Lone eartheaters

[edburress]

Originally Posted by bl00
Is the quality of life/happiness decreased when keeping species singly?

Not unless they're being picked on in my limited experience.

To me, no chance of reproduction, and not being able to interact with their own kind would qualify as a decrease in quality of life, particularly when considering a social species. Beyond that, coloration will be much better if there is competition between conspecifics, and behavior will also be more dynamic.

Ed

 

[repella42]

i had a jurupari for 2 years as with a green terror and 4 bala sharks they all got along fine

 

[bl00]

I was hoping either a single or double specimen would be content in a tank with my heroines and blue acara.

 

[japes]

To me, no chance of reproduction, and not being able to interact with their own kind would qualify as a decrease in quality of life, particularly when considering a social species. Beyond that, coloration will be much better if there is competition between conspecifics, and behavior will also be more dynamic.

Ed

Point taken, but I wouldn't say that keeping lone Eartheaters leads to them living a miserable or depressed life. With that said, I currently only keep a single species by itself, my G. altifrons 'Tocantins', and it's the most vividly coloured specimen I've ever seen.

 

[bl00]

Thanks for the balance, Japes...I'm feeling really torn on the issues as I don't have a full 100+ tank to dedicate to a shoal of eartheaters, but I could realistically procure one if they'd be miserable otherwise.

 

[edburress]

Point taken, but I wouldn't say that keeping lone Eartheaters leads to them living a miserable or depressed life.

Agreed, it certainly does not, as evidenced by your very nice altifrons

 

[HiImSean]

i've had my jurupari with other cichlids besides eartheaters and is doing fine. he is prolly the most peaceful cichlid in the tank. ive been thinking about getting 2 more but idk