Argentea Questions

[Davey_8313]

I'm going to be getting a Argentea this weekend and was just wondering about them. I don't know much about them, but I've read that they can be aggressive. Could I keep him w/ some other cichlids about the same size? He's only 4" right now. Or maybe w/ my Florida gar that's about 12"? Are they personable fish also? Thank you.

 

[peathenster]

they are more aggressive than I thought - mine rules the tank and chases everybody around (including an 8" male GT). No real damage whatsoever though, so it's all good

 

[Davey_8313]

Thanks, I just love the way that they look. So he just chases, doesn't actually hurt them? Are they friendly w/ you like follow you around?

 

[peathenster]

he does come to the front when he sees me - friendly....hungry....

Keep in mind this is experience from one fish...may not be representative...

 

[volcomstone]

I too am curious about the Argentea. They definitely look killer and are my favorite Viejas based on looks! I know Modest Man has some Agenteas including an awesome looking male. I'd like to hear his inputs about them.

 

[Modest_Man]

When kept in a community setting mine was in the bottom third of the pecking order. It's never done any damage but hasn't taken much either. The only fish he hasn't done well with...are other argentea.

Now (at 10"+) he just does his thing by himself, really not the most personable.

 

[duanes]

I started with 10 young ones some years back, at about the 6" mark the alpha killed off 9 overnight, and started on the other cichlids the next day. He ended up in a tank by himself and grew to over 12".

 

[fitznacio]

On the aggressive scale I would say they are not as bad as a parachromis managuense (jag) or a midas/ red devil, the can hold their own when they are over 10 inches. If you choose to keep you fish with with other Argentea the size of the tank has to have a footprint of at least 6 feet long and atleast 2 feet wide with plenty of pots, pvc tubes or objects for the lesser or smaller fish to hide if need be and to most important break the line of sight. Hope this helps.

 

[Davey_8313]

Alright, thanks guys. I was trying to decide between the Argentea and a Jaguar...

 

[Adhlc]

I think it really depends on the individual fish. Some Argenteas can be absolute pricks, while others are virtually harmless. My 8" male shares a 75 with 7 swordtails and an Otocinclus (Threw him in there when I broke down my planted tank and realized he was left behind) He rarely chases the swords around and is practically oblivious to the oto.