Can I keep Vieja with.......

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mybirthdateisfake

mybirthdateisfake

Exodon
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Jun 4, 2023
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Once I've relocated all my pacu from my 400 gallon pond, I'm considering buying a redhead cichlid or an Argentea. The problem is, I currently have a jaguar cichlid and green terror in there. GT is 10-11in, jag is 12in. The jag isn't particularly aggressive, but the GT took down a 12in nile tilapia and it attacked the jag first time I introduced it to the pond. Even now, because I don't have any structures in the pond, the GT occasionally forces the jag out of the left side of the pond. With that being said, am I still able to keep a redhead or Argentea in there?
 
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The problem "sometimes" is more about the sequence addition with cichlids, even in a large space like your pond.
If you had added them all at the same time, as juvies, they would have carved up the 400 gallons over time without a serious problem.
But because once mature, all cichlids are somewhat, to "extremely" territorial , any new cichlid, or even similar looking perciform is at a distinct disadvantage, because every inch of the ponds real estate is now, already spoken for.
Argentea are also one of those "extremely territorial types, (if you happen o get a male) so it may be perceived a territorial interloper to be vanquished, or be tough enough to do damage to the any of the others depending on its size.
I had a male argentea hit maturity, and pin a much larger dovii, and managuense in separate upper corners of a large tank.
 
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If I read your post correctly you are relocating several pacu to a 400 gallon pond
What size is the tank you removed them from and want to add the veja to
 
duanes said:
The problem "sometimes" is more about the sequence addition with cichlids, even in a large space like your pond.
If you had added them all at the same time, as juvies, they would have carved up the 400 gallons over time without a serious problem.
But because once mature, all cichlids are somewhat, to "extremely" territorial , any new cichlid, or even similar looking perciform is at a distinct disadvantage, because every inch of the ponds real estate is now, already spoken for.
Click to expand...
I also forgot to mention, the redhead and Argentea I'm buying are only 4in. They will be placed in a growout until the fish is at least 10in.
 
My friend has a male Argentea. When he was a 3 inch young fish he already was showing signs of being the alpha male in the tank no matter what. He only ran from the very large Midas and big red tiger moto in a pond system. Then as that male Argentea hit the 5-6 inch mark he would bully both the red tiger moto and jag. He had to be taken out of the pond because he was shredding the other two fish apart. He was put into a 150 by himself. He doesn’t tolerate any other fish.
I wouldn’t add any fish to an established tank with other adult mature cichlids. Everything in their instincts tells them to get the others out of their territory. When the fish can’t leave because of the fact that it’s in a tank, they are killed
 
duanes said:
The problem "sometimes" is more about the sequence addition with cichlids, even in a large space like your pond.
If you had added them all at the same time, as juvies, they would have carved up the 400 gallons over time without a serious problem.
But because once mature, all cichlids are somewhat, to "extremely" territorial , any new cichlid, or even similar looking perciform is at a distinct disadvantage, because every inch of the ponds real estate is now, already spoken for.
Argentea are also one of those "extremely territorial types, (if you happen o get a male) so it may be perceived a territorial interloper to be vanquished, or be tough enough to do damage to the any of the others depending on its size.
I had a male argentea hit maturity, and pin a much larger dovii, and managuense in separate upper corners of a large tank.
Click to expand...
This is great advice, I would also add that you can remove your existing fish into temporary tanks for a while, redo the decor/scape of your pond, and then reintroduce the fish all at once (GT, Jag, plus Vieja) for a better chance at success. It may help to have some tough smaller cichlids as well to act as target fish, like perhaps convicts.
 
Like Swami says, I've heard you can take the territorial fish out for a couple weeks, introduce the other fish, then put him back and it will be as though hes never been there before. This doesn't mean he will be peaceful, just that his territory won't be defined yet. Adding scape, structures, sight breaks and such gives them better landmarks to define territory and can help fish see the tank as more than 1 space.
 
I will be adding decor soon, just simple rocks and caves, hope that will reduce the aggression of an Argentea if I get one, or reduce the aggression of my GT if I get a redhead.
 
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