Wild (ex)Cichlasoma Ornatums - Yes or No?

  • We are currently upgrading MFK. thanks! -neo

Purchase them, yes or no?

  • Total voters
    20
  • Poll closed .
Went to Wetspot during the sale and someone must have bought the bigger ones. The only ones that were left were .75", if that. Decided that it wasnt in the cards.

Thanks everyone for the insights and sharing of their experiences.

Greatly appreciated.
 
Sorry guys....I spoke too soon those were sold I didn't know until I got update from my warehouse today. I do have some coming in a couple of weeks, should be two sizes 1.5-2" and 3.5-4". The smalls will be $20 and the mediums will be around $50-60 depending on final shipping costs.
 
Had to bring this thread back up as I ended up getting some at Christmas time.

For those who have own(ed) ornatum, what temperatures have you had them in? I have heard multiple cases at 74-76 and also higher at 80-82.

I think I am going to put them in my Daemon tank, which is at 84-86.

Thoughts? Real life experiences would be great, but would love to hear rational theories if you havent never kept them.
 
I received 5 from wetspot about 3 weeks ago, keeping them mid seventies in a 55 gal as a grow out tank. I chose 70s after I did a little research on temps of the river they come from.
They were very aggressive with each other at first, even at around an inch, then added 4 Guianacara geayi about twice the size of the ornatum, this seemed to temper aggression almost immediately.
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duanes said:
I received 5 from wetspot about 3 weeks ago, keeping them mid seventies in a 55 gal as a grow out tank. I chose 70s after I did a little research on temps of the river they come from.
They were very aggressive with each other at first, even at around an inch, then added 4 Guianacara geayi about twice the size of the ornatum, this seemed to temper aggression almost immediately.
Click to expand...

Thanks for the reply, Duanes. Yours look great! Mine are currently in 80-ish and they are much lighter in color than yours. That being said, mine are super active and always begging for food. Very rarely do I see them hiding.

I am needing to move them in with my daemons, which I keep at 84-86. I have never kept this species before. Given my setups, they would round out my groups better if they were in with my daemons (2-3").

Would I be harming them? Unless they start to act a lot differently, it would be cool to try it out as we have the same group.

I am the n00b here so... What are your thoughts?
 
My biggest fear at temps of 82 or above is the disease ducklips (Flexibactor columnaris) which is most virulent above 82'F.
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Cichlids that are endemic to warmer waters, such as Nandopsis haitiensus may have resistance to it, but those endemic to cooler waters may not, such as the beani above, that died during a heat wave 2 summers ago..
 
I got two of them from Jeff Rapps a little over 2 years ago at 1/2 inch and the one I have left is just over 6 inches. By far the slowest growing cichlid I have ever had. It amazes me Mels have grown to 15 to 16 inches in only 4 years. At the rate mine is growing it should reach that size in a couple decades no problem:ROFL: With that being said they are beautiful cichlids and you should give them a try.
 
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