Argentea vs. Festae

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bigfishbob

Feeder Fish
MFK Member
Nov 23, 2024
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Hello. First time poster, long time lurker.
I have an empty 200 gallon aquarium that I am looking to setup with either a pair of argentea or festae. The tank measures 6'6 x 28" x 28". Which fish would be more appropriate or should I go with smaller cichlids?
Please note I am not looking to add other cichlids, just one species to this tank. Maybe some either non cichlid fish, but it's not set in stone. Thank you in advance
 
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Kevin@TUIC said:
Dealers choice.. Both get to about equal size give or take an inch or so and also have similar temperament. a pair of one or the other would be perfect.
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Ok that's good news. They are both fairly common so I'll just get whatever I find first.
Thank you
 
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bigfishbob said:
Ok that's good news. They are both fairly common so I'll just get whatever I find first.
Thank you
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If youre purchasing as juveniles, get as many as you can to start and let THEM pick each others mate and generally the success rate of a better bonded pair will be hire than just adding a random male with a random female.
 
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Kevin@TUIC said:
if

If youre purchasing as juveniles, get as many as you can to start and let THEM pick each others mate and generally the success rate of a better bonded pair will be hire than just adding a random male with a random female.
Click to expand...
So I guess the question is which is more difficult to rehome. I don't think there is a huge market for large cichlids. Maybe I should call some lfs' before to see if any of them would accept the castaways.
Thank you
 
That was actually what i was thinking, it would depend on the colors and theme of the tank maybe. Argentea are one of those fish that didnt really impress me until i saw a large one in person, whereas festae are an altogether flashy fish imo. I dont think cameras capture the iridescent sheen that the argentea possess under lights very well, and most people think theyre just kind of whitish, grey looking.

Not a very influential difference but worth noting these two cichlids prefer slightly different diets--argentea apparently preferring a more herbivorous diet like other vieja and the festae being more typical cichlid/omnivorous.
 
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I thought Argentea were just dull white till I saw an adult irl. So beautiful. I vote Argentea especially against a black background.
 
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