My local fish shop has two Aequidens metae left, they have had them for roughly a year, they came in as small juveniles from Colombia. The owner just offered them to me for $10. I don't know what sex they are, one is bigger than the other, they both have long dorsal fin extensions but I think that is normal for both sexes. But they don't look particularly healthy, they are not coloured up at all and they don't look particularly well, though I can't pinpoint anything in particular wrong with them. I would say one measures about 10cm (4"), the other maybe 12-13cm (5-5.5"). They have been living in a large tank with a variety of other cichlids most of which are larger than them, the owner says they are just stressed and should improve when kept on their own. What do you think? Worth the risk or not? I would initially keep them on their own in 180l (approx 47 gallon) tank.
Aequidens metae question
- Thread starter Mazan
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Ime color for them depends on several things and can change putting them in one tank vs. another. Same fish in one tank will be colored up and in another look pretty bland, so that by itself wouldn't worry me. It's similar with aggression, tank and tankmates can make a difference, same fish might be docile in one tank and a nuisance in another, sometimes even toward larger fish. I've never kept them in less than a 75 gal tank with other fish in the tank and wouldn't recommend less than that. With that size difference, chances are it's a male and female, especially considering they grew up together, and in too small a tank without other fish to distract them I'd be surprised if the male didn't beat on the female. Even in a busy, large tank, males are sometimes rough on females and it pays to have enough driftwood, etc. to give her a place to get away and other fish large enough to cool his jets.
Other than size, visual gender differences are ambiguous at best. Males can have a slightly longer dorsal fin, but fins need to be in perfect condition to see it, and then the difference is subtle.
Other than size, visual gender differences are ambiguous at best. Males can have a slightly longer dorsal fin, but fins need to be in perfect condition to see it, and then the difference is subtle.
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Thanks. Yes, it has occurred to me that the two might not get on in the small tank. If this happened I would have a couple of possibilities - return one of them to the shop, or put one or both in my large SA cichlid tank, though I was not really thinking of adding any more cichlid species and wouldn't want to disturb the peace in there. The tank is approx 220 gallons and measures 200 x 65 x 65cm (78.7 x 25.6 x 25 .6"). It currently houses 4 Mesonauta mirificus, a pair of Cichlasoma amazonarum, 2 Uarus (not full grown), a Heros liberifer, and 1 Andinoacara latifrons (I think), as well as 2 small plecos and some bentosi (10) and diamond (7) tetras. Do you think there would be room for more? In any case I wouldn't put them in there straight away until they look a bit healthier.
Tank is big enough for the added fish in my opinion, but not so sure about having them with the latifrons. They're closely related and acara types don't always get along so well with other, similar species. Not quite as closely related, but could be a similar story with the amazonarum. Might work in that size tank, it would depend on the individual fish, you'd want to keep an eye on them for a while. All of that said, apparently your latifrons and amazonarum are getting along fine, which could be due to tank size, could be the individual fish, etc.
I know exactly what you mean...I am not sure if it is good idea to have 3 rather closely related species in there (the Andinoacara was actually an afterthought, it was given to me). As well as the possibility of aggression there might be a risk of hybridization. When I first added the blue acara to the tank it paired up with one of the Cichlasomas (the smaller of the two). I hadn't previously considered that possibility (though they did both use to be Aequidens...). They stayed together as a pair for about two months and spawned several times, the acara was the female and the Cichlasoma (apparently) the male. The eggs always lasted exactly 2 days then disappeared. Then one day they had a major lip-locking fight and from then on the two Cichlasomas were paired up and now have fry. The strange thing is the CIchlasoma that was paired with the blue acara turned out to be a female! Anyway, now even though they have fry, the tank is pretty calm and I am a bit reluctant to change anything. But with cichlids sometimes you just have to see what happens and be prepared to remove any if necessary. One possibility I suppose would be to remove the Andinoacara to the small tank. Anyway I will continue to give it some thought!