Red bay snook vs jaguar

[_erik_]

Trying to decide between these three species.

I have read that red bay snooks arent very aggressive. Would a harem-setup work, like a single male with three females?

Festae would be kept as a pair. Jaguars either as a pair or a single specimen with some other large predatory fish.

The tank is about 158 gallons (600 liters) and measures 80x24x20 inches (lenghtxwidthxheight). There are some vallisneria in the tank which I would very much like to see survive. Don’t mind re-planting it though from time to time if its dug up during breeding preparations.

Any opinions, thoughts or ideas are welcome!

 

[_erik_]

Pic of the tank!

 

[Finksburg]

If it were me, I'd try a breeding pair of jags all by themselves. Give them a sanctuary!

Or if you have another tank to separate/unload fish do a CA community tank.

 

[Finksburg]

Sorry for the multiple replies. That tank is freaking beautiful!!! Great job. The plants probably won't last with the fish you're talking about throwing in there, but still- wow! I replied before the pic and had to comment again.

PS: Throw that thing up for TOTM!

 

[_erik_]

Thank you very much! Yes, I do have two other tanks that I could use if separations are needed (both measure 68x18x14”).

 

[Finksburg]

You almost have to put a community in a tank that pretty imo

Do you have other cichlid tanks? have you had success keeping plants with cichlids before?

 

[duanes]

I have kept all 3 species you mention from juvies thru adults, in similar size tanks.
If you want to keep the beautiful decor you have now, I'd say with managuense you'd be least likely, 90% chance they'd rip it to shreds,
with festae, maybe 70% like they'd tear it up,
and with Petenia splendida, there is the best chance they won't tear it up, but no guaranties.
Most large Central American cichlids will rearrange things, although some medium size and smaller ones would be less likely to do so.
I kept a shoal of Cribroheros rostratus in a heavily planted tank, as single adults or pairs they will often destroy decor and be aggressive, but as a group of around 6 or more less so.

above the Cribroheros tank, there were about a dozen in the tank
Below C rostratus closeup.

Amatitlania nanoluteus were gentile with my plants, and a group of 6 -8 would be fine in that size tank..

female nanoluteus below

You might also have luck with some South American species like smaller pike species, or shoals of Geophagines.
I also want to have plants, so choose cichlid species carefully.
My current tank has Andinoacara coerleopunctatus, it is similar in size to yours, a 180gal, containing about a dozen Andinoacara.

 

[_erik_]

You almost have to put a community in a tank that pretty imo

Do you have other cichlid tanks? have you had success keeping plants with cichlids before?

About 15 years ago when I was around 17-18 years old and still lived at home with my parents I bred a few of the larger CA-cichlids (trimacs and red tiger mota comes to mind). I've always kept live plants with my cichlids when possible. I like the look of live plants and I find it somewhat easier to keep water quality high. Vallisneria are my favorite, but back in the day I mostly used cryptocoryne. Both are very hardy and grows fast.

Cichlids that dig for breeding purposes have not been a problem for me. In my experience they use the same one or two spots every time they breed. If those spots happens to be planted I just move the plants elsewhere in the tank. Another good thing about the larger species of vallisneria and cryptocoryne is that they can be kept rooted in a comparably small area while the plant itself flows out in the rest of the tank.

Cichlids that like to eat plants or rip them to shreds "for fun" are alot more difficult to keep with plants (obviously). Black belt cichlids and rainbow cichlids (H. multispinosa) are examples I've kept.

When I asked about plant compatibility it was mostly aimed at the festae, since its more of an omnivore compared to the snook or jaguar. In general predatory fish tend to leave plants alone.

In the 68x18x14” tanks (about 66 gallons each) I currently keep A. sajica (three pairs) and two male rainbow cichlids. Also some 3" silver dollars growouts I was planning to keep in the 158 gallon tank. Although now Im not sure if I can let my vallisneria forest get eaten by the dollars... I like that greenery to much.

 

[_erik_]

I have kept all 3 species you mention from juvies thru adults, in similar size tanks.
If you want to keep the beautiful decor you have now, I'd say with managuense you'd be least likely, 90% chance they'd rip it to shreds,
with festae, maybe 70% like they'd tear it up,
and with Petenia splendida, there is the best chance they won't tear it up, but no guaranties.
Most large Central American cichlids will rearrange things, although some medium size and smaller ones would be less likely to do so.
I kept a shoal of Cribroheros rostratus in a heavily planted tank, as single adults or pairs they will often destroy decor and be aggressive, but as a group of around 6 or more less so.

Okay, thats kind of a bummer since I was leaning towards jaguars.. But thank you for your input! I've kept the sajicas mentioned in an earlier post in the 158 gallon. My reasoning now is that I can keep two pairs of sajicas (or 2 male and 3 females) in a 66 gallon and get almost the same behavior display as three pairs in the 158 gallon. I have two 66 gallon tanks (aswell as five other smaller tanks) to keep small fish in. The big tank needs to be for big fish!

Great that you have experience with the P. splendida, it seems kinda rare compared to managuense/festae. How are they aggression wise? Do you think I could keep a single male with a few females?

 

[Nove Sedici]

Trying to decide between these three species.

I have read that red bay snooks arent very aggressive. Would a harem-setup work, like a single male with three females?

Festae would be kept as a pair. Jaguars either as a pair or a single specimen with some other large predatory fish.

The tank is about 158 gallons (600 liters) and measures 80x24x20 inches (lenghtxwidthxheight). There are some vallisneria in the tank which I would very much like to see survive. Don’t mind re-planting it though from time to time if its dug up during breeding preparations.

Any opinions, thoughts or ideas are welcome!

If you want to keep the plants: I don't think Jaguars or Festae will leave them. They will shred them.

With Petenia Splendida there will be a chance that plants will survive.

My Petenia's weren't/aren't agressive at all! I had them as a couple but never had a harem of them