Two Red Bay Snooks arriving tomorrow?

[Lollum96]

Hey guys, so I have 2 Red Bay Snook cichlids (Petenia splendida) arriving through the post today. They are relatively large at 20cm each.


Got a very good deal on these hence why I got two! £20 each. The retailer wanted £99.99 each for them but somehow let me add two to my basket for £39.99


I want to house them both in my 125g tank at a temperature of 22 Celsius or 71.6F..


Just wanted to ask on here if 22 Celsius is actually okay for these guys?? Care sheets seem few and far between for the Petenia splendida and the care sheets that are available list vastly different numbers. Some list 24 Celsius as the minimum temperature. Others list 20 Celsius and some even say 18 Celsius.. Will they be okay at 22 celsius?


Also hoping I can house both of these Red Bay Snooks together in the 125.. do they usually get along with each other in pairs?


Any other general advice on these guys would be appreciated! Thanks

 

[Lollum96]

Nobody have any information on these? I know they aren't a particularly common cichlid.

I have them both in my 125 now and they seem to be doing pretty okay!

 

[Hybridfish7]

Nobody have any information on these? I know they aren't a particularly common cichlid.

I have them both in my 125 now and they seem to be doing pretty okay!

They're pretty cool fish. From what I hear they are surprisingly peaceful in spite of their piscivorous nature. Anything that isn't food is a friend to them. The red form is naturally occurring, similar to the red forms of amphilophus in the great lakes of Nicaragua (where the red form is from).

 

[duanes]

I kept a trio of them a while back.
The 125 should be adequate for just the 2 a while,
when I 1st got mine there were @ 3", and in a couple years outgrew my similar size 150 gal.
But adult size is at least 16 inches, so somewhere down the line, a larger tank may be needed.
I do think 24'C is a minimum to shoot for... and, would be best,
in nature their average water temp range in the Yucatan and Guatemala is 24'C to 32'C.

Mine got along fine, I didn't find them aggressive with each until they outgrew the tank, at that point the lack of proper space seemed to make them get snippy with each other .

They are fairly skittish though, easily startled by shadows, sudden light changes, and quick movements outside the tank, causing them to sometimes injure themselves.
On more than 1 occasion (until I worked lighting out) they'd dislocate their jaws smashing into tank glass, and I'd need to snap the jaw back with thumb and forefinger.
I found putting lights on timers that gradually lit the fish room a little at a time helpful.

 

[dogofwar]

Ironically in the US, the red ones are now quite rare - anyone have any? - when they used to be available at Petsmart. I've only seen wild-type (green) ones in recent years.

They're pretty undemanding apart from getting large and needing a good-sized tank and large water changes. 71F is a little low but not unreasonable. While not particularly aggressive, especially for large cichlids, even when breeding, they'll eat anything that they can.

 

[PhishMon84]

great alternative to parachromis species and like to hang in groups. personable fish from my own experience just without a lot of the baggage that comes with some centrals.

Wish the reds were available, always wanted a mixed group of greens and reds.

 

[duanes]

Funny ..............when I had them, only the pink ones were available, and my preference would have been the natural green variant.
.

 

[coltiger1975]

Ironically in the US, the red ones are now quite rare - anyone have any? - when they used to be available at Petsmart. I've only seen wild-type (green) ones in recent years.

They're pretty undemanding apart from getting large and needing a good-sized tank and large water changes. 71F is a little low but not unreasonable. While not particularly aggressive, especially for large cichlids, even when breeding, they'll eat anything that they can.

Funny I thought the opposite here in Edmonton Alberta. I've found the red ones more common. My male will be getting some greens shortly for company. I was so excited to find the green as that's my preference

 

[dogofwar]

Interested to know if *anyone* has red bay snook in the US...

 

[Hybridfish7]

Interested to know if *anyone* has red bay snook in the US...

Red Bay Snook Cichlid | Arizona Aquatic Gardens

Arizona Aquatic Gardens offers the best in Central and South American Cichlids like these Red Bay Snook Cichlids. Shop online today for great savings!

azgardens.com

American Cichlid - Red Bay Snook Cichlid LARGE PAIR (Petenia Splendida) 15cm+

Red Devil Cichlid 6-8cm

aquariumfishonline.com.au

found these, but not sure on the credibility of either place...