I have 5 P. melanurum F1s from Rusty Wessel that are just now about 9 months old. They are a very combative species, always going head to head with both conspecifics and heterospecifics. IMO they are one of the feistier of the Paratheraps or Vieja that I have ever kept, certainly right up there with 'maculicauda'. They have shown good color even at a small size over the time that I've had them, but within the last few weeks, things have begun to happen. One pair "lit up" when they paired up. They have to be one of the most beautifully colored fish that I have ever kept, from the burnt oranges to the midnight blues. Sorry for the mediocre pics. I use a point and shoot camera and these fish are rarely still. If anyone out there has this species, how about post some pics?
