For those who have not fished for peacock bass, and only know them as aquarium fish I want to share my experience growing up in South Florida. Long before there was mfk and before I knew about cichla in the aquarium hobby I spent nearly every day after school catching peacock bass in ft lauderdale. I have caught hundreds of peacock bass, different sizes patterns etc. I had days where we would go out and nail 30 in an hour or 2. What you have in your tanks is a true monster. Nothing in freshwater I have seen comes even close to a p bass as far as willingness to smash a lure being retrieved at full speed. They smash topwater lures in amazing fashion too. I had always fished largemouth, but one day I was in the tackle shop and the owner was telling me about p bass. I had no idea they were even in my hometown canals at the time. He sold me a small rattle trap and rapala and told me to cast it out as far as I could, and retrieve the lure as fast I could possibly reel. I was very skeptical that anything would strike a lure that I was reeling in at such lightning speed, but sure enough within 5 minutes using this method I had caught my first p bass. I was amazed at how hard they fought and how colorful they were. Eventually I started thinking about how cool it would be to keep them. I haven't lived in Florida for over 10 years now and haven't seen a p bass since. Until yesterday that is.
I received my first cichla yesterday from rapps (3 kelberi). I chose kelberi because they look great but mostly because of there smaller size.
The point is, for me p bass aren't just another cichlid or catfish or arowana etc. They are in a whole different class. I have also really fallen for dats, but more for their playful nature. A p bass is a freshwater Ferrari no matter if they cost $5 or $500. They are a true beast of a fish and I can't wait to see mine grow.
but i got a friend that will order me one at invoice instead of retail ^^ hopefully, he can get it soon