Bleekeri, polleni, and all its other groups....questionBut I

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LunarValkyrie

LunarValkyrie

Exodon
MFK Member
Jan 5, 2015
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I was reading the below thread and happened to know that my lfs keeps these in fairly regularly and at a good price. I was wondering if anyone could tell me which species, they think is less aggressive or the smaller of the species. I know the lfs has some of both the small spot and the large spots, but they are young and they just toss them all out there as P. Bleekeri.
http://www.monsterfishkeepers.com/f...leni-ID-please&highlight=Paratilapia+bleekeri

I have a shot at a 175+/- gallon, home-made tank that is 4x3x3 I believe.(not sure on that height) I was just wondering about the diff species. I have read several things that give different opinions on each and figured you pro's could tell me true. I looked on Jeff's site and he has some with a diff name. So I am a bit confused.

I have read that the large spot Bleekeri is less aggressive, and is endangered. ?? So you folks tell me. I like the fish, and would like to keep a pair alone in their tank and perhaps try to spawn them. But I want to have my ducks in a row first. ;)

Thx!
 
The name "bleekeri", has been deemed to not be legitimate, and has to do with the way, location and when (dates) it was originally scientifically described.
Briefly in a nutshell polleni 1880, bleekeri 1868, the first published description date trumps the other.
Beyond that....you may luck out in a 175....
Most Paratilapia I've had (and I've kept a number over the last 20 years or so), whether small, or large spot are very aggressive with each other. Alpha males will usually kill all other males, and any non receptive females in short order in anything but the largest tanks.
I received half dozen 1+" Andapa" (large spot), and delusionally thought I could grow them out in a 50 gal to about 3", within a few months, I was left with 1.

The small spot have been equally as intolerant of each other, they did do well for a while in a 6ft tank, but soon became only the male, and 1 female.
I keep the remaining small spot pair in a 500 gal kiddy pool (8ft L X 5ft W X 1.5 (depth) where the female does her best to stay on the opposite side when not gravid with eggs. They share the pool with 4 Paretroplus maculatus
 
ok, so maybe just put one pair, in a tank together and nothing else, with loads of "stuff" for hiding etc, maybe they would be ok? I really just want a pair. And I have been reading all I can and no two articles read the same. lol

Cool idea with the pool, I have a little 5ft diameter, that I raised danios in for a while but I can't keep them out there during cold weather. I might have to give that a try and move a pool into my barn. It's heated and insulated.
 
My pool is in the house in a vacated bedroom (son went off to college).
Lots of hide outs are good, although I must admit my male would search the tank relentlessly, to find any competition.
I find it is usually good to get 1 male and as many females as possible (afford) to allow a pair bonding to occur naturally, to spread out aggression, and I always expect to lose a few.
Expecting to get a pair by simply buying 2 is risky.
 
ok, I will have a look around this weekend and see what they have in. I know they had a nice sprouting male last week. He had some really nice finnage and points, and his color was amazing for a little guy. He was bigger than anything in the tank. Maybe he will still be there and some nice females will be available. These were about 3+ inches without a tail, so maybe 4 including it. And he was a bit bigger. I just really liked the bigger one and thought I would do my research and ask you guys first.

Thanks for all the info. :)
 
I can only give you my first experience from having a single male "bleekeri" (the eyes reminded me of a cat's.) As far as cichlids go he is not overly aggressive and doesn't really do any serious fin nipping or relentless chasing. He has his area of the tank and pretty much keeps to himself unless he is provoked. I also have read that pairs should not be kept and the "bleekeri" and "polleni" should never be mixed. I am interested to hear if you have success with a pair or a group with multiple females because my LFS has started getting these guys in on a regular basis however they are no larger than 1"
 
Yesterday I added an extra 4" small spot female to my 500 gal kiddy pool with a 7" male, and another female.
photo yesterday

when I went into the room this morning, the first thing I had to do was remove her to a hospital tank.
Didn't take a photo today, but she was pretty beat up.
 
I do wonder about a harem working. I have also read that they are best kept singly. But then if they can't get along, how do they breed? I also have read its the small spots that are much more unpredictable and aggressive. I suppose I will just have to give it a try and see. I might try 2 females to 1 male and see if they will grow up together. The ones we get here are large spot, so that may make a diff. Or perhaps a slightly overstocked tank with them in there would work. I might try a couple different ways and hope.

What did/do you have him with? And what size tank? The store said they hadn't had any problems with them in a 75. The bulk of the ones they have are about 3 1/2 inches except one male. He has some really nice finnage with points and he was maybe 4 1/2in.

I also noticed Jeff has "Andapa". They say large spot on his site. Is that not bleekeri? And the pollini is the small? So I will keep digging. I hate to jump on fish without some knowledge base first.

Thanks for all the info, it has helped.
 
I currently have a " bleekri" Breeding pair . They have successfully laid eggs/fertilized them. I housed them in a 6 ft tank. Everytime I had to remove the eggs into a smaller tank to hatch or they would disappear on the 4th day. The male is relentless with every other kind of fish including my hands ... I had to remove the male from the community tank and place him in a temporary tank until my custom build is finished and he is definitely pouting ! The female is the most docile fish I have seen.
 
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