Just trying to get into cichlids so I heard these called gentle giants. Like to go in at least a 180 but have a larger tank I might entertain . What are good tank mates would like them to be in with what they would naturally see in the wild.
Pearsie cichlid
- Thread starter john C
- Start date
One of my favorites. Once past the juvie stage, they become more and more vegetarian, so plants are out, as adults mine could eat a large head of romaine lettuce every other day, with a cup of thawed peas every 3rd day. I found groups large swordtails or large mollies endemic to the waters the inhabit, were good tankmates as they appreciated the veggie scraps the pearsei would leave (ex Poecilia velifora, and latipinna, or Xiphophorus mayae).
At 3 years of age and 14", mine outgrew a 150 gal and were moved to a 300 gal stock tank.
At 3 years of age and 14", mine outgrew a 150 gal and were moved to a 300 gal stock tank.
I was not a shoaling fish fan either, until I saw how cichlids react to them in nature, and how they live simpatico.
Although the pics below are not pearsei, they were taken not far from the area pearsei inhabit, and live bearers and Astyanax seem to be the most abundant part of the fish population.
I don't believe Astyanax are good tank mates though, to nippy and fast for the lumbering pearsei.
click to run
Although the pics below are not pearsei, they were taken not far from the area pearsei inhabit, and live bearers and Astyanax seem to be the most abundant part of the fish population.
I don't believe Astyanax are good tank mates though, to nippy and fast for the lumbering pearsei.
click to run
Pearsei are great fish. Same personality as oscars. Mine is approaching 8.5ish inches and is beefy. I always read they were gentle giants but mine is a little aggressive with a vieja heterospilus nothing crazy. They eat allot i mean allot like what ever hits the water. I know they are from totally different parts of the world but my pearsei gets along great with bichirs doesnt bother them at all