New stock plan
- Thread starter Tyler_Wentworth_150
- Start date
Thanks for the input. I've read they only grow to around 12. Sounds like that's only for average keeper terms? After a couple years they'll most likely be larger eh?
48 inch long 120 is like a cube--not a good foot print for a Lyonsi. You need to be thinking 6-8 foot tank. At LEAST a 180.
The one I had was strong, fast, and rough. He dug a GIANT hole in the middle of my tank, sat in it, and whipped anything that tried to cross from one side of the tank to the other. that's what you could be dealing with.
Somehow, people think Lyonsi are "small", or "not as aggressive as ....". I don't think that's right. They're close to the same level of aggression as a Trimac. They're meaner than most of the Vieja I've kept -- at the very LEAST as mean as a large Vieja, like a Breidohri, or Zonatus. They're in that league.
You're wanting to breed these fish? Dude, get a big tank.
The one I had was strong, fast, and rough. He dug a GIANT hole in the middle of my tank, sat in it, and whipped anything that tried to cross from one side of the tank to the other. that's what you could be dealing with.
Somehow, people think Lyonsi are "small", or "not as aggressive as ....". I don't think that's right. They're close to the same level of aggression as a Trimac. They're meaner than most of the Vieja I've kept -- at the very LEAST as mean as a large Vieja, like a Breidohri, or Zonatus. They're in that league.
You're wanting to breed these fish? Dude, get a big tank.
Done deal, needed someone to say it plain. I appreciate it
ragin_cajun
I'll hold off plans until I'm prepared for the upgrade. Finances won't be an issue, my head was in exactly the place you said. With what you said, I'll shoot for a 200+. Was also considering using a pond in the garage. I'd like to be able to appreciate them though! I'll get the 120 to grow fry out in. Stick it in a corner in the garage haha.
ragin_cajun
I'll hold off plans until I'm prepared for the upgrade. Finances won't be an issue, my head was in exactly the place you said. With what you said, I'll shoot for a 200+. Was also considering using a pond in the garage. I'd like to be able to appreciate them though! I'll get the 120 to grow fry out in. Stick it in a corner in the garage haha.
I've had VERY good results breeding fish in a tank filtered by a sump, then growing out the fry in the sump. They outgrow fry raised in a 20 gallon by a lot.
Another thing to consider -- if you want to get a breeding pair of Lyonsi, unless you just get really lucky and buy a breeding pair somewhere, you'd prolly need to buy 6-8, grow them out, and let them pair off on their own. I don't know what size they'd be when that happens, but you could probably grow them out in a 125, let them pair up in the 125, and see what you have at that point.
If they're calm, stay kinda small because they're laying all the time, maybe they'd be fine in a 125. If they turn out more like mine were, buy the bigger tank, and keep fry in the 125 like you said.
Only problem with all that, though, is the other thing I noticed about the Lyonsi I had--he grew FAST. He outgrew all the Vieja I had growing in the tank with him. Like, he went from 4-5 inches to 8-10 inches in a matter of months.
Another thing to consider -- if you want to get a breeding pair of Lyonsi, unless you just get really lucky and buy a breeding pair somewhere, you'd prolly need to buy 6-8, grow them out, and let them pair off on their own. I don't know what size they'd be when that happens, but you could probably grow them out in a 125, let them pair up in the 125, and see what you have at that point.
If they're calm, stay kinda small because they're laying all the time, maybe they'd be fine in a 125. If they turn out more like mine were, buy the bigger tank, and keep fry in the 125 like you said.
Only problem with all that, though, is the other thing I noticed about the Lyonsi I had--he grew FAST. He outgrew all the Vieja I had growing in the tank with him. Like, he went from 4-5 inches to 8-10 inches in a matter of months.
I planned on getting 4 from rapps and 4 from coa and letting them do their thing. Natural pair 
I'll put up the others on here for our forum mates to hopefully take and grow out. I've had awesome luck before and won't be surprised if I get multiple pairs.
**I've had a great interaction with Dan from CoA during my first purchase. He went above and beyond. Just a side note haha
I'll put up the others on here for our forum mates to hopefully take and grow out. I've had awesome luck before and won't be surprised if I get multiple pairs. **I've had a great interaction with Dan from CoA during my first purchase. He went above and beyond. Just a side note haha
Not to confuse you or contradict everybody here, but I don't see any reason why a 4' 120 wouldn't work for a lyonsi pair. If your willing to go ahead and get a 6' tank, more power to you, and a 125 would undoubtedly be better, but I have had a slightly different experience with lyonsi than is expressed here. I had a 12" male, built real heavy, in a 125 community with 5-6 other CA/SA's between 5-13" in size, and he was the pushover of the tank. He didn't mess with anybody, in fact he got bullied by my vieja guttalatum which was only about 9". Cichlids are all different on a case by case basis of course, but that's the beauty of it. Again, if you are okay with getting the 6' tank by all means bigger is always better, but I wouldn't say that something like a 180 is necessary for a pair.
