I have neutral to hard water so that’s why I’m leaning towards Central American’s. Did you have two females or just one with the male and do you have any full tank shots so I can see how you set up your tankThey were quite aggressive, and would not tolerate any other fish in a 6 ft tank. They spawned about every 3 months or so, which always heightens aggression.
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many fry would eat their smaller brothers and sisters, doing a bunch of culling for me.
Some of my favorites to keep.
Just curious what type water you have?
Hard and mineral rich, good for North, and Central Americans and Caribbean species.
Soft and mineral poor? better for S Americans.
Best cichlid pair
- Thread starter Bertie07
- Start date
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Both the alpha male and female killed off all rivals. When only about 3 inches, I found male slow digesting one of his 2" brothers.
So by the time they were thinking about spawning, there were only the pair left (think I started with 6 or 8, my normal MO and expectation). I think the carnage cemented their pair bond.
Same happened with my grammose pair, started with a bag of 6 or 8 from the ACA convention, and they quickly whittled the group down to two.
And the same canabalistic tendencies happened with a bag of 10 belly crawler pike juvies, after only a few weeks I ended up with 1 male in a 125 gal. Luckily a friend had bought a bag of 10 from the same GCCA auction, and ended up with only a female, which he gave to me. So not only isolated to Centrals.
Some other genera are a bit more forgiving.
So by the time they were thinking about spawning, there were only the pair left (think I started with 6 or 8, my normal MO and expectation). I think the carnage cemented their pair bond.
Same happened with my grammose pair, started with a bag of 6 or 8 from the ACA convention, and they quickly whittled the group down to two.
And the same canabalistic tendencies happened with a bag of 10 belly crawler pike juvies, after only a few weeks I ended up with 1 male in a 125 gal. Luckily a friend had bought a bag of 10 from the same GCCA auction, and ended up with only a female, which he gave to me. So not only isolated to Centrals.
Some other genera are a bit more forgiving.
Thank you, he is a beast.
Thank you. Come March I’ll have had him for two years. I got him at 2”. My big female was already 5-6” or so when I got him. And I didn’t introduce my little female till they got moved into the 135 and my male was a year old. I got lucky and everyone is getting along with just short bouts of aggression, never anything too bad. But for a while when I first got my male I have to separate him from my big female. She whooped his butt and still nips him even though he is bigger then her now.
It will forever be a war with her challenging him.
I’d take everyone’s suggestion of buying a group to let them pair off. Things should go much smoother that way no matter what cichlid you pick.
Yeah will do that, could you post a video of your tank as I’m really interested to see what they’re like and how active it isThank you, he is a beast.
Thank you. Come March I’ll have had him for two years. I got him at 2”. My big female was already 5-6” or so when I got him. And I didn’t introduce my little female till they got moved into the 135 and my male was a year old. I got lucky and everyone is getting along with just short bouts of aggression, never anything too bad. But for a while when I first got my male I have to separate him from my big female. She whooped his butt and still nips him even though he is bigger then her now.
It will forever be a war with her challenging him.
I’d take everyone’s suggestion of buying a group to let them pair off. Things should go much smoother that way no matter what cichlid you pick.
I am biased like everyone else who has posted and say Lyonsi! I have my group of 8 being shipped from COA after the holidays. Mr.Gourami has good taste
You know, I’ve never posted a video here before. I might have to try it out once I get a chance.
bertie07 said:
Sure, I have kept a few over the years. Growth is pretty typical for a central, I found they grow a little under an inch per month when younger, and it slows down as they get about 6" or so. Don't seem to have pics on my comp of the more recent growouts, but here is a jumbo male I had years ago.
He’s lovely I think they might be my top choice, were they personableSure, I have kept a few over the years. Growth is pretty typical for a central, I found they grow a little under an inch per month when younger, and it slows down as they get about 6" or so. Don't seem to have pics on my comp of the more recent growouts, but here is a jumbo male I had years ago.
