Dovii Owners (past/present)

[Bobby2415]

Hi I was just looking to get some input from people who have raised Dovii up from 2”-3” or smaller size.

How long did you have them, tank size, fish size progression, tank mates?, tank decor, fish attitude/progression, diet, etc. (anything else you can think of).

Pictures if you have them. More the merrier!

I’m really just trying to hear some good info from people who have personal experience raising Dovii up. Thanks in advance!

 

[duanes]

I have kept dovii twice over the last 20 years, both times they outgrew a 150 gal tank in about a year.
The 2nd time I bought a bag of about half dozen 2" fry at a local fish club auction because no one else would bid, think I paid a dollar or 2.

Within a year, they were arguably too big for my 150gal tank, and were moved to a 300 gal rubbermaid, a pair formed and they eliminated all others..
If the tank is large enough, I find them non-aggressive with fish they can't swallow, if the tank too small, they can and probably will kill all tank mates.

Any high quality pellet works well.
In nature, adults stomach contents of dovii in Lake Arenal were analyzed by fisheries management (because they are very sought after game fish, and known as rainbow bass by anglers), those contents were found to contain about 50% insects, the other 50% crustaceans and fish.

The biggest problem keeping them is having enough space to house them properly, and increasing the number and amount of water changes as they grow to maintain the high quality water they need.

 

[Bobby2415]

I have kept dovii twice over the last 20 years, both times they outgrew a 150 gal tank in about a year.
The 2nd time I bought a bag of about half dozen 2" fry at a local fish club auction because no one else would bid, think I paid a dollar or 2.

Within a year, they were arguably too big for my 150gal tank, and were moved to a 300 gal rubbermaid, a pair formed and they eliminated all others..
If the tank is large enough, I find them non-aggressive with fish they can't swallow, if the tank too small, they can and probably will kill all tank mates.

Any high quality pellet works well.
In nature, adults stomach contents of dovii in Lake Arenal were analyzed by fisheries management (because they are very sought after game fish, and known as rainbow bass by anglers), those contents were found to contain about 50% insects, the other 50% crustaceans and fish.

The biggest problem keeping them is having enough space to house them properly, and increasing the number and amount of water changes as they grow to maintain the high quality water they need.

Very good information thanks!

 

[Bobby2415]

Got a couple good pictures of my JD and Dovii tonight.

 

[Bobby2415]

I have kept dovii twice over the last 20 years, both times they outgrew a 150 gal tank in about a year.
The 2nd time I bought a bag of about half dozen 2" fry at a local fish club auction because no one else would bid, think I paid a dollar or 2.

Within a year, they were arguably too big for my 150gal tank, and were moved to a 300 gal rubbermaid, a pair formed and they eliminated all others..
If the tank is large enough, I find them non-aggressive with fish they can't swallow, if the tank too small, they can and probably will kill all tank mates.

Any high quality pellet works well.
In nature, adults stomach contents of dovii in Lake Arenal were analyzed by fisheries management (because they are very sought after game fish, and known as rainbow bass by anglers), those contents were found to contain about 50% insects, the other 50% crustaceans and fish.

The biggest problem keeping them is having enough space to house them properly, and increasing the number and amount of water changes as they grow to maintain the high quality water they need.

Just out of curiosity (not trying to start a tank size argument/war lol), what made you start to think they were outgrowing the 150?

 

[duanes]

To me all cichlids need at least 10 gallon of tank per inch of adult size, and I calculate that by measuring, and adding, length, width and girth of the fish together to attain proper tank size.
If that total reaches over 15", it means to me that fish is too big for for my 150 gal tank.
My dovii easily exceeded that combined 15" in a year
I use the same method, when calculating a tank for any cichlid, so if its over 5", its is too big for a 55 gal, etc, etc.
There are also other indicators like overt aggression with tank mates, obvious territoriality, and if the tank starts to look like a sardine can.
I have spent a lot of time snorkeling with cichlids in nature, and observed most territorial males that hit around 10" as adults will defend a territory of about 250 gallons, and larger cichlids, an even larger swath of real estate.
And when chasing off an interloper, most mature alpha individuals only break off chase at about 4 ft, so if the tank doesn't have enough space beyond that 4 ft mark, the cichlid being chased is a goner, or at best, ends up cowering in an upper corner.
But beyond aggression and territoriality.....
Most cichlids (other than some Tilapines) come from waters that have little to no nitrate, so I try to maintain my tanks as close to that as possible. When there are too large, or too many fish in too small a space, that maximum nitrate goal is unattainable
I'm sure there are those that disagree.
But over 50 years of cichlid keeping has given me enough respect for them, to not push my agenda, beyond what is their natural tolerance.