Which Amph?

[FIU Panther]

I know this has been beaten to death, but I'm looking for a great wet pet/breeding pair for the living room show tank (125g). I'd like something that's interactive and eye catching so I'm leaning towards Amphilophus Citrinellus as it seems to be the most popular suggestion, but I'm wondering if I'm overlooking a must have. I'd really like to have a tall big bodied brute (prefer the tall stocky bodies of the Midas over the elongated large lipped Red Devils). I also like Hogaboomorum, but those seem impossible to find.

My second question would be besides the local fish store what's the best option to secure good stock? Jeff Rapps? It seems like buying from my local shop I'll probably end up with a Midevil.

Lastly, is the best way to obtain a great breeding pair/specimen to start with 6 1"-2" fish and let them sort it out?

 

[cichlidfish]

My choice would be trimac. Jeff Rapp's would be the place to buy IMO.
You really can't go wrong w/ any amph.

 

[dan518]

Agree with this ^^^
Getting 6 juvi fish is a great way to get a pair, but it does require alot of patients, especially if you only have the one tank.

 

[FIU Panther]

I ended up ordering 6 trimacs and 4 sajicas from Jeff Rapps this morning. Trimacs will be grown out in the 125 and the sajicas in a 40b.

I'll make a separate thread to journal the grow outs once they arrive.

 

[dan518]

Look forward to it

 

[duanes]

You should be able to get Hogaboomeroom in Michigan. Not necessarily from LFSs, but the Michigan Cichid Association has many members that have access to rare Central Americans, There is also a guy named Place Pete who breeds hundreds of species in Michigan, he shows up at many of the cichlid club auctions, swap meets and meetings all over the midwest.
I have received everything from beanie, festae and Tomocichla from him. And he usually has juvies a very inexpensive rate, but also occasionally makes adults available.

 

[FIU Panther]

Awesome, I didn't need even think of reaching out to the MCA, I'll keep that in mind for sure for any future tanks I decide to start up. Thanks Duanes.

 

[duanes]

Sorry, spell check destroyed the name I wrote above, its PlecoPete (Peter Durkin)

 

[Alexxxxsv14]

Sorry, spell check destroyed the name I wrote above, its PlecoPete (Peter Durkin)

Do you have his email address ? I've been wanting red islantus for a while now
Does he ship ?

 

[duanes]

I usually get his Email off the gcca.net classified adds when they have an impending swap meet or auction. Don't know if he ships. He is from Detroit, if I am not mistaken.