Least aggressive Vieja

  • We are currently upgrading MFK. thanks! -neo
The way I like to house cichlids, is to "not" put those of the same genus together.
If it were me, and I wanted to be geographically correct I'd find Parachromis endemicto the same area with Vieja
Or endemic Thorichthys with Vieja
if I wasn't trying to be geographically correct,
Creincichla with Vieja
or Geophagus with Vieja
I always try to put fish with a different body shapes and/or colors together, seems for me, to lessen aggression, and also any chance of hybridization.
like these un-geographically correct, and un-similar species
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some species it doesn't seem to matter, and must be kept alone.
 
One other comment. In nature you do not (or very seldom) find more than 1 Vieja with another.
Species that tend to inhabit the same area, have a trophic specialization. That is why you find a detritus feeder like Thorichthys together with a predator like Parachromis and a fruit and vegetable eater like Vieja.
They don't compete for food, so their aggression level is low.
I kept xCichlasoma beani with Acarichthys heckelli for months without a problem, only when the beani started spawning did I have to remove the heckelli.
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Duanes: Actually, right now I do have him with a Sax Pike unfortunately, right now the pike is the more dominant fish and I'd like it to be the other way around. Once the new tank is set up, I'm going to leave him in there with just a couple small convicts for a while so that he can grow and claim territory. Hopefully with the lack of competition and the added confidence of being top fish in the tank, I can get a nice growth spurt out of him. Then when it does come time to add other fish he'll be more likely to keep the role.

Thanks again for all the feedback.
 
If you want blues zonatus might be a good choice. Can't speak on the aggression
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I think I've already counted Zonatum out of the runnings.

I was looking for a vieja/paratheraps type fish because I really like body shape. There is one other fish that I think may work. What do yall think about a Herichthys Bocourti? From what I understand they are also on the somewhat peaceful side. Do you all think one could coexist peacefully with a Syn?
 
Bpocourti are a solid fish, they grow very large. A local friend might charm in to vouche, he has one that is over 14". Imo, they are pretty good fish all around, unless coupled with pearsei or another similarly shaped species. They have the size to show fish they aren't a push over, but the additude that says, if you don't mess with me, the favor will be returned. Of course, they are cichlids, and all fish should be judged on a fish by fish bases. But, imo, it would be fine, especially if you started with the fish around the same size. Good luck :)

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My zonatus is an ass.
However I currently own zonatus, fenestratus, bifas, syn, and regani. They are all pretty agressive, but my fenestratus.... One of them is almost all white, and currently turning more pink. Is this normal? never had these guys before.
 
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