Umbee info!! :)

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Opiate

Polypterus
MFK Member
Jan 7, 2006
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Where eva theres Cichla!!!
hey ppl's...

A few weeks ago my mate and i bought 5 juvie umbee's and i was wondering if anyone could give me a complete profile on them...or any info on them would be nice...thanks :thumbsup:
 
:idea:

google

<World-Wide Web> The World-Wide Web search engine that
indexes the greatest number of web pages - over two billion by
December 2001 and provides a free service that searches this
index in less than a second.

The site's name is apparently derived from "googol", but
note the difference in spelling.

The "Google" spelling is also used in "The Hitchhikers Guide
to the Galaxy" by Douglas Adams, in which one of Deep
Thought's designers asks, "And are you not," said Fook,
leaning anxiously foward, "a greater analyst than the
Googleplex Star Thinker in the Seventh Galaxy of Light and
Ingenuity which can calculate the trajectory of every single
dust particle throughout a five-week Dangrabad Beta sand
blizzard?"

http://www.google.com
 
Benficas caquetia sticky should help if..not then pm him and he should be able to help other then tht hope u have a large tank..and get ready for some really aggressive fish
 
carpediem;486973; said:
:idea:

google

<World-Wide Web> The World-Wide Web search engine that
indexes the greatest number of web pages - over two billion by
December 2001 and provides a free service that searches this
index in less than a second.

The site's name is apparently derived from "googol", but
note the difference in spelling.

The "Google" spelling is also used in "The Hitchhikers Guide
to the Galaxy" by Douglas Adams, in which one of Deep
Thought's designers asks, "And are you not," said Fook,
leaning anxiously foward, "a greater analyst than the
Googleplex Star Thinker in the Seventh Galaxy of Light and
Ingenuity which can calculate the trajectory of every single
dust particle throughout a five-week Dangrabad Beta sand
blizzard?"

http://www.google.com
Click to expand...

The whole world loves smartasses:D

Opiate, there's a sticky on them.
 
This info was provided by CichlidScene a very highly respected MFK'r.........

Max.size:
There have been several known aquarium-kept Umbies that exceeded two feet in length (TL). As wild-caught specimens are not readily available, these days 20" to 24"? TL may be more typical for males, females to about half that size.


Recommended tank size(s):
Assuming strong filtration and weekly large-scale (60%+) water changes, a young Umbie can easily be kept in a 75-gallon (48"x18") aquarium for its first year. At that point, males will be nearly 12"? long and should be moved to more spacious quarters to ensure maximum growth. The minimum size tank for one adult male Umbie is in the range of 200- to 300-gallons, and ideally this species should be kept in a well-filtered aquarium twice that size.


Water chemistry:
Umbies hail from water with pH varying from 7.2 to 8.1; however, clean water of any constant pH level within that range will suffice.


Temperature:
77 to 80F; 82 to 84F for breeding.


Level of Difficulty:
Intermediate. Umbies are in some regards quite easy to keep, as they eat most anything and are extremely hardy. However, they do need to be kept in large, clean, and well-oxygenated aquariums, and their highly aggressive behavior is for neither the beginner nor the faint of heart. Experience with managing large aquariums and aggressive cichlids is a prerequisite.


Distribution:
Mr. Don Conkel states in Cichlids of North and Central America: "Pacific slope of Panama in the Rio Tuira basin to the Rio Magdalena basin in Columbia on the Atlantic slope."

Umbies first appeared in the fish-keeping hobby during the mid 1970s as contaminants among shipments from Columbia received by both the Belle Isle Aquarium in Detroit and Mr. Tom DePiro in NY. These fish possessed the blue coloring still seen in the fish bred and sold today. Note also that Mr. Rusty Wessel has recently collected from Panama a green morph of this species.


Natural Environment:
Open water.


Natural Behavior:
Piscivore, feeding primarily on other fishes.


Description:
Umbies are arguably one of the most powerfully built cichlids, and possess an enormous mouth capable of swallowing most anything.

Males have an olive/brown base color under a spectacular blue/green scale patterning. A series of vivid blue/green spots are typically scattered throughout the lower face and gill area, lending this fish its nickname "blue-speckled monster".?

Females are shorter and stockier than males, and lack much of the blue coloring found on males. Female Umbies in breeding/brood-raising colors exhibit a startlingly bright whitish-yellow body color.


General Husbandry:
Feeding: Umbies are like garbage disposals with fins, and their appetites grow as they mature. These fish should be fed often, and while they'll greedily consume prepared pellet and freeze-dried foods, fresh fish or shrimp should make up the bulk of their diet.

Growth: Males can easily reach 12" TL in their first year, and will continue to grow in length for their first five years. By their third year, the fish will begin to pack on considerable bulk; 18-inch males can easily weigh more than five pounds.

Decor: Filtration and heating equipment must be secured, or better yet, placed out of reach. Large immobile rocks and driftwood pieces can be used. Forget plants or any other items of a fragile nature.

Breeding: Due to the vast size difference in sexes, any attempt at breeding this species must be monitored closely to ensure the safety of the female. Aquarists have had success utilizing the divider method, or alternatively by breeding Umbies in massive aquaria or ponds.

Tankmates: Umbies can be kept with other fish assuming you're willing to provide an enormous aquarium (e.g., larger than 600-gallons). Nothing bite-sized will survive long, but large tankmates may survive assuming adequate space and refuge is provided.
 
dude i have typed in "tropical fish, umbee information" like 1,00 times in google only t find nothing but bull**** useless information...this is a fish forum, so i figured i'd ask the members for legit information...the 'World Wide Web" is a web of crap!
However thanks heaps REC, that info is perfect, most inwhich i already knew, but i did learn quite a few things...thanks mate :thumbsup:
 
There's not much different from much of the other large s.a cichlids...other then they get huge...and are one of the most aggressive cichlids that you can own..so get ready for a large tank, and really compatible tankmates or none at all...like doviis..but you seem as if your gonna breed them since you bought quit a few...but if you need any more info ..let us know...
 
dovii88;489588; said:
There's not much different from much of the other large s.a cichlids...other then they get huge...and are one of the most aggressive cichlids that you can own..so get ready for a large tank, and really compatible tankmates or none at all...like doviis..but you seem as if your gonna breed them since you bought quit a few...but if you need any more info ..let us know...
Click to expand...

They are most definetly NOT like other large cichlids.

There are certainly more people getting Umbee. It's natural to see a great looking fish and want to get one. I just don't think many of the people...notice I didn't say all...know how difficult they are to maintain.

They don't play well with others, so they need their own tank. They won't live as an adult in anything less than 300+ gallons of water. They require pristine water conditions and filtration. Ask anyone who has ever owned an adult...male or female...they need massive water changes weekly.

IN the wild they are open water fish. It's my opinion that based on this the large frequent water changes mentioned is absoutley paramount. I look at the people who post their "new Umbee" and just shake my head. Like I said...not all...but most that have will have a fish that lives a couple years...tops.

Keep in mind that on top of the water changes, the fish is South American. The water can't be too hard or the fish will develop HLLE.

If you have an Umbee, you are done. Under no circumstance would I advise keeping it as an adult with any other fish.
 
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