Updated Beani Pics

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Thanks guy, sorry haven't been on in a while.

To answer your questions, it's a Beani haha (ex-cichlasoma I believe?? Might have changed)

I haven't taken him out and given him exact measurements but I'm guessing head to tip on tail probably between 10 and 12 inches or so.

Yes I had a really bad case of bloat a couple years ago when he hit 5 inches. Got some great help from a couple guys on here and cured him.

Igor him from Gage Brady. He was in a 180 gallon tank with 2 other Beani (1 male and 1 female, brother and sister) and he killed his brother and almost killed the sister so I gave her away. There was also a male and female umbee growing up with him and he killed the male and ALMOST paired off with the female who was bigger than him at the time. Was so stoked on that, but I came home from work one day and he had killed her. So I probably won't try to pair him off with anything anytime soon until I can get a proper breeding setup.

For some reason he hates any fish that get over a certain size other than plecos. I tried a red devil. He was fine with it until it hit 4 inches then he killed it.
He's living with 4 fancy plecos (three beacon, goldy, galaxy, royal) and a common pleco which he is completely fine with. There is also a red tail cat in the tank as well and they get along great.

Ill probably catch some heat from some of the members on here for having the RTC, but I've always wanted one and I finally had the tank space to keep one for a decent amount of time before he out grows it.

I am buying land this August and will be building a house and a custom tank to house everything. thinking Of doing an indoor pond in the garage for the RTC and some other large oddballs.

Would like to go around 500-600 gallons and hopefully house more than just the Beani in there. Would love an umbee, but I have a feeling that would never work out haha


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I will try and post more pics soon.
I'm gonna redo the wood and rock work here, been putting it off for a while. I was having tannin issues and just got them figured out so the water is crystal clear now.

He is super shy.likes to hide alot which sucks for taking pics. Have to stand at the tank for an hour sometimes just to get 3 or 4 good pictures.


Anyone know if I were to take his hiding spots away if it would stress him out real bad?? I want him to be more social, but I don't want to cause any serious issues.


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any updates?
Curious, Was the bloat due to its genetics or maybe some environmental stress/diet that could have triggered it?
Also wondering if whether you used epsom salt soaked-pellets or force feeding/metro to save him.

Im taking all precautionary measures I can with mine :)


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@Endo

I'm gonna do a water change and redo the aqua scape sometime this week when I have time, so ill take some pics then!

And yeah, I made the mistake of buying some Boxing Day sale bala sharks from big als to put some life into the tank. Never thought he'd be able to catch them, but he picked them all off and that's how he got bloat.

I did the Epsom salt trick and it worked great.

I still throw Epsom salts in every now and again, and when I do water changes just to keep stress down. Don't know if its helping any, but he hasn't gotten sick since haha.

From what I understand, when the hit around 4 inches that is their "vulnerable" time. Mine was fine until 4 inches and that's when he got it so I stand to believe it. Whether it was just coincidence that that's the same time he ate all the bala's I'll never know. Could have been a mixture of both, but yeah who knows.

He's been pretty bullet proof since. His temperament has gone down tenfold too. Doesn't bother any of my fancy plecos, the convict or the RTC. Everything kind of just sticks to themselves. Not sure why, cause from what I've always known/heard they get 10x more aggressive with size. But I like him that way. I have a decently lively tank with no battles going in so I'm happy lol


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Thanks for getting back to me and providing the helpful info, looking forward to the pics
I think im going to post some pics of mine now :)
 
Cool man, ill have to check it out.

Beani is still hiding out after moving everything. He ratched up his scales on one side of himself which kinda sucks. So as soon as he comes out ill put up some pics.

Got a new waterproof case for my phone so I can get some underwater shots now!! Haha


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There seems to be 2 (at least) races/location variants of beani. Each from different river systems. It was thought one got more algae in its diet, another thought was they are in a state of evolutionary speciation, because of the river system separation.
Seems I have the different variation from yours. Very similar temperament though, he is the alpha, and will also kill anything that hits a similar size. Have not had bloat issues, but I keep them at very cool temps, between 68"F winter to low to mid 70s summer.
I have him with a female, but divided
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the female, about half the size she is now.
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male. full shot
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