Sajica Cichlid -75 Gallon Set Up

[platy21]

Definitely won’t mix the two then. If the Sajica’s fall through I may go with Rainbows. Yours look great- that’s an ingenious idea with the pool. How often do yours spawn?

I am leaning toward Mollys as dithers. I really like the wild type Mollys but can’t find them anywhere in stock. I wouldn’t be opposed to P. sphenops but may hold out for mexicana. Are swordtails native to Costs Rica? From my research they are more northern of a species.

Also think I will check Home Depot and lowes for river rock and mix some similarly colored pebbles in with my tan colored sand.

I installed a pH probe today. I calibrated and it may need to stabilize for 24 hours, but it’s reading 8.25. (Higher than my reef- too bad I can’t naturally sit there without CO2 scrubbing). I need to test kh and gh to get an accurate number, but my 90 gallon planted sits at 13 kh and 7 gh with aquasoil. I know Central American cichlids native water is hard but do you think my levels are too high?

 

[duanes]

Your water parameters are not too high or hard for Centrals.
The average pH here where I have tested in Panama is 8.2, and the largest lake in the country (lake Gatun) sometimes hits pH 9.
My tanks average also sits @ 8.2 with total hardness of over 250 ppm.

 

[platy21]

That is good to know. The pH probe just hit 8.31 which surprises me it’s that high. I’ve always tried South Americans but haven’t had much luck so perhaps this has something to do with it. I’ve been looking for sajicas for several years now with no luck so Im excited to find them now.

 

[Hybridfish7]

Thank you, that’s very helpful! There seems to be more information readily available on South America biotopes as compared with Central American. Rainbow cichlids are also endemic to the same habitat as Sajica, correct? Does anyone have any resources on the Rio Paquita? The Sajica I found are labeled as F2 from Rip Paquita, but there isn’t much information I can find online on that particular river system.

I plan on rescaping the tank to incorporate more wood and rock and create caves. Ideally I will attempt to create several areas where the Sajica can stake out their territory. The tank is haphazardly overgrown with jungle val at the moment so I will trim that back and keep it and see what happens.

Rainbows are a bit further north, coming from the rivers that flow out of the great lakes of Nicaragua. If you want more cichlids, neetroplus and cribroheros diquis are things that occur in the same systems. Neetroplus might snatch fry though, in case you want to breed them.

 

[Hybridfish7]

Definitely won’t mix the two then. If the Sajica’s fall through I may go with Rainbows. Yours look great- that’s an ingenious idea with the pool. How often do yours spawn?

I am leaning toward Mollys as dithers. I really like the wild type Mollys but can’t find them anywhere in stock. I wouldn’t be opposed to P. sphenops but may hold out for mexicana. Are swordtails native to Costs Rica? From my research they are more northern of a species.

Also think I will check Home Depot and lowes for river rock and mix some similarly colored pebbles in with my tan colored sand.

I installed a pH probe today. I calibrated and it may need to stabilize for 24 hours, but it’s reading 8.25. (Higher than my reef- too bad I can’t naturally sit there without CO2 scrubbing). I need to test kh and gh to get an accurate number, but my 90 gallon planted sits at 13 kh and 7 gh with aquasoil. I know Central American cichlids native water is hard but do you think my levels are too high?

There are also no swordtails south of Honduras as far as I know. Mollies on the other hand go all the way down to Panama. The list I gave before is based on videos of the natural habitat of sajica, and fish that were seen alongside them.

 

[platy21]

Rainbows are a bit further north, coming from the rivers that flow out of the great lakes of Nicaragua. If you want more cichlids, neetroplus and cribroheros diquis are things that occur in the same systems. Neetroplus might snatch fry though, in case you want to breed them.

I think I will stick with the Sajica's and not add an additional cichlid. If my tank was larger though I would consider it.

There are also no swordtails south of Honduras as far as I know. Mollies on the other hand go all the way down to Panama. The list I gave before is based on videos of the natural habitat of sajica, and fish that were seen alongside them.

I am partial to the Poecilia gilii and would be thrilled to find some for sale. I wouldn't be opposed to the sphenops but am hoping for more natural, wild type coloration.

 

[Hybridfish7]

I think I will stick with the Sajica's and not add an additional cichlid. If my tank was larger though I would consider it.



I am partial to the Poecilia gilii and would be thrilled to find some for sale. I wouldn't be opposed to the sphenops but am hoping for more natural, wild type coloration.

Poecilia salvatoris might be a bit easier to find and still have a bit nicer coloration than something like formosa.

 

[duanes]

This is the field guide I use when collecting in Panama, it has a detailed taxonomic keys done in line drawings that really pinpoint characteristics and details that help with ID (although some of the genus names have changed since it was written).
Beside Costa Rica, it has maps that show the range of species throughout Central America where the listed species can be found, and a number of photos.

 

[platy21]

I found a preview of that book on Google last night but couldn't find it in print for sale anywhere. I will have to check the library and see; or if they have an English translation available.

Does anyone have any sources for purchasing these wildtype livebearers? The Wet Spot had Poecilia salvatoris listed for sale in the past but they are out of stock.

 

[Hybridfish7]

I found a preview of that book on Google last night but couldn't find it in print for sale anywhere. I will have to check the library and see; or if they have an English translation available.

Does anyone have any sources for purchasing these wildtype livebearers? The Wet Spot had Poecilia salvatoris listed for sale in the past but they are out of stock.

Could join the American livebearer association and have a look around there.