Argentina and Boucourti?

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Netengo

Plecostomus
MFK Member
Oct 29, 2009
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Hi I am looking to restock my 135g 6 foot tank and I am interested in keeping these two beasts, Maskaheros Argenteus and Cincelicthys Bocourti.

I previously had a south american set up for around 10 years and over the past 2ish years my older fish have started to pass away, a lot of these would have been older than 10 as some were adults when I got them.

I've always liked the big Centrals and these two in particular are my favourites. My tank has 2 FX6 filters on it and is a pretty open tank for swimming space. My tapwater is also much better suited to centrals being very hard and a ph of 7.4/.5

Let me know if you think it could work and also what other fish would you keep with them? This is just one of a few ideas I am thinking about.

thanks Andy
 
Bocourti will easily out grow a 135 gal, I had a shoal in that size tank starting at about 3" and within less than 2 years, they needed a minimum 300 gal tank, because of their growth (easily hitting over 14" quickly).
Argentea on the other hand out grow a 150 gal in a different way, both times I kept them. At about 7" the alpha began to kill all other argentea (the 1st ones were 11F1s from Don Konkel) then started on any other cichlids. Neither bocourti or argentea bothered non-cichlid dithers.
Their aggression level made any South American I had kept seem nonexistent.
The 2nd time I tried argentea (thinking the 1st was an anomaly) I got a comparable pair in the 8" range. The male killed the female soon after spawning.
My feeling is they need a minimum 300 gal tank.
Needless to say, I like both these cichlids a lot, but space (and a lot of it ) is a key factor in keeping them without disappointment. I believe a 135 (except as a grow out tank) is much too small.

 
Great advice! Thanks for your help - I'll strike them off the list.

Great looking fish you have though :)

Andy
 
I agree 1000% from above. I have Bocourti now, one at 14" or so, one 12'' and one about 8-9", the one is a pair and the odd ball male gets tossed around. I have him in with Pearsei and they don't care for him either, this is a 265. They just need more space so I'm selling the loaner male but keeping the breeders. I've had many Argentea over the year, I had one take over my 500 gallon tank with a bunch of other fish, he met his match one day with my big pike, they had some sort of agreement and after a few days didn't bother each other. I'm looking for another Argent as they are my favorite.
 
Couldn't agree more with duanes. I have not kept bocourti but I currently have a pair of pearsei in a 220gal that they make look small. I've also kept a couple argentea and they are downright mischievous. I grew a male out to about 8" and sold him off due to aggression. I just impulse bought another small male that's less than 4" and am already regretting it. They love to eat the scales off of fish and nip trailers off of fins. He won't be staying long.

A 135gal is a decent sized tank but not for those two bruisers. Maybe look into some heterospila. They stay a bit smaller and are much more even tempered.
 
Thanks - Im currently thinking of doing a simple SA tank with a large group of Angels and maybe some dwarfs but when you mentioned Heterospila did you have any specific species in mind? Im not too familiar with these.

If you can give me some ideas that would be great :)

thanks Andy
 
Heterospila IS the species. Oscura heterospila is the full Latin name. They are a smaller growing "vieja" type that tend to be more even tempered. Just google the name and you should find plenty of info on them.
 
I agree with cjdesmit, that the Oscura (formerly Vieja) hererospila, would be a much better choice for your size tank.
Some other Central Americans in that vain (same body shape etc etc) and a reasonable size might be from the genus Chuco.
Chuco intermedia

more spotted location varient above, less spotted below

and below Chuco micropthalmus
http://s70.photobucket.com/user/dstuer/media/Chuco/IMG_6384_zpseuc6pnzp.jpg.html

There is also another in the genus C godmani that has a red variant.
This genus does appreciate a stronger current than some other cichlids, and I believe providing that current helps keep aggression down.
My pair of intermedia spawned right under where the strongest flow entered my tank ( a 135 gal)
 
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