So this is my first polleni. Never had one before or never had any kind of African cichlid. So i was wondering if there are any tankmates that might be ideal for him. Its a 90 gallon. So far I have 2 plecos 4 silver dollars and 4 giant danio. Is there any other kind of cichlid that might work with him or is It possible to maybe take out what I got and put a mix of Africans and leave my plecos in as well. Any advice will help. Thanks!!
small spot polleni advice
- Thread starter belfiore11
- Start date
P. polleni although African, couldn't be more different from mainland cichlids. They are a unique species found only in Madagascar and are more like a Central American cichlid in many ways (appearance, substrate spawner, non mouthbrooder). I keep mine with a mix of Ptychochromis and a few dambas, all Madagascan. But I have kept them successfully with CAs and an acquaintance of mine had his mixed in with a bunch of mbuna. They seem very flexible that way. One thing, they are piscivorous and smaller fish might get picked off over time. I would tend to go with your first combination, although I won't discount the later as an option. Since it's just a single specimen, I don't think you'll find any aggression problems since that comes more with conspecifics, especially in a smaller tank like a 90G. Good luck with it. They are a great fish.
Thanks for your advice. Your fish look amazing man. But what kind of cichlid in your opinion would you recommend in that 90 gallon with him?
In a 90G, you won't have much more room for big fish since 'polleni' (males) can get pretty big (~8-10") and beefy. Your best option would be to obtain three or four young polleni and grow them up together in the tank, providing lots of structure (driftwood, rocks) They seem to develop a solid pecking order and I've found little conflict exists this way. Another option is to try and find a Ptychochromis (grandidieri or oligacanthus - single specimen). I'm not sure how available they are to you. These are Madagascan cichlids as well. My Ptychochromis and Paratilapia seem to get along well together. Possibly a CA Thorichthys like the Firemouth or a Paraneetroplus like 'melanurus' or 'breidohri' would work as well. I think with a single polleni in there, most any reasonably tough cichlid would do, no matter from what continent.
grandidieri
oligacanthus
melanurus
breidohri
grandidieri
oligacanthus
melanurus
breidohri
Ok will do. And if these are your fish man you have got amazing fish. Also how can you sex them Im guessing mine is a male ill try and post a pic today.
I agree with Jim's suggestions, I have seen small Paratilapia with rift lake Africans, and have kept them with Central Americans.
And Madagascar while geographically close, is not really Africa, and to me, more like India. There is a documentary on the Science Channel called Rise of the Continents: Eurasia, that explains the relationship, and uses Indian and Madagascan cichlids as examples.
I have a group of 5 adult Paratilapia in a 6ft tank with 5 Paretroplus maculatus (Madagascan) and 4 Herichthys bocourti (Central American), they make the tank look and feel tiny.
Below is a not so hot video, but shows what I mean.
And Madagascar while geographically close, is not really Africa, and to me, more like India. There is a documentary on the Science Channel called Rise of the Continents: Eurasia, that explains the relationship, and uses Indian and Madagascan cichlids as examples.
I have a group of 5 adult Paratilapia in a 6ft tank with 5 Paretroplus maculatus (Madagascan) and 4 Herichthys bocourti (Central American), they make the tank look and feel tiny.
Below is a not so hot video, but shows what I mean.
Breed them. I would like to see then more readily available.
Sent from my iPhone using MonsterAquariaNetwork app
Sent from my iPhone using MonsterAquariaNetwork app
