Need some opinions: Female Umbee

[Adhlc]

So today at work (LFS) my boss offered me a female umbee, about 7" with beautiful coloration, for free.

Now all I have is a 55 gallon tank, and I don't think I'll be upgrading any time soon.( to say that is the biggest tank I will ever have) I was told I could keep her in there quite happily, since the females max out at 12".

So I decided to turn to MFK, for some realistic opinions. I mean honestly, it's not everyday I get offered a free female umbee.

 

[cookiemonster]

Do you know how to ship fish? I can teach you if you don't. I think you should get it and send it to me . I will pay for the fish and shipping of course. Anyway, I think that a female umbie in a 55 gallon will be a bit of a push, since they are an open water fish.

 

[Adhlc]

Hahaha, well unforutnately it's only free for me. For everyone else, it's $89.99.

 

[catfishlover106]

Hahaha, well unforutnately it's only free for me. For everyone else, it's $89.99.

hmmm kinda a hard bargain your trying to pull...=/ but wow you get to have a free female umbee!! =] hey see what else you can get for free! =] man when you get it take some pics...and you never know they may have sexed it wrong it might end up being a male =]

 

[Adhlc]

hmmm kinda a hard bargain your trying to pull...=/ but wow you get to have a free female umbee!! =] hey see what else you can get for free! =] man when you get it take some pics...and you never know they may have sexed it wrong it might end up being a male =]

What do you mean hard bargain?

I still haven't decided if I am going to take her yet. Taking her also means I have to get rid of all the fish I currently have in there

 

[catfishlover106]

What do you mean hard bargain?

I still haven't decided if I am going to take her yet. Taking her also means I have to get rid of all the fish I currently have in there

what i mean is if you did take it you would have to get rid of all your fishes also your 55 wouldn't be a great tank to house even a female umbee...as stated above already...these are open water predators which needs more space than what a standard 55 can hold. If you can get ahold of something bigger like a 125 gallon,150 gallon or a 180 gallon for the female than that great! or if you want something cheaper make a pond =] well whatever you choice is will help you on whatever you need ok!

 

[big dovii]

id put it in the 55 to be honest.
not everyday you get your hands on an umbee.
i had my female ina 55 for a long time and she was happy.
i put her in the 260 now tho.

 

[mbunafishkeeper]

id go for it mate, not often you see umbee even less often you see a 7" going for free.... go for it you can always get rid of it right..?

 

[davidefc]

Yeah get rid of your fish so put them in the tanks at work and get the umbie, if your not happy sell it. or you can get another tank for cheap.
No one would turn down a female umbie for free.

 

[Modest_Man]

I wouldn't do it. As cookiemonster stated, umbee are an open water predator. They need much more swimming space than a lot of cichlids. A 55 gallon would not give the fish a good quality life.

I'm growing out two (at about 3" now) and will hopefully get them into a 3300 gallon pond by the end of the year. Not a fish for the average hobbyists tank.

Just my opinion though.