A dovii is no "large powerful open water predator,capable of very fast bursts of speed", compared to any big hap, it is a slow sedentary slug. I wouldn't put it in with tankmates in anything less than at least 10 feet, but I think you are glorifying dovii beyond what it deserves. A dovii is a big, mean, ugly, slow CA cichlid, in fact the only reason people keep them is because they are the biggest, ugliest and meanest CA cichlid. On its own scale, and considering its fighting ability, a betta may be jusr as aggressive. The only difference is people know how to cohabit them and don't know how to do it with dovii. If you weren't afraid of losing a few fish, you probably could figure it out.
Possible Dovii X RQ pair tank mates
- Thread starter MrDuckBootz
- Start date
Where did you come up with that notion.
Dovii are one of the top predators in its waters probably only beaten by marine bull sharks that enter it's environment.
They are fish eating open water predators that are capable of hunting fish down at very fast speeds.
I'm no expert on African cichlids but show me a haplachromine that can compare to a dovii and I will stand corrected.
I don't see the point of the comparison any way.
Compared to an Oscar or a Severum a dovii is like an f1 car with teeth.
These comparisons mean very little in this discussion. My point was a Dovii male capable of 30 inches,and capable of high speed pursuits has no place with tank mates in a 220.
I imagine many of the predatory haps could fit a 220 with tank mate's quite comfortably.
Nothing wrong with a healthy debate Hendre.
You no how passionate cichlid keepers get.
You no how passionate cichlid keepers get.
Not trying to get in the middle of something here. Just trying to make a point and then I will step aside and you guys can have it out.
But maybe you are both right. I think anyone would agree that a 220 will not hold a Male dovii for life, Not in any sort of comfortable way anyhow, and I would hate to have to deal with a male betta if it were to grow 30" as compared to a dovii.
But that said, I do not see how one can make the comparison when talking about housing them. It would have to be a direct comparison.
If you put a betta a fish that get 3" in a 24" or 2 feet aquarium. Then the 30" dovii would have to be in a tank 10 times that length so the tank would be 240" or 20 feet long.
But maybe you are both right. I think anyone would agree that a 220 will not hold a Male dovii for life, Not in any sort of comfortable way anyhow, and I would hate to have to deal with a male betta if it were to grow 30" as compared to a dovii.
But that said, I do not see how one can make the comparison when talking about housing them. It would have to be a direct comparison.
If you put a betta a fish that get 3" in a 24" or 2 feet aquarium. Then the 30" dovii would have to be in a tank 10 times that length so the tank would be 240" or 20 feet long.
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I was mates with good ol' franky, I know
I agree. I don't think many make is past 20" (?) so maybe 8ft minimum is survivable.
This is true. No hap has as bad of an attitude as a dovii. My point was that dovii, like all other SA/CA cichlids are benthopelagic NOT pelagic like haps. They live a foot or two off the same patch of mud their whole lives. They are not "open water fish". Also, the only reason why dovii are top predators in their habitat is because all the other fish are pussys.A fully grown channelcat could eat dovii for breakfast, and that is a wussy fish. Blue/flathead catfish wouldn't know the difference between a dovii and a goldfish, and a pike, gar, or arapaima wouldn't either.
You are right. I am not sure how I missed this.
I am NOT a cichlid guy. Definitely not an American Cichlid guy. Yes, the amphilophus and thoricthys are stunners, but I have had enough SA/CA for a long time, now that I have a)kept angels and convicts and b)read threads of the pain and suffering that comes with these fish. Maybe thoricthys, with headstanders and livebearers, and rift lakes...This again....
This is why I like the polypterus section
Rift lake cichlids might fight, and some of them might do it all the time for fun, but they are not nasty the SA/CA are. For example, mbuna are not mean, they just like to eat, have sex and fight, in no particular order.Most SA/CA I have seen were psychopaths.
