They are not overrated. The hobby has been inundated with so many substandard mutants that are peddled as F0 by unscrupulous opportunist looking to cash in on their beauty and popularity. Everyone wants to jump into breeding them without any idea of the patience and care that's required. If you want a glass banging, interactive, feisty at a young age, wet pet, don't get a Festae.
Correction, average to below average Festae are everywhere. If you want a kaleidascope of colors get a Festae, if you want outgoing personality go with a Cuban. In other words Festae=Color TV, Cubans=B/W TV.
An adult male Dovi or Festae will not coexist with other fish in just a 125. They get too big and their attitude grows with them.
Cubans haven't been as over-exploited. Dedicated Festae collectors are frustrated by the continual perpetuation of substandard specimens. I am speaking of people who sell/breed Parrot-Beaked, Camel-Humped, Snippy-Mouthed, Bar-less, washed-out, fish and get congratulated for doing so. Sadly, the gene pool for super quality Festae has suffered massive shrinkage in the last few years.
Its not hard to find them. If you're not a student of them, become one and quit relying on propaganda. Don't just be taken in by color or by a sellers perceived reputation. Try to buy from collectors. They are more educated and scrupulous than vendors/wholesalers or people with a pair that happen to breed. They also are more likely to have several strains and healthier stock. So you can start out with un-related stock and avoid inbreeding which is what the average hobbyist does when he buys a group from one set of parents.
