Umbee tankmates...

[SimonL]

Hello all, just discovered that my 12" male Umbee is totally benevolent towards bottom dwelling tankmates. He harassed other cichlids, but ignores bichirs, a giraffe cat and plecos. Anyone else try similar combos? I realize this may not last, but it's pretty cool for the moment.

Tank's a 125.

 

[Crotalus Scutulatus]

Yeah back in the day, way back, I had a female jag at around 12" who tortured anything that was in the tank. It was tolerant of the bichirs though. For about I year I tried several tankmates all were brutally attacked. Keep in mind this was a 120g. I finally left her only with 2 bichirs for another year before pairing her. Once I did that I removed the bichirs. Thought it was weird too! Even more crazy Umbee!

 

[Freshwaterpredators]

That's because umbees get huge and need alot of room. You prolly would have same results in a tank twice that size. Once they hit around 12" you won't be able to keep them with anything other than a female and most likely need a divider

 

[SimonL]

So I keep hearing and hence my surprise at seeing him co-habitating with the polys and giraffe cat.

 

[Freshwaterpredators]

Hey good luck tho umbees are very awesome!! I hope he settled down for ya

 

[shamrock]

So I keep hearing and hence my surprise at seeing him co-habitating with the polys and giraffe cat.

Probably doesnt see them as a threat. Usually Cichlids are mean to other cichilds and leave others alone. Then again I have had psychos that hated everything including myself.

 

[DMD123]

Probably doesnt see them as a threat. Usually Cichlids are mean to other cichilds and leave others alone. Then again I have had psychos that hated everything including myself.

My Midas has no problems with other cichlids that are smaller than him, he does not see them as any threat. He is 9.5" and has always left alone small newcomers. His tankmates include a 2" Red Tiger Mota and a 2.5" Jack Dempsey. In the past I have also introduced small Vieja type fish which he ignores. The JD ended up killing them!

My Midas does however hate my 8" pleco and fights with him. He also picks on 2 of my 5 silver dollars. How and why he manages to single out those 2 all the time I dont know.

Sometimes the strangest combos are the ones that work.

 

[Polyptasaurus]

I've noticed this with other fish as well. It seems as though cichlids will harass and fight other fish, but seem to leave the bottom dwellers alone. I've also never had a cichlid bother an eel. Strange.