Ran LFS for Syns ...they have Vieja Bifaciatus

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glenbo

Feeder Fish
MFK Member
Aug 26, 2008
853
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England
Hi i rang the lfs looking for a Vieja Syns.

They said they have Vieja Argenteas and Vieja Bifaciatus in stock.

I have had Argenteas before and they are pretty nasty, so i'm interested in the Bifaciatus, are these a similar fish, how aggressive are they? how big do they get? (it wil lbe grown out and put in my 9x3x3 later)

Also while im there im going to pick up...

Male Geophagus Brasiliensis
Female Nicaguensis

They will be juvis that i'm getting, any idea how to sex them?
 
Bifas are beautiful Viejas. I'm new to Viejas as I have only had my Syn and two Fenestratus for about a month. I am very happy with them. If Bifas have a similar temperment to Synspilus then you shouldn't have to worry about aggression. I want to add another CA to my mix, so I considered a Nic but I have heard on this site lately that they turn pretty aggressive once they get older. I only mention the Nic because I see that you are picking up one too.
 
Bifas are generaly mean compare to a syn unless you get lucky. The only fish i got to mix the bifa with was a large red texas ornate yellow jacket and honduran red point. They grow pretty large but a 9,3,3 should be fine. i think bifa is actually meaner than argentea's .
 
Glenbo, where in the UK are you? If your serious about centrals, why don't you get your stock from Oddball Express?

All cichlids are imported from Jeff Rapps, Don Conkel and direct from Colombia. We have just had a huge import of Don Conkel cichlids, there are synspilus from both Rapps and Conkel. Argentea, zonatus, etc. I just wouldn't bother to get centrals from an lfs, especially Paratheraps/Vieja as most i see are hybrids. As you probably know, the UK lfs don't represent CA cichlids very well, most aren't even labled correctly.

If you want me to email you an updated list, send me a pm with email address.

All the Best,

Lee Nuttall.;)
 
please don't let me discourage you into getting a Vieja, but i had one that was the meanest fish i ever had.
She was 10"+ and totally beat up my oscar and even knocked him out at night.
She fought my biggest pleco for his zuchinni and nipped the fins of the Silver Dollars.
I had to rehome her, for it's my oscars tank.
so i'm a little biast for viejas and i don't want them anymore.
Too much temperament for me!
 
Thanks guys, i'll deffo take the offer up from Nutty also :)

I might just grab my other fish tommorow and wait around for a nice Syns, i want somethign nice colourful and big to grow out for my 9x3x3 and already have enough trouble on my hands with my Texas and Flowerhorns so i need seperators :P lol but dont want the whole tank divided! :P

here is the 9x3x3 listing that i have, obviously i dont own all these fish yet (as the tank is not finished, all mine are juvis growing out in a seperated 100g

Stock list for big tank

1 x flowerhorn (12")
seperator
2 x Rotkeil Severum (8")
1 x Gold severum (10")
1 x Red Severum (10")
1 x EBJD (8")
seperator
1 x albino oscar (14")
1 x Vieja Synspilum (12")
1 x texas (12")
2 x black jack dempsey (10")
2 x Ellioti (5")
1 x firemouth (7")
3 x convict (6")
3 x blood parrot (6")
1 x Geophagus brasiliensis (10")
1 x green terror (10")
2 x red jewels (6")
4 x yellow lab (5")
1 x blue dolphin (8")
1 x Nimbochromis livingstonii
dithers
6 x silver dollar or giant danio (6")
1 x gibbi plec (18")
1 x Royal Plec (16")
5 x clown loach (12")
1 x red tail black shark (6")

Maybes

1 x Featherfin Synodontus (8")
1 x Senegal Birchir (12")
1 x Kissing Gourami (10")
1 x Blue Acara (7")
1 x Festivum (7")
 
yeah from all I've read, bifasc, maculicauda (black belt), fenestratus and zonatus are, on average, the most aggressive of the vieja/paratheraps groups.
 
Shall i try a Argentea again or leave them?
 
Glenbo, I have a lovely 2.5" V.regani that you are welcome to have. if you want.

Obviously only a juvie but doesn't seem to be aggressive at all. In fact seems very laid back. Had to remove him from a tank because he was being bullied.

I'm near Southampton.
 
I got the Bifaciatus in the end, he has been bullied a lot, might risk putting it in the EBJD side of my tank (seperated) because the Texas and Flowerhorns are chasing it no end.

Thanks for the offer Hamfist, i'm kinda running out of space in my grow out tank now, just want to grab a moori/blue dolphin to grow out to finish off till my 3000 litre (including sump) is built.

I did get the Geo and a red jewel to, the red jewel is fine, the Geo lasted 10 minutes, couldnt get him out :( they shredded him.
 
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