Looking for advice with Haitiensis

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Freshwaterpredators

Peacock Bass
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Apr 25, 2009
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Ok, Im looking for some advice from some experienced people who have bred and paired up fish sucessfully, but mainly with Haitiensis.

Im trying to figure this out with the 4 haits I just bought. I bought them as pairs but they arent breeding or bonded pairs yet. their sizes are; (Male 1) 3.5", (male 2) 3"+, (Female 1) 3.25", (female 2) 2.75". I have them in a 55 together and im curious if i slide a divider in placing larger male with larger female on one side and the smaller possible pair on other side if I can get them to focus on eachother instead of having options. and then if i do and it doesnt work out if i could pull it again without creating too much stress or aggression? Im only considering this cause larger male chases smaller male and female around and i dont want them to possibly stress out and get bloat, or to come home and find one dead due to larger male. the aggression isnt bad yet but just trying to prepare. And i dont want to rush them and make mistakes either. Cause once i get a pair im pulling the others immediatley. Maybe im getting ahead of myself and should just be patient a lil longer to see what happens. but i could use a lil advice or re-assurance. thanks Jay.
 
I think there are variables, that can not be predicted. If I were to just say some advice, I would say, try to divide them and see what happens. It sounds like you need two tanks. Do you want two pairs, or the best pair? Just hope you get a pair out of it, and there is no guaranteed way to get a pair. Just hope they pair, and pull any fish before it is killed. I can't find BN's locally for nothin, so I would be very very careful with them. This is all just me. I breed many fish, but never Odo's.
 
I had the same setup at one point and all of mine died (all about 3 inches).

As has been said many times on here, stress is believed to be one of the biggest problems with these fish and I believe it was mine. They fought with each other constantly and would get in different sides of the tank, which at the time had several other fish, and literally charge each other from either side of the 6 ft tank , meet in the middle, lock lips for a few seconds then go back to their respective sides. While it was humorous and interesting, I was bummed when I realized they just all really hated each other that much and were stressing to death. I separated them with egg crate but the only thing they did was try and get each other through the divider 24/7.

I hope its a big tank and they are each king of their own little area. Im afraid if they are in a 90 or smaller without dithers, it might not turn out good.

Good Luck though. I see youre in Alaska and Ill bet it was a pretty penny to get them there.
 
Thanks. I have another tank that was ready upon arrival. since they werent already actually paired i threw them together to let them choose so i can get the best combo out of the four. The less i move them the less stressed out they will be. Eventually I want 2 pairs out of them and ill keep the best. Im hoping that i will see some progress before end of next week. If not i will have to divide all 4 so i can ensure they dont kill each other while im at work for a couple weeks.

I just dont want to make any foolish mistakes by being impatient or impulsive. Its really tempting to leave larger Male with larger female and move other two into other tank. I have dithers for both tanks. I am using 55's because its easier for water changes, medicating if needed, and i can still use dividers if i have to. I really wish i would have known that they werent already pairs before they got here cause i would feel better if i could have used one of my six foot tanks for the four of them.
 
also, others might disagree, but I would keep the temp warmer than you would with other cichlids...between 82-84. As fry and young fish, Haits reside predominately in the shallows until big enough to venture deeper. They average temp of water they are found in is 85f, so a warmer than average tank for life is a good idea as well.

Im sure there have been success stories not doing any of this, but just putting it out there and its things I didnt know when I had them, so it could have contributed to their deaths in one way or another. Id also be very religious with weekly water changes and a diet of lower protein until about 4 or 5 inches. Like I said prior, Im sure there are stories of those that were successful doing the opposite, its just how Id try it if I got them again.
 
Egg crate dividers are your best insurence, and haits could spawn with them in place.
A bonded pair (of any cichlids)can turn on each other over night, or for that matter in a moment.
I have a pair that have had many spawns together, but I am always ready with a divider that can be slid in and secured, this has saved her life many times.
joust2003-1.jpg

I agree with the above poster on temps, I never let the hait tank get lower than mid 80s.
If you leave all 4 together, I would bet 2 will be either killed or stressed into bloating by the alpha pair. This may in fact help the alpha pair bond, but I believe dividers are a better option.
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I really appreciate all the advice. I sold a male that was 6.5" and he was a destroyer. i went through 5 females in a matter of weeks. this time the females are same size as males, which evens up the odds. Well today i moved the smaller two out and into their own tank. they were getting picked on more than i was comfortable. so far everything is kosher with them. i have plenty of dividers ready for all my tanks. I also put some tinfoils in each tank to give them some targets. i was thinkin convicts too but ill hold off till they start showin some bonding then ill throw a couple in to help induce breeding. the temps are around 84 in both tanks. I will get some pics up soon.
 
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