Myleus schomburgkii???

[Cichla dude]

Hello. I am going to get or hoping to get some myleus schomburgkii for christmas. These and the mylossoma species of silverdollars are the only ones I have yet to keep. I've had redhooks before so I know all about the silverdollar care, feeding, etc. I still have a few questions about this speices.
I plan on getting about a 3-4'' or atleast 2. I was wondering what my price range would be for these guys at around 3-4''. If they are too expensive what I will do is get 1 redhook, and 1 of these guys. I am hoping my lfs (school of fish inc for those in ma) will not overly get too price. However, I did pick up my 4'' fei feng for $11.99 and my 6'' er for $29.99. What do you think a price would be for 3-4'' myleus schomburgkii?
I have heard various size reports of these guys. One lfs tells me 6'', the other 12'', and 14''. Which is correct?? And also are they more than 2 species?
If they can't get the 3-4'' guys, they have lilttle 1''ers for $7.99 but I was wondering if I got 4-6 of these guys, would a 55 gallon by a big water fall and too big. I am wondering how fast these will grow?
Last, if you can post some pics of the species of these schomburgkii I would be more than pleased.
Thanks,
-Alex...
Happy Holidays
Merry Christmas 2010
Happy New Year

 

[Allan01230]

There are 3 variants of Myleus schomburgkii. They are commonly called emporer red hooks emporer blue hooks and not sure of the rarer 3rd species. The red hooks so I have heard max out at 8 inches the blue hooks 16 and the 3rd once again not sure as I have never seen them. I have 2 of the red hook thin barred and they are 6 inches I paid $120 bucks for 2 at 4 inches. My lfs also has the wide bar blue hooks for the same price. The blue hooks definately grow faster. Sorry not good with camera yet.

 

[Judge Holden]

This thread was grappling with some of the same questions about size: http://www.monsterfishkeepers.com/forums/showthread.php?t=362716

My two Myleus were marked at $87 each. I haggled them down to $87 for both. Jeff Rapps had little ones for $50 about 6 months ago. These are rare. AFAIK the Blue Hooks can grow to the size of saucer sleds. The Red Hooks don't get as big (I'm not sure about this).

For 4-6 of these guys I'd want a 6' foot tank. The two in my 90g seem crowded (and these aren't the Blue Hooks).

 

[Cichla dude]

I am not going to be getting black bar silverdollars. They can't seem to be found in my area. Instead I am getting (3) mylossoma duriventre.... these are what I've been searching for you for years..........