Paratillapia Bleekeri vs Paratillapia Polleni

[hoodoogirl69]

Im not new to cichlids but I am new to this fish, which one at maturity has the large head?
Also Im setting up a new tank, 125 gals, and I plan on an oscar, a green terror, a dempsey, the bleekeri or polleni, and possible later an arrowana. All thoughts and suggestions please.

 

[Username.]

The 125g is to barely big enough for the Oscar and green terror imo, let alone adding all the others. The arowana alone wouldn't fit in it. Sorry I know you didn't want to hear this, but it's the truth.

 

[smitty03281964]

If you put the 4 in the 125. Then I would forgo the Arowana because they are such and active swimming fish.

 

[typicalalex1]

By large head, do you mean a nuptial hump?
If so, males of both specials will develop this. I think the only difference between the 2 species you have mentioned are one has small white spots and the other has large white spots.

Definitely do not put an arrowana in there. The tank is way too small for that.
Keeping those 4 cichlids in a 125 is asking for trouble. Assuming that you are buying young fish, you may get away with it for 6-12 months.
By 12 months, the oscar will be 12 inches and probably double the size of the other cichlids. The oscar will rule the tank by this stage and bully the other cichlids as there is little space for them to form territories.

My opinion is to only keep 2 of the cichlids, you may be able to add some smaller cichlids as well if you have good filtration. Firemouths and convicts are good examples.

 

[RD.]

bleekeri are not found in the hobby. The following past discussion explains the status on bleekeri vs polleni. http://www.monsterfishkeepers.com/forums/threads/id-on-paratilapia.586179 And males typically get the larger nuchal humps on their head as they become sexually mature.

No aro will survive long in a 125, certainly not an adult. I think that you best reconsider your entire stock list.

 

[duanes]

Agree with RD, on all counts including the invalidity of he name "bleekeri", although I realize some LFSs use it erroniously.
Here is a Paratilapia polleni "small spot"

below a Paratilapia sp Andapa