Please help me figure out Cichlasoma Synspilum

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Rivers2k

Rivers2k

Piranha
MFK Member
Dec 27, 2011
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I never gave much attention to these beauties because I have never in 20 years seen one for sale in my area until today. He/she is quite a beauty at about 4-5" I asked hte LFS guy how big they get and they said 6-8" right then I figured don't ask any more questions and do my own research. I am pretty sure they get bigger than that. I am reading lots of conflicting information on these. Can you tell me are Vieja Synspilum and Cichlasoma Synspilum different fish. Can you tell me how to tell the difference this one is very yellow/gold with a pink head.

This is what I have read please correct me and feel free to add to it.

1. Fairly peaceful except with its own kind
2. needs mostly veggies
3. Sizes I have read are anywhere between 10" and 17"
4. Needs 125 gallon tank

Am I correct on these?
are these fast growers like Oscars?
How long will before it will need an upgrade from a 75?
Would it do ok with Honduran Red Points and Fire mouths? I currently have a Texas in this tank but I am moving him tonight.
Are they prolific cross breeders or do I not have to worry about that?
Please tell me how to sex them.

Thanks for baring with all the questions. I tried doing my own research but not coming up with anything I could trust.
 
Cichlasoma is the old name for Vieja/Paraneetroplus syspilum/melanurus.
They are omnivores with a slant toward plants and algae, so plenty of veggies or a veggie based pellet should be a major part of their diet.
Although they are often thought of as one of the more mild mannered Viejas, in a small tank, this can become a misnomer.
12"-14" can easily be achieved with the right conditions, diet, and proper tank size.
They will easily cross breed with other Vieja species, and color has much to do with original location of ancestry.
 
Got mine at 4-5" in May of last year and hes 10-12" and a good 2" thick now. He likes to have stanf offs with my severums but nobody is ever harmed, completely ignores my heckelli. Should be ok with your stock in a 125 or 180.
 
Is the pointy fin verse round fin a good way to sex? This one has very round fins so I am assuming female. I picked her up last night and she is more like 3.5". I always feed my fish a varied diet of NLS pellets, Flakes, blood worms, shrimp, cucumber, algae wafers, of course not all at once I rotate it. I am assuming this is a good diet for the Vieja? Also am I correct and calling her Vieja or is there a better common name?

I had to remove my texas because they did not take to her but thats ok cause I am tired of having fish I can't put anything in with. They started turning on my HRPs a few days ago and I am not having that. So right now it is the Vieja, HRPs, Fire Mouth, and 12 lemon tetras as dithers in the tank.
 
The diet your feeding sounds great, and although not foolproof, females do usually have less pointed fins, and a less severe profile.
They share home waters with Thorichthys, and Astyanax tetras, so FMs and lemons should be good tankmates, although a 75 won't be sufficient for long.
I believe Paraneetroplus is considered the proper nomenclature these days, but Vieja is also generally accepted, at least temporarily until all the DNA research works itself out..
 
duanes said:
The diet your feeding sounds great, and although not foolproof, females do usually have less pointed fins, and a less severe profile.
They share home waters with Thorichthys, and Astyanax tetras, so FMs and lemons should be good tankmates, although a 75 won't be sufficient for long.
I believe Paraneetroplus is considered the proper nomenclature these days, but Vieja is also generally accepted, at least temporarily until all the DNA research works itself out..
Click to expand...

Thank you for the input it is greatly appreciated. Don't know why I am having such a hard time finding info on them. Paraneetroplus isn't much easier to say I think I will stick with Vieja hahaha. I am only keeping it in the 75 until home remodels are finished (hopefully less than a year). Right now the kids playroom is taking up where I plan to put a 125-150.
 
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