I'm looking into getting a pair of these and I've got a few questions. How many should I buy to get a pair? I'm assuming 6 would be best, but obviously I would like to spend the least amount of money possible. How is their personality? Are they pretty owner responsive? How aggressive are they? I know a lot of this varies from fish to fish, so I'm mainly looking for your experiences with this beastly Amphilophus! Thanks in advance!
Chanchos?
- Thread starter fisher12889
- Start date
Pharaoh;4047159; said:
and he got it from me and I agree 1000 times over. I got 3 hoping for a pair and that one killed the other two. get a large number and a big tank.
BEASTS!
Some really can get hyper-aggressive. Look in the media section for Reagan's pond. His chancho acts like he's on PCP.
Some really can get hyper-aggressive. Look in the media section for Reagan's pond. His chancho acts like he's on PCP.
I think as with any cichlid you would have to get several (5-6) to get a pair. There is always the chance that all of them will be males or females, in which case...get more 
I had a female that started becoming aggressive towards me whenever I walked up to the tank. She was small (5-6") and still showed no fear and was very outgoing.
With chanchos the difference in size between adult males and females is quite big. A full grown male, if it can, will kill the female unless you have a few hiding spots. Ask Reagan, he has probably gone through several chancho females since they keep on getting killed by his big male.
This is the largest growing Amphilophus, so I am assuming you have tank large enough to house these big boys..The one I had grew slowly. You might have sometime to upgrade if you get smaller specimen.
I have seen Reagan's male in person. An adult male chancho is quite impressive.
I had a female that started becoming aggressive towards me whenever I walked up to the tank. She was small (5-6") and still showed no fear and was very outgoing.
With chanchos the difference in size between adult males and females is quite big. A full grown male, if it can, will kill the female unless you have a few hiding spots. Ask Reagan, he has probably gone through several chancho females since they keep on getting killed by his big male.
This is the largest growing Amphilophus, so I am assuming you have tank large enough to house these big boys..The one I had grew slowly. You might have sometime to upgrade if you get smaller specimen.
I have seen Reagan's male in person. An adult male chancho is quite impressive.
fisher12889;4047030; said:
Aq
I checked out Reagens vids...awesome! This sounds like exactly the type of fish I want. The ones I get will be going in a 125 gallon (72x18x23) until the male gets around 15"-16", and by that time I will have something in the 6x2 to 8x3 range. Do they usually have to be bred through a divider?
TheOscarGuy;4047737; said:I think as with any cichlid you would have to get several (5-6) to get a pair. There is always the chance that all of them will be males or females, in which case...get more
I had a female that started becoming aggressive towards me whenever I walked up to the tank. She was small (5-6") and still showed no fear and was very outgoing.
With chanchos the difference in size between adult males and females is quite big. A full grown male, if it can, will kill the female unless you have a few hiding spots. Ask Reagan, he has probably gone through several chancho females since they keep on getting killed by his big male.
This is the largest growing Amphilophus, so I am assuming you have tank large enough to house these big boys..The one I had grew slowly. You might have sometime to upgrade if you get smaller specimen.
I have seen Reagan's male in person. An adult male chancho is quite impressive.
I checked out Reagens vids...awesome! This sounds like exactly the type of fish I want. The ones I get will be going in a 125 gallon (72x18x23) until the male gets around 15"-16", and by that time I will have something in the 6x2 to 8x3 range. Do they usually have to be bred through a divider?
I have personally not bred them. I have seen Reagan's setup, and pics. of GMFISHNUT pair. Both I believe had dividers.
For a chancho female to survive with a 15-16" male in that tank, I imagine you would need lots of hiding spots
Good luck. Its an amazing fish.
For a chancho female to survive with a 15-16" male in that tank, I imagine you would need lots of hiding spots
Good luck. Its an amazing fish.
fisher12889;4049842; said:
Big male chancho's are awesome looking fish. I think in a 125g you are going to have to use a divider from the start or your are going to end up with one male though.
I've contemplated trying to keep a pair in my pond but I think it's to big of a risk for some of my other fish. Maybe if I completely divided it with cinder blocks right down the middle. That way an adult male would have to stay on one side (to big to swim through the holes) and the other fish could go through to his side as they choose and still escape to safety. The problem is getting a male that big without him killing my other fish first.
I've contemplated trying to keep a pair in my pond but I think it's to big of a risk for some of my other fish. Maybe if I completely divided it with cinder blocks right down the middle. That way an adult male would have to stay on one side (to big to swim through the holes) and the other fish could go through to his side as they choose and still escape to safety. The problem is getting a male that big without him killing my other fish first.