I am doing research on the web on carpintis and got conflicting info. Some say a male will max out at 10 inch and some say 12 inch. How is its temperament. Is it a shy or bold fish, and how aggressive it is in comparison to green terror and synspillum. A LFS is selling 3 inch size sexable carpintis. I am interested in keeping a male with my GT and vieja tank. Do you think they are compatible?
Questions on Herichthys carpintis
- Thread starter viejafish
- Start date
In my experience they can be very aggressive. All the ones I have had in the past were outgoing and not shy at all.
I would also say 12 inches is realistic for adult males.
Beautiful fish to keep,I've spawned these many times over the years.The main reason I don't keep them anymore is because they (in my experience)always got too aggressive for my tastes.
Others experiences may differ.
I would also say 12 inches is realistic for adult males.
Beautiful fish to keep,I've spawned these many times over the years.The main reason I don't keep them anymore is because they (in my experience)always got too aggressive for my tastes.
Others experiences may differ.
My carpintus have always been fairly bold and aggressive. In nature they often share habitat with the Nosfertu (another aggressive Genus), and usually tend to see other cichlids with iridescent spots as competitors. I have kept them a cichlid community situation when young, and it has worked well when all the cichlids were added to the tank at the same time, but have never kept them with Andinoacara, and my guess is the GT would at some point be at a distinct disadvantage. I find most Central American cichlids to much more dangerous, and territorial especially as adults, so a tank of at least 6ft might be needed to provide enough space to house them comfortably.. They are not normally overly fast growers my alpha male went from about 1" to 6" within 1 year, and continues growing after that. I believe more than any other factor, frequent water changes are needed for good growth, I try to do 30% every other day.
May I ask how you manage to do 30% every other day? Do you have a water changing system or are you just that dedicated? I'm impressed either way.
I do have a permanent water change system for 4 banks of tanks (@ 1500 gallons).
When I open a valve, instead of water going to one of the sumps (1 of 4 sumps), old water goes directly outside to the garden (or in winter to a drain) when enough water is sent to the garden, that valve is closed, and another opened so water goes from a gang valve permanently attached to a tap, to the selected sump. In that way I can change about 100 gallons in 5-10 minutes.
If the 2" PVC valve below is closed, old water is sent outside.
There is a permanent PVC line to the garden, sending old fish water there, with the nutrients in the old water no (or hardly any)fertilizer is required
The gang valve sends tap water to selected sumps.
As you can see, there is an open line that drips so I can finger test tap water for temp, and it always has a bucket of sand under it being rinsed with the test water.
Some sumps have a temp probe where temp is again tested.
There are also float valves on each line to the sump, to help prevent overflows if I get distracted, (these float valves have saved my are many times). When pressure build because the red float blocks flow to the sump, water hammer sound alerts me to cut off the water to the sumps
When I open a valve, instead of water going to one of the sumps (1 of 4 sumps), old water goes directly outside to the garden (or in winter to a drain) when enough water is sent to the garden, that valve is closed, and another opened so water goes from a gang valve permanently attached to a tap, to the selected sump. In that way I can change about 100 gallons in 5-10 minutes.
If the 2" PVC valve below is closed, old water is sent outside.
There is a permanent PVC line to the garden, sending old fish water there, with the nutrients in the old water no (or hardly any)fertilizer is required
The gang valve sends tap water to selected sumps.
As you can see, there is an open line that drips so I can finger test tap water for temp, and it always has a bucket of sand under it being rinsed with the test water.
Some sumps have a temp probe where temp is again tested.
There are also float valves on each line to the sump, to help prevent overflows if I get distracted, (these float valves have saved my are many times). When pressure build because the red float blocks flow to the sump, water hammer sound alerts me to cut off the water to the sumps
Very cool, I'm buying a house soon and hope to have something like this. I knew you weren't carrying buckets! lol 
Thanks for taking the time to write that out, I'm sure someone has asked you the question before.
Thanks for taking the time to write that out, I'm sure someone has asked you the question before.I have kept cyanoguttatus, carpintis "Escondido", and now carpintis "Rio Hondo" and have found all of them to be bold, not shy at all and anywhere from aggressive to extremely aggressive. I had to keep a cyanoguttatus in a 55 alone because of how aggressive he was in a 240 that he shared with a RT, Midas, RD, and black belt. He topped out around 10". I've also kept GTs for a long time and agree with duanes that the carpintis would eventually be the aggressor. Depending on the size of the tank, the combo with the carpintis, GT and synspilum could work. Synspilum are typically known as a less aggressive of the "Vieja" species but individuals vary as always and they can get pretty damn big and nasty themselves.
Your horror story with cyanoguttatus is apprecieated, but carpentis is a different species from cyanoguttatus. I am thinking of introducing a subadult carpentis to my adult Vieja malanura and guttulata tank. My Viejas are very peaceful but shy. Even at 10 to 14 inch, they can be skittish so I have to approach the tank slowly. So I hope to introduce a bolder fish to bring out the shyness of my Viejas, yet not becoming too aggressive to take over. Is carpentis less aggressive than Midas and Festae. I don't mind a defensively aggressive fish but don't want a fish that pick fight and chase fish around.
Fish in the tank scattering when you walk in the room is not unusual at all. If they come out soon after, go back to normal behavior of hanging around and spacing themselves out all over the tank, they're not overly skittish I don't think. That's how all of mine are.
In fact, I used to yell at my kids all the time for running around the corner and "schitzing" the fish.
So....what size tank are you thinking about adding this Carpintis to, and what's the stock like in the tank now? If you have 10-14 inch Vieja in the tank now.....please don't tell me this is all in a 125!
If you're gonna try this in a 300 gallon tank, you have a shot. If you're gonna try this in a 75 gallon, be ready for violence sooner or later.
Tanks size is everything.
In fact, I used to yell at my kids all the time for running around the corner and "schitzing" the fish.
So....what size tank are you thinking about adding this Carpintis to, and what's the stock like in the tank now? If you have 10-14 inch Vieja in the tank now.....please don't tell me this is all in a 125!
If you're gonna try this in a 300 gallon tank, you have a shot. If you're gonna try this in a 75 gallon, be ready for violence sooner or later.
Tanks size is everything.
I have found all the Herichthys complex to be similar in aggression, I have kept carpintus, cyanoguttatus and tamasopoensis, and found they are all similar in temperament. Although they are different species, they are all close cousins, and thinking one will be different from the other cousin is not a good idea.
tamasopoensis.
I also agree with rain about skittishness and tank size. Adding more cichlids is not usually the answer to this. In nature cichlids watch dither fish to gage the threat of danger, and react accordingly. A shoal of live bearers showing no fear, would do much more for the feeling security in the tank, more than another cichlid especially if the tank is not very large.
click to run video below
tamasopoensis.
I also agree with rain about skittishness and tank size. Adding more cichlids is not usually the answer to this. In nature cichlids watch dither fish to gage the threat of danger, and react accordingly. A shoal of live bearers showing no fear, would do much more for the feeling security in the tank, more than another cichlid especially if the tank is not very large.
click to run video below