Well i have a large tank becoming available and i had some great plans for it. Until i started looking and researching possible combinations of fish to go together and thats when it happened, i came across the umbee and iv pretty much fallen in love, i knew about it previously but never realistically had the space to look after it without giving up my community tank. The more iv read and researched it the more im drawn to wanting to look after one. From what iv read on here everybody says how much of a great pet they are, the only downside iv read is there aggressive streak but it would be housed on its own. My only dilemma is going to be getting hold of one with decent lineage here in the uk. Im not in a massive rush so il just have to hold out and wait to get one. I think iv already made my mind up but id like to know your opinions on if there worth dedicating a single tank to. Are they best kept in pairs or single? And if anybody who has kept them before can suggest anything that would make its quality of life the best it can be (im presuming it will be the normal plenty of space, plenty of water changes and a varied diet) but ithought id ask the pro's. Thanks guys and look forward to your input
Umbee love
- Thread starter clayton1985
- Start date
Totally worth it. I've got a wild caught male, he's wonderful. More personality than any other fish I've ever had. As interactive as clown loaches are hilarious. I'd almost consider him a companion animal. He's bitten me a few times. He breaks the surface of the water when he sees me coming to the tank with krill. It definitely hurts. I've got a 11ish inch male jag and it hurts less when the jag bites. Jag's name is Adolph Satan. He's earned that name. The umbee is about 5 inches now, still the accidental bite hurts more.
AS far as aggression goes I will say this. First, in my experience, you can't ever predict the behavior of a fish based on species. They are all different. Of course species A might tend to be a little meaner/stronger/more territorial than species B, but in general, you can''t know.
That said, I think the majority of cichlid aggression is highly exaggerated. There are absolutely monsters out there. But In general, if they have space, the right food, and good water, they aren't impossible. I always very strongly believe that fish can be traumatized permanently. YOu ever see those videos of large wild caught dovii ramming the glass when someone bangs the glass? Or taunts the fish/gets the fish riled up by jamming a net into the water? Well. That fish will probably be extremely afraid. People often brag about how smart dovii are, they can even remember people, etc. But usually scoff at this idea. A wild caught dovii, or any large cichlid, is probably fully aware that they are in a glass box. That is to say, they understand that they are restricted in terms of moving to escape from potential harm. A dovii in a 2000 gallon tank will not react to those agitations the same way he would in a 55. So I think that they can be permanently affected by this type of thing. And since there's not much space, they do their best to defend it. Hence *some* mixing problems.
I once had a salvini, beautiful adult male. I traded him in to an LFS at the behest of my spouse, and he was [wrongly] put in a tank with a buttikoferi twice his size. He was attacked. It's been a year. He's still at the store, never has regained his color. He buries himself under gravel when you approach the tank. He's afraid.
Long tangent, but what I mean to say is that they are wonderful, fun, intelligent creatures. The umbee is definitely the most aggressive cichlid for his size/age that I've raised. Normally you see that behavior later on. But I still don't think they are impossible to mix. My umbee is in a growout with a pearl gourami, a moonlight gourami, and a few odessa barbs. Irresponsible? probably, but even though I see aggression, I don't feel like my fish are in any danger. Obviously he will be far too big for fish like that very soon, but even so, i'm not uncomfortable. Now, they do get a lot more aggressive around the 12'' mark. But again, I think it's relative. It's often overstated, and it's easily preventable.
If you like the umbee for his beautiful color and nothing else, don't get one. If you want a pretty blue thing to look at, get a painting. If you are intrigued by their intelligence, curiosity, and bold/active behavior, and you can house him for life given his adult size, then get one. They are mind-blowing creatures in a league all their own.
AS far as aggression goes I will say this. First, in my experience, you can't ever predict the behavior of a fish based on species. They are all different. Of course species A might tend to be a little meaner/stronger/more territorial than species B, but in general, you can''t know.
That said, I think the majority of cichlid aggression is highly exaggerated. There are absolutely monsters out there. But In general, if they have space, the right food, and good water, they aren't impossible. I always very strongly believe that fish can be traumatized permanently. YOu ever see those videos of large wild caught dovii ramming the glass when someone bangs the glass? Or taunts the fish/gets the fish riled up by jamming a net into the water? Well. That fish will probably be extremely afraid. People often brag about how smart dovii are, they can even remember people, etc. But usually scoff at this idea. A wild caught dovii, or any large cichlid, is probably fully aware that they are in a glass box. That is to say, they understand that they are restricted in terms of moving to escape from potential harm. A dovii in a 2000 gallon tank will not react to those agitations the same way he would in a 55. So I think that they can be permanently affected by this type of thing. And since there's not much space, they do their best to defend it. Hence *some* mixing problems.
I once had a salvini, beautiful adult male. I traded him in to an LFS at the behest of my spouse, and he was [wrongly] put in a tank with a buttikoferi twice his size. He was attacked. It's been a year. He's still at the store, never has regained his color. He buries himself under gravel when you approach the tank. He's afraid.
Long tangent, but what I mean to say is that they are wonderful, fun, intelligent creatures. The umbee is definitely the most aggressive cichlid for his size/age that I've raised. Normally you see that behavior later on. But I still don't think they are impossible to mix. My umbee is in a growout with a pearl gourami, a moonlight gourami, and a few odessa barbs. Irresponsible? probably, but even though I see aggression, I don't feel like my fish are in any danger. Obviously he will be far too big for fish like that very soon, but even so, i'm not uncomfortable. Now, they do get a lot more aggressive around the 12'' mark. But again, I think it's relative. It's often overstated, and it's easily preventable.
If you like the umbee for his beautiful color and nothing else, don't get one. If you want a pretty blue thing to look at, get a painting. If you are intrigued by their intelligence, curiosity, and bold/active behavior, and you can house him for life given his adult size, then get one. They are mind-blowing creatures in a league all their own.
Thanks for the information, im in the fortunate situation to be able to house it for life and it is a species that has really captivated me, its great to hear that people have nothing but good things to say about it. It really has affirmed to me that its adirection im wantingto go in
Clayton, perhaps you won't agree but:
I truly believe that sometimes an animal 'calls us'. I think that in some way, a certain creature will captivate a certain person because on a metaphysical level, they are compatible. If that makes sense...?
Anyway, if you feel this strongly; get one. It sounds to me like you would make a great umbee keeper. I'm sure there are others who could chime in ahem who have more experience with umbees. My experience with cichlids in general, however, has never let me down.
I truly believe that sometimes an animal 'calls us'. I think that in some way, a certain creature will captivate a certain person because on a metaphysical level, they are compatible. If that makes sense...?
Anyway, if you feel this strongly; get one. It sounds to me like you would make a great umbee keeper. I'm sure there are others who could chime in ahem who have more experience with umbees. My experience with cichlids in general, however, has never let me down.
I want to see photos of this fish when you get him. Nothings quite as impressive as a fully developed predator with space to swim and it sounds like you've got what it takes to facilitate that. From where would one buy an umbriferum in the UK?
Thanks man. To be honest i have no idea, iv looked and asked on a couple of local forums as to which im still waiting for a reply. Id really like to get an f1 specimen or (very unlikely) wild caught. Patience is probably going to be key and keeping my eyes pealed as an umbee is not a very common fish over here. If anybody knows of any one selling them in the uk id really appreciate a heads up
IMO keeping a cichlid from the wild is cruel as it has once known the outside world only to be captured and contained i a tank one millionth the size of what it once knew. with store bought cichlids they have only ever known the 4 walls of an aquarium. Am i missing something? why is 'lineage' of such importance to people? a captive umbee is the same kind of fish as a wild caught one?
Your probably quite correct right on the wild caught front but lineage is important to people just as pedigree's are important to some dog owners. If i am going to pay money for a fish and dedicate a large tank to one specimen, not to mention the energy bills and general cost of running a large tank id like to know the fish im paying for is the one im getting. It's personnel preference but if i get an f1 specimen i BELEIVE im going to get a better looking fish, less chance of disease because of hybridisation and the chance of the fish reaching its full potential because again less chance of hybrids. Im not saying im right, its just my preference and knowing that its come from wild parents makes me more confident of the fish im getting. Im again not saying im right just what makes me feel more comfartable