Petinia Splendida (bay snook)

[tenby2]

I'll try again to post something, the last, my first one disapeared.
Hi all.
I've just joined you guys after reading about you on a UK based site you should've heard of 'Cichlids of the South East'.
I've got a 10'x2.5'x2' (320 UK gal) tank containing mostly C/A cichlids including my fav P.Splendida. I have 3 of them an 8" male and 2 6" females, both of which the male has been dancing with for the last few months. Just last week the first
lot, of many I hope, eggs were laid but by the time I got home from work only a couple of dozen were left and they didn't last long. I realise the snook have some growing to do.
Has any one kept, is keeping or has bred bay snook before?
Also what would be their realistic size I'd expect them to grow?
Some people have told me 1' some have said up to 2'.

Regards,
Mark

 

[Nandus]

You can expect them to get at least a foot or more. It all comes down to the size of your tank and how many fish you keep with them. I raised a group of Parachromis managuense in a 55 gallon (US) and later moved them to a 125. They are all around a foot in length, but haven't grown much more then that. On the other hand, I have seen P.managuense that were over 16".

I have seen pictures of large Petinia collected in the wild and they normally max out at around 16" in their native habitit.

 

[CentralMayhem]

i know of a guy down here in san diego with 2 reds that are both around the 15"-17" mark and they are the biggest but most sissy fish in his tank. the only time they really shine is at feeding time. they can seriously pack that huge mouth FULL

 

[tenby2]

My three 'red' snook share my 10' 320 UK gal tank with a pair v.synspilla female 9" male 7" and may not be synspilla but melanurus, 4 bocourti 6"-8", pair salvini 4", 1 small jd 3", one 6" male loisellei, pair 6" h.temporalis, 6 spanner barbs 2"-4", 4 3" clown loaches and a few plecs.
Sounds like a busy tank, it is a very peaceful one.

I know where you're coming from when you mention their huge capacity mouths, boy can they pack it in. When I first got them they were only about 2" long and very fussy eaters until they met the spanners, who are fast and unfussy eaters, if the snook wanted any food they soon learned to quick and less fussy.
As you say they are relatively peaceful except when digging pits as they do in my tank then they will attempt to chase off allcomers.