Festae

[MattyV55]

Hello, I currently have a 180g South American tank with one chocolate cichlid, 2 rotkeil Severums, and some geophagus Pellegrini. I was wondering if I could add some festae? I know if they eventually paired off they would probably cause issues but any chance this situation can work in the long run?

 

[NW Cichlid Keith]

Others will probably tell you different. But I've never had Festae be mean to fish other than Festae. And on the rate occasion, they were just chasing out of their territory. Now, if you get a pair - that is a different story. I'd try just one female and see how that goes.

 

[TheMoneyTank(TMT)]

Hello, I currently have a 180g South American tank with one chocolate cichlid, 2 rotkeil Severums, and some geophagus Pellegrini. I was wondering if I could add some festae? I know if they eventually paired off they would probably cause issues but any chance this situation can work in the long run?

Most likely based on my experience of that after 4-5inches they become mean,most likely festae would kill every fish in your tank but there's always exceptions but it's very rare so I wouldn't risk it if I were you

 

[Vukmir13]

Whether you get lucky with a “calm” festae, you still have to consider that it’s tank mates aren’t even close in levels of aggression. I think you’d have better luck if it’s tank mates were a bit tougher, for lack of a better word. Good luck

 

[PhishMon84]

I was getting a lil OCD about wanting to move my festae from my central community to my South American community-
What about other mesoheros in a a community like the OP’s?

 

[TheMoneyTank(TMT)]

I was getting a lil OCD about wanting to move my festae from my central community to my South American community-
What about other mesoheros in a a community like the OP’s?

There's always ornatum cichlids from the same family as festae but alot prettier in my opinion,very aggressive like a festae with each other not too bad with other fish but will look after themselves, they get 12 inches for females and some males have reached 16 inches, here's my pair

 

[PhishMon84]

There's always ornatum cichlids from the same family as festae but alot prettier in my opinion,very aggressive like a festae with each other not too bad with other fish but will look after themselves, they get 12 inches for females and some males have reached 16 inches, View attachment 1282337 View attachment 1282338 here's my pair

We chatted about them in the past month- I ended up getting (4) 1.5”, and they are growing out with my atros- the plan is to move them into my 125 when they put on some size- Duane’s has mentioned he kept them with guinacara and heckelii- which is similar to my stock-
No go on the festae ?

 

[TheMoneyTank(TMT)]

View attachment 1282421
We chatted about them in the past month- I ended up getting (4) 1.5”, and they are growing out with my atros- the plan is to move them into my 125 when they put on some size- Duane’s has mentioned he kept them with guinacara and heckelii- which is similar to my stock-
No go on the festae ?

It's a risk trying a festae with them

 

[Warren11131967]

Others will probably tell you different. But I've never had Festae be mean to fish other than Festae. And on the rate occasion, they were just chasing out of their territory. Now, if you get a pair - that is a different story. I'd try just one female and see how that goes.

I would think that if you get the Festae smaller than your current fish and make a section of the tank

Others will probably tell you different. But I've never had Festae be mean to fish other than Festae. And on the rate occasion, they were just chasing out of their territory. Now, if you get a pair - that is a different story. I'd try just one female and see how that goes.

I would do more than 2 Festae, so that your pair would concentrate their aggression on sub Festea instead of the lesser aggressive fish. Also get the Festea smaller than your other fish to buy you time to monitor the relationship.

 

[TheMoneyTank(TMT)]

I would think that if you get the Festae smaller than your current fish and make a section of the tank

I would do more than 2 Festae, so that your pair would concentrate their aggression on sub Festea instead of the lesser aggressive fish. Also get the Festea smaller than your other fish to buy you time to monitor the relationship.

If the festae pair off the aggression will be directed towards the other fish anyways a pair would wipe out his tank