I am growing out a Festae juvie. I don't know the sex as it is only 2 inch. When it gets bigger, I want to introduce he/her to to my 125 gal mixed Vieja species and green terror tank. The fish in the 125 gal are big but a peaceful pecking order has been established . Do you think the Festae, which is known to be vicious, can fit in, and does it matter if it is a male or female?
Any one has experience keeping Festae with Viejas
- Thread starter viejafish
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It is a possible all a matter of balance and knowing your fishes' temperment. I currently have a male festae, oscar, texas, and Jack Dempsey (female) all living peacefully in a 110. When i first introduced the Texas to the tank him and Festae did lip locking for days. I guess they settled that because now they get along great. Im not sure about vieja though. The only experience I have with them is a small Argentea I have thats only 3in and wont grow 
GL
GL
I don't find festae particularly any more aggressive than anything else, if fact I find many Vieja to be more dangerous.
The problem may be adding the festae to an established territorial hierarchy by the Vieja.
If all fish had been added at the same time and grown up together, that's one thing.
But adding an interloper, no matter what species is hit or miss, and can be very precarious for the new guy.
The problem may be adding the festae to an established territorial hierarchy by the Vieja.
If all fish had been added at the same time and grown up together, that's one thing.
But adding an interloper, no matter what species is hit or miss, and can be very precarious for the new guy.
I agree that it is best to grow out juvies at the same time as it's difficult to introduce grown fish to an established order. But I plan to introduce the Festae when it gets bigger so it won't get eaten, but still will be the smallest fish to the established group. My concern is that Festae will keep growing, and adult Festae are bigger and known to be meaner fish than Viejas, so I wonder if he/she will be a future problem.
I introduced a lyonsi to an established vieja community - no problem at all. I would try your festae in w/ the vieja when it is around 4in. Thats what I did w/ the lyonsi. At that size, it was still the smallest in the tank, but had enough bulk to it to handle getting pushed around a bit. I'm not sure how it will work out when the festae matures, but introduction should be ok.
Agreed juvenile vieja as is one thing but these fish get massive. And territorial. Make sure the festea is healthy. And plan a upgrade to a 250+ longterm.
Drew
Drew
I have single male synspillum, bifas, and fenestratus between 8 to 12", and an 8 inch Green Terror and a few smaller fish in a 125 gal. They get along well and have established a peaceful pecking order. I have a zero sum game plan in fish keeping, and only add fish to replace fish I lost or sold. So I have no plan to upgrade into a bigger tank to accommodate more species I want. I do have a few 75 gal to move fish around if I run into aggression. If the fish cause too much trouble and I can't manage its aggression, I will just get rid of it. This is why I only raise one Festas to see how it can fit in. I normally keep only a single male of each big CA species to avoid paired up aggression, but Festas female is so pretty that I don't mind it turns out to be a girl. But I read that Festae female meaner than male.
I wouldn't add a festae or any other fish for that matter. A festae male or female would cause issues in that tank
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Vieja and Festae can go together fine... I've done it a few times, but I've always grown them up together. If you have a 75g ready for the Festae in case they don't "accept" him, I'd say try it and monitor the tank as close as possible.