Parachromis “La ceiba”

Brobstfish · Jul 12, 2021

So I have been pretty dormant for the past number of years here on mfk, but have recently been delving further back into the hobby. Back in February I ordered a group of Parachromis Sp “La ceiba” from Dan at coa. This is a species I have wanted to keep for a long time, just had not had the opportunity until this year. Now I have kept most of the other parachromis species (Managuensis, dovii, motanguensis) and the common theme most people encounter with these species is their fairly intense aggression, something I became used to dealing with when keeping parachromis species. My experience with the La ceiba have been nearly opposite to this. They have been some of the most docile and laid back of any cichlids I have kept. Almost never any torn fins, and never any chasing or bullying as I have seen in the other parachromis. They actually stay together most all of the time, even as they have to continued to put on size. Granted, they are also fairly shy, even though I have no shortage of hiding spots (or potential spawning areas ?), although they have become less shy and more eager to greet me when feeding the fishroom as they have got bigger. I got 6 of these guys in at about 2”, and the largest is pushing 6” now with most between 4-5”. I have been almost waiting to see any increase in aggression but it hasn’t come as of yet. I would love to hear if others have had this experience with these guys as well, or if this group I got was just “special”.
Thanks!
-Ben

C. Breeze · Jul 12, 2021

Pictures of the fish would be greatly appreciated.

never had them but I’m really interested. Like you my experience had been with other guapote

PhishMon84 · Jul 12, 2021

I believe they were determined to be a local variant of what used to be called friedrichstahli, I think it’s multifasciatus now.

I have a big male 12” or so- a few years old. Pretty peaceful aside from occasionally mouthing my big male gold morph jag- no torn fins. Lives with a group of amphilophus Sagittae and vieja bifasciata

Brobstfish · Jul 12, 2021

CrazyPhishMan said:
I believe they were determined to be a local variant of what used to be called friedrichstahli, I think it’s multifasciatus now.

I have a big male 12” or so- a few years old. Pretty peaceful aside from occasionally mouthing my big male gold morph jag- no torn fins. Lives with a group of amphilophus Sagittae and vieja bifasciata

Yeah, I remember back when they were first brought into the hobby, since then there has always been a small debate on whether they could be reclassified into a new species or as a variant of friedrichstahli or loiselle. Most people favor the latter, and with the reclassification of friedrichstahli to multifasciatus that line is a little more muddy, although that plays into their appeal for me. Here is some pics of the little buggers, definitely an interesting fish!