disappeared under rocks when I entered the water. There was an even smaller pond a few yards beyond that one, with only small JDs and live bearers.
