Most Gentle Large Cichlid Pairs in Your Experience

[NW Cichlid Keith]

So I love Amphilophus, but managing the Male on Female aggression is getting old. I'd like to be able to see them freely interact together vs. through a divider. My Trimac is so aggressive that he gets his girl in a panic and trashes her before she can even think to go back through the multiple hole divider or into a pot or pipe only she can fit into. What large species have you all had luck w/ in terms of the pair getting along? I'm not so worried about them going after tankmates, as I am fine to just have the pair in a tank. I have not had a Pearsei, but I have been thinking of getting a pair of those.

 

[dan518]

Cincelichthys bocourti,, Petenia Splendida.

 

[xraycer]

A couple of years ago, in my 180gal CA tank, my fenestratus and hartwegi bred a couple of times. While they kept all the other tankmates to one side of the tank, most of time, they weren't out to kill anyone.

 

[DarylMac]

Not my experience, but if you search Jim Cummings on YouTube he has videos of a pair of Rotkiels and a Pair of Chocolate Cichlids spawning on opposite sides of the same rock/wood at the same time.

Not sure if either of those species is as large as you're hoping for, and they may not be able to handle a CA community, but it was a cool video nonetheless.

 

[duanes]

I agree with Dan518 that C bocourti and Pearsei are lunkers that can be some of the least aggressive of the larger new world cichlids.
But any cichlid kept in cramped conditions can get testy.
I had to move pearsei from a 150 gal to a 300 gal in little over 2 years, from 1" juvies to 15" ers.
And my bocourti (below) were ready for a 500 gal kiddy pool in less than 3 years.

 

[duanes]

 

[NW Cichlid Keith]

Not my experience, but if you search Jim Cummings on YouTube he has videos of a pair of Rotkiels and a Pair of Chocolate Cichlids spawning on opposite sides of the same rock/wood at the same time.

Not sure if either of those species is as large as you're hoping for, and they may not be able to handle a CA community, but it was a cool video nonetheless.

Thanks for sharing - amazing video and I do like Chocolates - just not w/ the C/As. I remember in my early years seeing a picture of an amazing pair of Chocolates in a tank w/ a large male Dovii - that author sure didn't do many fishkeepers any favors.
Here is the link to the video your referenced, if anyone is looking:

 

[NW Cichlid Keith]

I agree with Dan518 that C bocourti and Pearsei are lunkers that can be some of the least aggressive of the larger new world cichlids.
But any cichlid kept in cramped conditions can get testy.
I had to move pearsei from a 150 gal to a 300 gal in little over 2 years, from 1" juvies to 15" ers.
And my bocourti (below) were ready for a 500 gal kiddy pool in less than 3 years.

Thanks. I have not kept Bocourti or Pearsei. From what I read, the Peaersei get larger, are more outgoing, and are less aggressive. Would you agree, and do you notice any other differences?

 

[Stanzzzz7]

I agree with Dan about petenia splendida.
For such a large fish they are very peaceful with any thing they can't swallow.
I also like to see posts like duanes above who has a realistic approach to the size of tank these type of fish need.

 

[duanes]

I have found little to no difference in personality or ultimate size between pearsei and bocourti.