Male umbee tank mates

  • We are currently upgrading MFK. thanks! -neo
I wouldn't do it personally but I guess if you put a pair of convicts in there they would start breeding and provide a nice source of live food for him. Some fry would survive and start breeding too but eventually they would all get munched even the original pair.
I think you will be rewarded for your patience eventually if you keep him solo and will end up with a nice big fish in a tank that doesn't look so big all of a sudden.
 
Umbi's and Payara are the apex fish predators in the waters they inhabit, everything else is prey.
I have noticed the larger they get (around 2ft or more), they seem to move to almost rapids like (rheophillic) environments, where they wait in the shelter of rocks for any fish or crustacean to float by, and where it is hard for a human to simply stand in the current.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Coryloach
Jonathann04769 said:
A little off topic but I have another 300 sitting right beside it, what could I get away with in there without a umbee. Maybe a male jaguar as the boss and some female festae and a pair of convicts and and a male tiger motaguensis or something
Click to expand...
Anybody have any thoughts on this?
 
In my opinion there are not many fish ( if at all ) that are more impressive than a large male umbee under lighting that helps bring out the blue freckles.
Unfortunately from my experience I found this fish quite slow growing for such a large max size but is totally worth the wait and I believe patience is the key with these.
I would keep this fella on his own or possibly get a small female with some hiding places and enjoy them as a pair. although having this single fish in a massive tank on its own is a commitment I can guarantee when it’s grown jaws will drop seeing this blue freckled beast.
 
richyrich said:
In my opinion there are not many fish ( if at all ) that are more impressive than a large male umbee under lighting that helps bring out the blue freckles.
Unfortunately from my experience I found this fish quite slow growing for such a large max size but is totally worth the wait and I believe patience is the key with these.
I would keep this fella on his own or possibly get a small female with some hiding places and enjoy them as a pair. although having this single fish in a massive tank on its own is a commitment I can guarantee when it’s grown jaws will drop seeing this blue freckled beast.
Click to expand...
Ya I might try and get a female for him, not sure how I’d do that, just order a group of 5 or something and let him find her and sell the rest?
 
You nailed it. He
Jonathann04769 said:
Ya I might try and get a female for him, not sure how I’d do that, just order a group of 5 or something and let him find her and sell the rest?
Click to expand...

He will kill the rest. The one left alive (if any) will be his mate. Some males are just too aggressive to live with even females of their own species. There are probably some mellow exceptions to the rule too but I sure wouldn't bet on having one.

It's a harsh process. Umbees are ruthless. In the wild they can flee but in an aquarium there's nowhere to run. You may be able to rescue some of the unchosen before he kills them but you'd have to be very quick to remove them the second you saw him beating them up. More than likely you'll just find them floating.

The lucky lady (if any) will be allowed to live but she'll need a ton of hiding places that he can't get into, pick up and move, overturn or destroy. A divider with a few holes big enough for her but not for him is a great idea too. If he wants to breed but she's not ready to lay eggs she will need that protection. He may be nice to her most of the time but things can go sideways fast.

It pretty much sucks to be in a tank with a male Umbee. Unless, of course, you ARE the male Umbee. Then it's good to be king.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Zanzag, Cichlids-r-beasts, Coryloach and 1 other person
I agree, you should consider Umbee and Dovii in a separate class for other cichlids. A male Umbee could take that tank up all by himself.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Serpentine
You must log in or register to reply here.
MonsterFishKeepers.com
Top Bottom