Acarichthys Heckelii?

[shawe1]

Does anyone own these? Of so, what is your experience with them?

I am hoping to add one or two to my geophagus tank if they are not too aggressive as adults

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[tlindsey]

I have two of them with geo redhead tapojos, and geo steindnacheri, as far as aggressive very mild, but they are very greedy

 

[duanes]

I have had a trio in a 150 gal for about 2 - 3 years, with Guianacara, xCichlasoma ornatum, and a belly crawler pike.
As of yet not any aggression to other cichlid species, and surprisingly little between each other, although they are now just coming into sexual maturity. I have read they start to become aggressive with each other at about this point in such a small tank.

 

[notho2000]

I had six that I raised up around four years ago. I unfortunately eventually lost them in a variety of ways too strange to explain. They were magnificent specimens and it broke my heart to lose them. About 8 months ago, I decided to give them another go, picking up six more. I have them in with eight Geophagus proximus and a trio of C. panamensis. They're coming along really well. Duane, when you picked yours up, I was inspired to try them again. Thanks for the 'push'. I found that they were relatively peaceful towards one another and their tank mates. When they were fully mature, they went through all the courtship rituals and interactions and no damage ever resulted. They are definitely worth a go. Just make sure that you maintain very good water quality and tank hygiene. Also a good balance of high quality foods. I fed a lot of vegetable based foods (spirulina pellets, peas) Here are some pics of my originals and the 'new kids on the block'.


originals




new

 

[dogofwar]

I've found them quite peaceful up until about 6" or so...and then - all of a sudden - brutal on each other.

I have a group of the Belem, Brazil type (from Rapps) growing out in a 180g with acaras, sevs and the like...

As others have said, they need space (they can get to a foot), good water quality and not too aggressive tankmates to do well long term.

Matt

 

[isde02]

I have a trio of mature adults, 2 females and 1 male, in a 125g they've just started displaying to each other but no aggression.

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[shawe1]

I had six that I raised up around four years ago. I unfortunately eventually lost them in a variety of ways too strange to explain. They were magnificent specimens and it broke my heart to lose them. About 8 months ago, I decided to give them another go, picking up six more. I have them in with eight Geophagus proximus and a trio of C. panamensis. They're coming along really well. Duane, when you picked yours up, I was inspired to try them again. Thanks for the 'push'. I found that they were relatively peaceful towards one another and their tank mates. When they were fully mature, they went through all the courtship rituals and interactions and no damage ever resulted. They are definitely worth a go. Just make sure that you maintain very good water quality and tank hygiene. Also a good balance of high quality foods. I fed a lot of vegetable based foods (spirulina pellets, peas) Here are some pics of my originals and the 'new kids on the block'.

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originals

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new

Those fish are stunning!

I had a couple about a year ago but had to "thin the herd" before they started showing any colour.

There are 3 in my local lfs all of which are colouring up nicely, i think you guys might have swayed me into picking one or two up!


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[Empyreal]

I had a trio beautiful fish. Randomly one of them died. I think it was spooked and hit its head. Awesome fish

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[notho2000]

The ones I "lost" died in some of the most unusual ways I have ever experienced. At some point, I might go through the whole story of what happened. Right now it's too depressing.

 

[petspoiler]

I raised a M/F up together with geos where they were the largest (from a 75G, then to a 180G with also a couple sevs) and they've been real peaceful.
Tapajos redheads spawned repeatedly & could keep heckelii at the other end of tank along with smaller others.
I lost my male @ 8 1/2 inches to my own error. He was our favorite in that tank. was a peacemaker, whenever the other fish bickered or started bouncing off the walls he would take a brief swim tour through them all and then settle down in one spot. Tankmates took that as their que to chill out. so when he died the whole tank dynamics was disrupted & everyone became spooky.
I got 3 more males to grow out, and my female has relaxed again. I don't see actual peacemaking behavior in these. maybe because they are growing with sevs and those are so pushy. Maybe when I get another tank up I will separate the 2 species.
It does seem like they have some kind of calming influence in the tank the longer they are there, although I don't really know why with these. whereas I could see the direct causal influence with previous male.
I think it's like other cichlids= individuals vary.