Here's mine 7 years old, at lat measuring he was just slightly over 6".
And a pic with his female, she's almost 5" and just as old.
They have been together there whole lifes and have produced thousand of fry. I really like these guys. Sorry about the crappy pics they were takin with a phone.[/QUOTEBEAUTIFUL FISH!
Biggest Firemouth in MFK
- Thread starter Joergemathew
- Start date
Here is my male that was the mate of the female that died.. I'm thinking he must be close to 7". The little one in pic 1 is about 1.5". He is about 6 or 7 yrs old.
The largest I have ever owned was around 8.5" (21.5 cm), but that was many years ago in Germany. Come to think of it the female was good sized too (perhaps 4" or so), but both had been kept/raised in a massive 2,000 Gallon tank with other Central American fish. They spawned readily enough and back then I used them as surrogate parents for other cichlids with a less than stellar "fry eating" habits. Just siphon the fry out from the bad parents, and siphon them into the Firemouth brood. They reared their own young, white/elfinbine convicts, jewel cichlids, and some Kenyi & Zerba fry.
Today I have 2 pairs. My biggest male is about 4.5" and his partner is 3.5". But they don't breed. Meanwhile, my smaller pair breed like crazy. The female is just at 2.5" and the male just over 3". But right now I have (between 2 broods) about 700 babies ranging from 1" - .5" (2.5cm - 1.25cm). Gotta start getting prepped to ship 'em and advertise.
Firemouths are awesome fish. I think the fact that they have been in the hobby and are often overlooked is sad, given that mature firemouths, especially larger males, have some spectacular colours. In good conditions and prime health, they can rival some of the most attractive Africans and South Americans for sheer intensity and display prowess.
Today I have 2 pairs. My biggest male is about 4.5" and his partner is 3.5". But they don't breed. Meanwhile, my smaller pair breed like crazy. The female is just at 2.5" and the male just over 3". But right now I have (between 2 broods) about 700 babies ranging from 1" - .5" (2.5cm - 1.25cm). Gotta start getting prepped to ship 'em and advertise.
Firemouths are awesome fish. I think the fact that they have been in the hobby and are often overlooked is sad, given that mature firemouths, especially larger males, have some spectacular colours. In good conditions and prime health, they can rival some of the most attractive Africans and South Americans for sheer intensity and display prowess.
