Thorichthys Maculipinnis

[Stanzzzz7]

Just picked one up from my LFS. Was really jonesing for a new cichlid and since this is basically a tricked out firemouth I figured ti would mature (and grow) slowly. It's in quarantine right now, but I plan on keeping it with my angel fish in a 29 until it grows out enough for me to put it in one of my 40 breeders. For anyone familiar with T. Maculipinnis, will this setup be okay for the next six months or so?

Could go either way depending on your individual. Chances are it will give your angel a hard time. They can be relentless in a small tank like that, especially when not kept in a group.
If your thorichthys is very young you may get away with it but keep a close eye out for any aggression building up.

 

[slava2929]

Yes, it's only a temporary situation and my angel is much bigger (and also an aggressive bastard) and should be able to protect himself. TBH, I was more worried about the T. Maculipinnis, , than the anger.

 

[tiger15]

You never know. Angel is so different from Thorichthys that they may ignore each other. I once placed an angel fish in a green terror tank and didn’t think she would last long, but the GT totally ignored her. She was there for 2 years until one day she laid eggs by herself and attacked the GT, so I had to rehome her fearing she would get hurt.

I’m currently raising a batch of T. elioti. They are prettier to me than meeki because they have more blue sparklings all over the body. I’m no sure if they are more aggressive than meeki because my former meeki is quite aggressive, and more massive.

 

[slava2929]

I'm with you on Ellioti. I think they are better looking than meeki and they're also harder to find in the hobby which makes them a more desirebale. It's nice to have fish that not every Tom Dick and Harry have kept.

 

[Stanzzzz7]

There are always exceptions to the rule but generally speaking macullipinnis are the most aggressive of the thorichthys group.

 

[jeaninel]

I have a group of 6 so not sure how an individual would behave. But mine mostly keep to themselves. The Elliot's like to hang around the bottom and angels generally stick to the upper water column so you may be ok. Let us know how it works out!

 

[tiger15]

There are always exceptions to the rule but generally speaking macullipinnis are the most aggressive of the thorichthys group.

The only way to tell is if you have housed them together. I haven’t. My recollection is that firemouth is larger and most aggressive. I have seen a FM attack hand in a fish show.

 

[Stanzzzz7]

The only way to tell is if you have housed them together. I haven’t. My recollection is that firemouth is larger and most aggressive. I have seen a FM attack hand in a fish show.

I have kept them together and apart as same species groups. I found macullipinnis much more aggressive than any other thorichthys I've kept. I have heard other thorichthys keepers report the same.
Can't speak for callolepis or socolofi as these are the only members of the group I have yet to keep.
In the ops case things could go either way or remain peaceful. I've known some pretty feisty angels but macullipinnis is not a fish to underestimate either.