Festae question

[Miguel]

After more than 20 years keeping arowanas and other monsters, I returned to Ca/ Sa cichlids, with which i began when i was twelve.

So, fully aware that I must sound like the new pain in the bottom for all you specialists, i have one question on Festaes and as to why they are so shy, giving zero credit to the Red Terror popular name.


Am on my 3rd male, around 7, 8 inches, and never do I see them being self reliant and able to hold their own with my other fish.

They allways end up in the sump....

What gives? Anything wrong that I might be doing?

 

[Freshwaterpredators]

Lol festaes can be a real pain in the butt from what I've found they're obviously not as responsive as most cichlids.i I also have found that festae do better in an environment where they are dominant. Then they can be terrors lol

 

[Miguel]

No chance, then, with my foot Midas's

 

[RD.]

I recently re-homed a juvie male festae that is now living in a tank with a 26" asian aro, a 12" flagtail, and a group of large clown loaches - and other than avoiding the jaws of death of the aro, it takes crap from nothing! lol I suspect that this is due to the fact that it grew up in a large mixed tank that housed cichlids that were large enough to eat him. This young male definitely lives up to the terror name.

 

[Madness]

My male is not shy at all. He has already killed all of his tank mates. Though they were not that aggressive. When he was in with all of my larger Vieja he took care of himself but never sought out anyone. My SA tank currently has a pair of Festae and a bunch of Ornatums 2 Specs and a pair of Altifrons, and the Festae dont dominate but they dont coward away either.

So now that you have me talking about them, they have been pretty mellow until they wanted to spawn, then they went nuts. As for hiding, My pair that doesnt get as much interaction or human passer byes, are far more skiddish, and the others hat are in my living room, where they see me all the time, they are always out and interacting.

So, to make a long story short, lol I guess you have had bad luck, but Festae are all so different and a very difficult fish to get use to. I have had very good success when I raise them from little ones in a community setting. Those are far more personable, and friendly, than the ones I acquire at say 6+".

Not sure if what I rambled on about was much help, or even if it answered your question. lol

GL

 

[Miguel]

It does, Madness. Every experience helps. Thank you
M

 

[jagster]

i actually just traded my dovii for a 5 inch male and 4 fry. the male started being interactive within 30 minutes of being put in my tank. but his living conditions wernt the greatest with his previous owner so a bigger tank and cleaner water probably made him feel better. the fry are very skiddish tho growing out in my 20