Anyone know anything about Carpintis?

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jag14

jag14

Candiru
MFK Member
May 27, 2012
498
47
46
knoxville tn
I recently found on a website, some carpintis cichlids. They were supposed to be real carpintes, not texas cichlids. Just one of the many species I've wanted to try. What can they live with? I was thinking maybe a synspilum, or a black belt. Or maybe just try a pair alone in a 75. Does anyone have experience with carpintis?
 
Like everyone has :p did you use search on here ? They are a very common fish tonnes of info. They are just like most american cichlids. Grow pretty big (max 12") have teeth may be peaceful may be really aggressive it all depends on the fish. (more so on the aggresive side) even in a 75g if there is no planned future i think your best bet would be just a pair. Those fish imo will work just not for life in a 75g. I have had all three the syn although has not been with other cichlids yet. Syn seems aggressive texas will hold its own against almost anyone instantly fought with my festae and now they are bffs. The blackbelt was a wuss but supposedly they are a ticking time bomb (aggression) but never had all three together.
 
I have 5 carpintus growing out in a 75gal, had them since Feb when they were 1/2" - 1". Largest male is now approx 5", females and sub dominant males are about now 3"-4", having 5 of the species seems to have kept the aggression spread out a bit.
But I believe they will soon need to be moved to a larger tank.
I keep them at fairly low temps, right around 70F, and had some outside this summer where water temps dipped into the low 60s at night with no noticeable adverse effects.
I very seldom fed while outside, they lived on the abundance of algae and whatever fell in the tank.
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Inside I mainly feed a low protein, spirulina based pellet, with an occasional krill type pellet.
Beautiful fish, with plenty of personality.
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Here in the UK Carpintis are the only 'Texas' type you can get, the true texas are nowhere to be found, Carpintis are always in all of the lfs, espech. the Escondido types.
 
They might be common some places, just not here. Nice pictures, makes me want to try them all the more. The fish store where I live are very limited in selection for cichlids. Lots of saltwater, but if you want anything other than the petsmart type fish, you just about have to order them. I'm very particular about the kinds I want to raise. I don't mind having to special order what I want. I prefer the colors of a carpintis over a texas.
 
When I was new to keeping cichlids, I had a 55 with green terrors, jags, a chocolate cichlid, and what turned out to be 2 blackbelts. I think I also had severums too. I would never try again with a mixed group like that, but it was fun to watch them fight it out amongst each other. If I remember right the bigger blackbelt- 10 inches- ruled the tank.
 
jag14 said:
I recently found on a website, some carpintis cichlids. They were supposed to be real carpintes, not texas cichlids. Just one of the many species I've wanted to try. What can they live with? I was thinking maybe a synspilum, or a black belt. Or maybe just try a pair alone in a 75. Does anyone have experience with carpintis?
Click to expand...

A 75g might not work w/ large cichlids like synspilum, but maybe w/ smaller sp. like thorichthys or even a medium sized cichlid.
BTW that is awesome you called it caprintis and not Texas. It doesn't make sense to call a fish a "Texas" when it isn't found there.


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I have my male Carpintis "Vontehillo" who is now right around 6" living with a male Cuban, a male Black Belt and a few small jag growouts. Great fish. I also have his sister in my 240. They're full of personality and look awesome.


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