Mayaheros Beani Cichlid

[RealCrix220]

Hi All

as I prepare to fill my new juwel rio 350 with some American cichlids, I have come across these Mayaheros Beani Cichlid.

The guy in the shops says they are from California or somewhere near and that they are super rare

Are they rare ????

From research I can only see that they are from Mexico.

Has anyone ever kept them or know much about them ??

 

[duanes]

They are from the northern Pacific coast of Mexico, found among other places, near Mazatlan.
They are basicallly the only cichlid in their habitat found that far north, and usually do not play well with other cichlids, as adults.
In a community, as they mature, they usually eliminate any other competition.
I started off with half dozen juvies, and in a 150 gal tank , where they whittled down their numbers to a single pair as they matured.

Above left male, middle, a female in breeding colors, right female in normal color
Below left and midddle female with fry, right fry growing out


Mine seemed to do best when temps were kept low, similar to the rivers they experience flowing down from the Sierra Madre mountains, of their thheir habitat.

As you can see (above), apha males tend to deelope a sligh nuchal hump when mature

 

[RealCrix220]

They are from the northern Pacific coast of Mexico, found among other places, near Mazatlan.
They are basicallly the only cichlid in teir habitat fund that far north, and usually do not play well with other cichlids, as adults.
I started off with half dozen, and in a 150 gal tank they whittled down their numbers to a single pair as they matured.
View attachment 1558470View attachment 1558471View attachment 1558472
Above left male, middle, a female in breeding colors, right female in normal color
Below left and midddle female with fry, right fry growing out
View attachment 1558473View attachment 1558474View attachment 1558475
View attachment 1558477View attachment 1558476
Mine seemed to do best when temps were kept low, similar to the rivers they experience flowing down from the Sierra Madre mountains, of their thheir habitat.
View attachment 1558478
As you can see (above), apha males tend to deelope a sligh nuchal hump when mature

Thank you for the info

it seems like the fella in the shop is wrong in location and they must not be rare

They are cool tho

 

[duanes]

They were rare in the hobby, until about 15 years ago, but later after being spawned a couple times.....
I had a hard time giving spawns away, even with an add here on MFK.
It may be their aggressive disposition, and needing a large tank to house just a pair.
It may be their perceived less than colorful appearance.
I had no qualms about keeping my spawning paiir in a 6 ft tank, with no other fish, one of my favorite north american species ,and found them fascinating.
They tolerate cool temps well, and I was able to keep them in a pond, spring thru fall in Milwaukee

 

[Kayden]

Thank you for the info

it seems like the fella in the shop is wrong in location and they must not be rare

They are cool tho

they are super rare lol. And yes there was a now extinct population in California. Your shop guy is right.

Duanes has more experience in care than I do so I defer to him!

 

[duanes]

There was a feral population living in the Salton Sea, but it is said to be extirpated
There was also a feral (introduced ) population in Lake iOkeechobee in central Florida also said to be extirpated.

 

[RealCrix220]

I have 3 reserved and should be picking them up tomorrow or Wednesday so once I have them I’ll get some images and share

 

[RealCrix220]

Update

Finally got them in and have some photos

I got 3 of them

 

[troublesum]

WOW!! those look super nice how big are they now? do you know which ones are male and female

 

[RealCrix220]

WOW!! those look super nice how big are they now? do you know which ones are male and female

They are good looking ain’t they.

I have not yet looked into the sexing of them so not sure yet how to identify which is which