Large Predatory Haps?

  • We are currently upgrading MFK. thanks! -neo
RD.;2956235; said:
While I agree with the vast majority of your info, I have yet to see an adult male champ that was anywhere near 18" in size. Most aquarium raised specimens max out at approx 12".

I'm not sure on that. The biggest I've ever seen in person is mine at 7". He's still growing, I've had him for little over a year now. Your probably right, but you never know. Someone told me they had a 14" once, not sure in what size tank thou. Theirs a Champ thread, and I'd love to see pics of yours.
 
Mine is still a little juvie runt. I added him last to my current all male tank due to their aggression level when they become sexually mature. Even at only 4", he takes pot shots at 8-9" male haps. lol
 
So no to the multiple champs.?

Damn, i'd like to have a group of 4 or 5 males of all one species, as well as a couple lone males to break it up.

The champs. are the best looking, but i wouldn't want one if it were to dominate the whole tank.

What about

1.0.0 Fossochomis Rostratus
5.0.0 Aristochromis Christyi
1.0.0 Dimidochromis Compressiceps
1.0.0 Nimbochromis Livingstoni
1.0.0 Exochromis Anagenys
1.0.0 Lichnochromis Acuticeps
1.0.0 Placidochromis Milomo
1.2.0 Labidochromis Caeruleus

Or would the Christyi's beat the crap out of eachother in a group too even if no females were present?

Any large, predatory haps that would be okay in an all male group?

I'm sorry that i have so many questions, but i'd rather ask them now before i get the fish and screw them up.

Thanks,

Will
 
The Fossochromis are very beautiful as adults but the ones that I've had have always raised plenty of hell in my tanks.
 
Really?

Thats weird, all the care-sheets i've looked at have said they're one of the most peaceful of the haps.

But i'd trust personal experience more than i would a profile or caresheet. Thanks for your insight and warning.
 
Most of the larger haps can become hyper dominant in a tank if given the opportunity, including F. rostratus, which is why I previously stated ....

You may have to try a few different mixes out, and then tweak things as you go along. A lot of it will depend on the individual personality of the fish. Sometimes it's just the luck of the draw whether a mix of fish will work out long term, or not.
 
Damn, that sucks :(

I guess i wouldn't want that either then. Too bad, love their color.

What about

1.0.0 Tyrannochromis Macrostoma?
5.0.0 Aristochromis Christyi
1.0.0 Dimidochromis Compressiceps
1.0.0 Nimbochromis Livingstoni
1.0.0 Exochromis Anagenys
1.0.0 Lichnochromis Acuticeps
1.0.0 Placidochromis Milomo
1.2.0 Labidochromis Caeruleus

Edit: Just saw your post RD, and i know that it may not always work and it all depends on their individual personalities, but some species must be more likely to work together than others?
 
Edit: Just saw your post RD, and i know that it may not always work and it all depends on their individual personalities, but some species must be more likely to work together than others?

Not really. I've seen and/or kept almost every species of hap that has gone either way, from being nasty SOB's, to being complete wimps.
Trust me, the only way to know if something is going to work long term is to try it. My rostratus dominates my tank, but he's not overly aggressive & the other males have learned to stay out of his way if/when he gets into a pissy mood. My buddies male rostratus constantly beat the tar out of everything in his tank (a 7 ft 230 gallon) and he eventually had to get rid of it. Ironically, the new owner kept that same male rostratus in a 125 and it has never once shown any serious aggression. Go figure .......
 
Ughh, that's not what i wanted to hear, maybe i'm not cut out for haps.

Do you think they'd be better together if grown up together, similar to Central American cichlids?
 
MonsterFishKeepers.com