How to pick out a good RD/Midas/Other Amphilophus

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Chrisplosion

Chrisplosion

Mean Cat
MFK Member
Jul 10, 2010
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Oregon, it's part of 'Murica!
I recently lost my Amphilophus Trimaculatus who was gonna be my single fish wet pet in the living room, It was entirely my fault. Had to move him to another tank because heater crapped out, long story short had to move to my flowerhorn/parrot breeding tank and forgot to put the divider back up after cleaning.

Anyway, I want to get another Amphilophus at some point and I was thinking of maybe a RD/Midas unless I can get another good looking Trimac.

1. What should I be looking for in a good Midas or Red Devil?
2. I have seen small Red Devil with both white and orange, will the adult have the same? Is this a more sought after trait?
3. Which is better Midas or Red Devil? Any size, personality, etc differences.
4. Any other good medium larger cichlids for a wet pet?
 
I personally like RDs better. As for the coloration, I think the solid orange/red color is more desirable than the white mixed in (prob also a mixed species or sometimes referred to as a creamsickle). Also looking at the tank you're gonna get the fish from, if there are more than one, I always go for the more aggressive one especially if you are gonna keep it alone, it'll most likely be the dominant one and a general consensus is that it'll have better coloration. They will both get about the same in size and its really your preference. Midas and RD are very similar as it is and its almost impossible to find a pure of either anymore these days. GL! :headbang2
 
The "most desirable" look for an RD/Midas, whether it's white, red, orange, or any combination of the above, really just depends on what you like the most! If you're not sure what you like best, a good place to start is the huge photo gallery at www.midas-cichlid.com.

The tricky thing is that when you pick out a juvenile, you have no way of guaranteeing its coloration will stay the same. In fact, if you get a fish that has white in it, the white will usually take over as it grows up. For example, I got this fish a few years ago...

7-1babypic.jpg


A few months later she'd lost almost all her color.

IMG_1099.jpg


And now, my friend has her and says she's completely white, with no orange whatsoever. If you want a solid orange adult, then pick a solid orange juvie. They usually stay solid as they grow.

Another thing about buying a juvie, as I'm sure you know, is you have no idea what the gender of the fish is. Maybe that's why I've grown out three Midas before and they all turned out female, when I wanted a male! The one I have now is hopefully a male, we'll see. haha
 
Mac.;4525938; said:
I personally like RDs better. As for the coloration, I think the solid orange/red color is more desirable than the white mixed in (prob also a mixed species or sometimes referred to as a creamsickle). Also looking at the tank you're gonna get the fish from, if there are more than one, I always go for the more aggressive one especially if you are gonna keep it alone, it'll most likely be the dominant one and a general consensus is that it'll have better coloration. They will both get about the same in size and its really your preference. Midas and RD are very similar as it is and its almost impossible to find a pure of either anymore these days. GL! :headbang2
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Coloration has nothing to do with them being mixed. I have a nearly solid white F1 red devil that came from Rapps. You can get anything from solid red to almost solid white from all of the colored amphilophus. Generally the more white the more desirable as far as being able to sell fry. Color is a personal preference though so you just have to go with what you like.
 
I've had several RDs in the past and they have all went through color changes as they grew. The end result was always either a solid dark or light orange. They started out with orange and white patterns. I just picked up another one Friday which I plan on keeping for the long haul. It has the orange, black, and white pattern. I picked out from the others because of its greater size and superiority and better color. Choose what you like unless you are trying to breed RDs to acheive some specific trait. If you buy a fish based on what other people like you may not be happy in the end. Sorry about the Trimac too.
 
When I purchased my Midas he was 1.5" and a solid orange, as he matured his color became a combo of light orange and little bits of white. But he pretty much stayed orange.

What I looked for was dominance. The fish I picked was the top dog in the tank, he chased everyone. He turned out to be a male. And now at about 9.5" he is not really even mean. He is pretty mellow 95% of the time. He has 5 red hooks and a sailfin pleco as tank mates and does just fine with them.
 
You could go to Rapp's website see what he has. Then send him an e-mail tell him what your looking for and let him pick somthing out for you. This way you can be sure you got what you paid for. Not a hybird or somthing of dubious lineage. Just a suggestion.
 
If I do order online I would go through either Rapps or Cichlid Connection. I love the genus Amphilophus. I want either great looking Flowerhorn (not gonna happen, Oregon sucks), an Amphilophus or a Vieja synspila.

Are Midas more thick than RDs?
 
Chrisplosion;4526862; said:
If I do order online I would go through either Rapps or Cichlid Connection. I love the genus Amphilophus. I want either great looking Flowerhorn (not gonna happen, Oregon sucks), an Amphilophus or a Vieja synspila.

Are Midas more thick than RDs?
Click to expand...

just order a flowerhorn off aquabid
 
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