Buttikoferi and Central Americans

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Morulius

Feeder Fish
MFK Member
May 2, 2005
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Portugal
Hi there, just arrived this forum and I already love it!

Need some advice regarding mixing cichlids from different continents. Would it be wise to put a semi-adult Tilapia buttikoferi with Central American cichlids (e.g. Vieja maculicauda, Parachromis managuensis, Cichlasoma octofasciatum, etc.)?

Thanks.
 
I would say its possible if you have big enough tank, I doubt Black Belt (Vieja maculicauda) and Jack Dempsey (Cichlasoma octofasciatum) will handle a Butti. Id go with Midas or Devil, Green Terror, or Red Terror.
 
Thanks for the quick reply.

The tank where I keep the Central Americans is a 170 gallon. I currently have the buttikoferi in a 125 gallon with other Africans but it is giving a hard time to the Mozambique tilapias, so I was thinking to transfer it to the 170g.
 
Morulius said:
Thanks for the quick reply.

The tank where I keep the Central Americans is a 170 gallon. I currently have the buttikoferi in a 125 gallon with other Africans but it is giving a hard time to the Mozambique tilapias, so I was thinking to transfer it to the 170g.
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Yeah, Buttikoferi’s are known for their looks and aggression, I think most African Cichlids are simply too small to handle a Butti. 170 should be fine to mix it with Central Americans, just make sure they are the same size.
 
Well then, I think I’ll give it a try.

The CA’s are slightly larger than the buttikoferi so it should be ok. The only problem may be the black belt (female) that has decided to lay eggs and is chasing pretty much everything in its surroundings. The funniest part is that there’s no male black belt on the tank. Go figure these cichlids…

Thanks.
 
mixing cichlids from different continents is a great practice, smartest thing I ever did in the hobby was ignore all those blabbering idiots who said it shouldnt be done.
 
I thought I had gotten a "steal" on a 7" Butt so I brought him home. He seemed so peaceful in the 35 gal in the pet store. Well, after moving him between 3 of my 4 tanks and him terrorizing everyone, I decided to put him in my adult dovii pair tank. I was sort of hoping to "tone" him down a little. After about 5 minutes, I realized he had to go back for a refund. He was the toughest (didn't say meanest) fish I have ever seen in person. He would lock up the the male dovii (11") and slowly push him practically out of the water. The dovii would hit him and the Butt would do the lip lock and "manhandle" what I thought was the toughest and meanest fish I had ever kept.
 
I think the Butt is one of THE most difficult to mix cichlids. It seems it doesn't matter what you mix them with, they eventually tear everything apart. The LFS has a 330 display which after much 'pushing' converted to a Central American tank. Someone donated a 11" Butt (still small) and he killed 22 other Centrals in there before the owner finally removed him. He threw him into a tank with 5 9" (and thick as hell) Red Belly pirhanas, as he was just a little annoyed (and big Butts are almost impossible to give away really, at least here they are). Well, you saw a perfectly healthy Butt after a few days, and 5 of the worst looking red bellies you will ever see...I think he just ended up killing it as it is gone after another move into his own 25 gallon tank. Feel sorry for the Butt - just too aggressive to really mix with much, unless they are smaller.

Anyone keep Fossochromis rostratus? These things just don't stop attacking. Males are some of the most beautiful cichlids imo, but they just don't stop chasing fish around, no matter how much you crowd them!
 
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