Neets or cryptoheros species tank.

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While I haven't kept cutteri in a large conspecific group, I've kept them with groups of other cryptoheros species, found them to be pretty typical for the genus. I think getting a group of 10 -12 young ones and growing them out (maybe in a smaller tank at first) would be fun and you would definitely end up with some pairs. You may have to re-home some to get a balance that works. I think goodeids of any sort would be a great dither. I kept ameca splendens in a similar setup, with a group of panamensis, and they did really well.
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While I haven't kept cutteri in a large conspecific group, I've kept them with groups of other cryptoheros species, found them to be pretty typical for the genus. I think getting a group of 10 -12 young ones and growing them out (maybe in a smaller tank at first) would be fun and you would definitely end up with some pairs. You may have to re-home some to get a balance that works. I think goodeids of any sort would be a great dither. I kept ameca splendens in a similar setup, with a group of panamensis, and they did really well.
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I'm actually new to the cryptoheros species complex. Do you have any favorite cryptoheros? I would like anything that looks good and isn't too murderous. I'm cool with aggression but enough that I can keep a small group in a 125 together
 
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I'm actually new to the cryptoheros species complex. Do you have any favorite cryptoheros? I would like anything that looks good and isn't too murderous. I'm cool with aggression but enough that I can keep a small group in a 125 together
Pretty much any cryptoheros could be kept in a group in a 125 IMO, with varying degrees of success. Some of the less aggressive species would be the slightly smaller ones like myrnae, septemfasciatus, chetumalensis, and of course nanoluteus. I think honduran redpoints would also be a good choice. Some of the bulkier species like sajica and panamensis (not a true crypto- but close enough) I think can do a bit more damage to each other because the size differences can be greater.
Though, with lots of cover and some dither fish, I think you could pretty much just pick whichever is your favorite, and a 125 would be good enough for a small group. My panamensis group was in a smaller 5' tank and did well, there was plenty of chasing but they did not kill each other.
 
With the crypt. species I have kept 125 would easily work ...
Which species do you have?

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Pretty much any cryptoheros could be kept in a group in a 125 IMO, with varying degrees of success. Some of the less aggressive species would be the slightly smaller ones like myrnae, septemfasciatus, chetumalensis, and of course nanoluteus. I think honduran redpoints would also be a good choice. Some of the bulkier species like sajica and panamensis (not a true crypto- but close enough) I think can do a bit more damage to each other because the size differences can be greater.
Though, with lots of cover and some dither fish, I think you could pretty much just pick whichever is your favorite, and a 125 would be good enough for a small group. My panamensis group was in a smaller 5' tank and did well, there was plenty of chasing but they did not kill each other.

Thats great!. I'll look up each of those species. Do you have a personal favorite?
 
Which species do you have?



Thats great!. I'll look up each of those species. Do you have a personal favorite?
Panamensis are probably my favorite of the ones mentioned (though they are not truly cryptoheros)
here's my big male. Only remaining fish from my original group of 6. The rest were re-homed, except for his mate who he eventually killed.

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The genus in general is very fun to keep. You get the attitude of the larger CA cichlids in a small package.
 
Panamensis are probably my favorite of the ones mentioned (though they are not truly cryptoheros)
here's my big male. Only remaining fish from my original group of 6. The rest were re-homed, except for his mate who he eventually killed.

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The genus in general is very fun to keep. You get the attitude of the larger CA cichlids in a small package.
So there is still aggression? considering it killed its mate. Was it special circumstance or typical with this species
 
Honduran red points are my favorite you get a very nice blue with them and their breeding colors are very nice as well
 
So there is still aggression? considering it killed its mate. Was it special circumstance or typical with this species
Well this is the only time I have bred them, but I believe the reason for the females death was that I sold the remaining grow-outs off and left the two of them with no other cichlids. They were in a 90 gallon with just some goodeids at that point. I think when there were other cichlids in the tank the pair bond was stronger, and with nobody to defend against he turned on her. The male was harder on the female in this tank than in their previous 5' tank with a larger female Hericthys tamasopoensis. This is a somewhat larger growing species, it shoulc still be do-able, but the slightly smaller cryptoheros may be a safer candidate.

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