Does anyone have any advice on keeping theses two cichlids together? I will have them in a 150 gallon tank, with plenty of filtration. Would it work to have pairs of each? Or just one of each?
Jaguar and red terror
- Thread starter Hank82
- Start date
Having a pair of each to breed in the same tank? I don't think that would work. I've never kept festae before but speaking for the managuensis they will get very territorial when breeding and a 150 just won't cut it. If by pair you were referring to keeping 2 (hence a pair) of the same species then I would suggest going with all females, a 150 for 2 male festae and 2 male managuensis is not going to work either. Also a standard 150 has an 18" width, correct? and the males of both species will get 14"+ so I don't think this is an ideal setup for the fish you intend to keep.
The aggression level is high for both even in an 8 foot long tank. I've been lucky with a docile jag that let other fish live in 4 foot of an 8 foot long tank. But if any crossed the invisible line, they would get a nasty reminder to stay behind it. Generally this wouldn't work especially if both jag and festae are of the same sex. Pick one as your main fish and stock with something else like large dithers.
Two follow up questions
Would this tank work for just a pair of jags (and nothing else)
Second, is it hard to get this fish to pair for breeding? Or will I have to get several females for the male to choose from?
It is always best to get a young group of any cichlid species and let them work out pairing among them selves, in this way the pair bond is usually much stronger later on, than just tossing a male and female together. Pair bonding is much more complicated than that.
If breeding is your goal, only one species in a 150 is probably best.
For me, both species were easy to have spawn, but I almost always have one species in that size tank if spawning is the goal, or a number of females to one male.
It is often necessary to divide the tank for festae, with a divider only the females can get thru to save them from being mauled.
below a divided 6 ft tank, with that kind of opening, there are females on both sides.
The size differential between similar age males and females, can be a disadvantage for the females if not ready when the males are.
If breeding is your goal, only one species in a 150 is probably best.
For me, both species were easy to have spawn, but I almost always have one species in that size tank if spawning is the goal, or a number of females to one male.
It is often necessary to divide the tank for festae, with a divider only the females can get thru to save them from being mauled.
below a divided 6 ft tank, with that kind of opening, there are females on both sides.
The size differential between similar age males and females, can be a disadvantage for the females if not ready when the males are.
I've personally not bred managuensis before but I would get a few (maybe 4-6) of them and let them pair off. The 150 should be okay for a breeding pair but remember that there is a possibility the male would outgrow the width of the tank.