Experiences W/ Vieja Zonatum

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J

J-Aqua

Feeder Fish
MFK Member
Sep 18, 2008
100
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40
Sacramento, CA
allthingsdempsey,com
Hello all! Well im inquiring on all your guys/gals experiences with vieja sp. I've searched forums after forums, and google and one thing did stand out to me is VERY AGRESSIVE. My goal is to get a pair to live happily in a 75g tank. Possible? I understand that the tank when they get 8-9+ most likely will need a divider for the female to retreat. The "plan" was to buy a group of 6 V. Zonatums and let them pair off. How early/late would they pair up? I've read that they grow atleast 1.5" a month so considering standard "maturity" of CA/SA cichlids from experience pair shoudl form around 4-5 inches. Giving me about 3 months to be able to get a pair.

The Tank:
Tank will be pretty open for swimming, manzanita/mopani/malaysian driftwood flooting cover (plants), sand, large rocks, and slate. Goal to atleast memic a biotype.

Filtration:
Rena XP3, Emperor 400, and a AC110

Water Params
pH 7.5, 79 degrees, 5 nitrates

Tank is currently awaiting stock and is housed with 1 tiger pleco, 1 BN pleco, and a large school (20) of tetras which will be re-homed once NEW inhabitants arrive.

So what do you guys think? I really looking for your guys expertise. I've never kept any kind of vieja sp. so I am not sure what i should be expecting. :D

TIA
J
 
I've owned one zonatus, a female. Meanest sonav***** I've ever owned. Grew from 3" to 9" in about a year, which is pretty good for a female. I guarantee you'll need a divider, they hate conspifics the most.

She laid eggs in a tank by herself around 8", so I'd say you could get a pair around 6" or so.
 
Modest_Man;2679601; said:
I've owned one zonatus, a female. Meanest sonav***** I've ever owned. Grew from 3" to 9" in about a year, which is pretty good for a female. I guarantee you'll need a divider, they hate conspifics the most.

She laid eggs in a tank by herself around 8", so I'd say you could get a pair around 6" or so.
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Haha, Deja-Vu. Your name pops up all over the place when you search for vieja sp. :D I am really excited to experience this fish. I hope getting a pair is easy. Knowing my luck I'll have hell break lose in my tank :nilly:
 
Had one, unsure of sex - in a 180 gallon and it still harassed other fish twice it's size (this fish was only at about 6" and would take on pikes, barred midas ect. that were larger than it).

I don't think a pair in a 75 is possible, everything I've read says 180 gallon is ideal for a pair - sort of like red terrors.

Very awesome fish though, one of my favorite colorations.
 
I had a zonatus that got to around 10" or so. it spawned once with a much smaller heterospilus that was in the same tank and based on behaviors afterwards my guess is the zonatus was the male. he actually was rather docile...he was kept in a 150 with other small and medium cichlids. He was the largest and was king of the tank but, even when guarding the eggs with the heterospilus, never did much harrassing of other fish.
 
As far as aggression goes I think they are no where near as bad as some Central American cichlids, I have nine 5 to 9 inch fish in a 40 gallon breeder right now and they don't klll each other. I could easily pull a pair out for you. I also have 1.5-2" fry available. Ken
 
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