Can someone explain the difference between Polleni, Bleekeri, Andapo, etc.? Some places I have read say they are different species and have different personalities (e.g. Bleekeri is supposedly more Oscar-like), but other say they are just variations of the same species. What is the best info, or general consensus? Is there any differences between them in terms of behavior, personality, or size? (The spot size is the obvious difference, anything else?)
Lowdown on Paratilapia
- Thread starter Quo Vadis
- Start date
P. bleekeri doesn't exist in the hobby, so that's one obvious difference. 
The following was posted here in the past, it sums things up nicely I think.
The following was posted here in the past, it sums things up nicely I think.
According to the book The Endemic Cichlids of Madagascar, by Nourissat and de Rham Paratilapia can be broken down into at least 5 different variants/species.
I find this book (though dated by todays standards) published in 2004, to be a fantastic resource for any Madagascan cichlid keeper.
Beyond that, I keep 2 different species, and have an aquarium strain "individual" that is probably a hybrid from before it was realized that Paratilapia were not all alike.
Here is my Paratilapia sp small spot male
and it is obviously quite different than my P sp "Andapa"
and now below an individual from a LFS, that I assume is somewhere in between
As a bit of a purist, I do not house any of these together, although the "small spot" pair have spawned a number of times, I have yet to reach a fry stage. Even the slightest chance of a successful pair up between 2 different species, and having to use the fry as feeders would not be to my liking.
Because my "small spot" were not successful spawning in my 150 gal, I have moved them to a 500 gal pool in the hope this will provide space and security they may require.
Below a video of the small spot and a few others from about a year ago (Paretroplus maculatus, Nosferatu bartoni, and xCichlasoma bocourti) click on the pic to start.
I find this book (though dated by todays standards) published in 2004, to be a fantastic resource for any Madagascan cichlid keeper.
Beyond that, I keep 2 different species, and have an aquarium strain "individual" that is probably a hybrid from before it was realized that Paratilapia were not all alike.
Here is my Paratilapia sp small spot male
and it is obviously quite different than my P sp "Andapa"
and now below an individual from a LFS, that I assume is somewhere in between
As a bit of a purist, I do not house any of these together, although the "small spot" pair have spawned a number of times, I have yet to reach a fry stage. Even the slightest chance of a successful pair up between 2 different species, and having to use the fry as feeders would not be to my liking.
Because my "small spot" were not successful spawning in my 150 gal, I have moved them to a 500 gal pool in the hope this will provide space and security they may require.
Below a video of the small spot and a few others from about a year ago (Paretroplus maculatus, Nosferatu bartoni, and xCichlasoma bocourti) click on the pic to start.
Thanks! All that info is helpful! As you know duanes, I was going to order "Paratilipia Bleekeri" from Wetspot, but took it off the order because I found out my LFS can get me P. Polleni. But I am so kicking myself because I found out that same LFS recently had a mated pair of P. polleni for sale, that I somehow missed!!