Woohoo! New fish from Rapps - Hoplarchus psittacus

  • We are currently upgrading MFK. thanks! -neo
M

michelle767

Feeder Fish
MFK Member
Nov 29, 2005
28
0
0
48
Philadelphia
Hi, all. I've been a member here for a long time, but haven't been very active. But I've been feeling the fish itch recently and just decided to get some new fish - and hopefully post on here a little more often.

For my birthday, my husband got me 4 juvie Hoplarchus psittacus, 1.5-2", from Rapps. They just arrived yesterday. So excited! I remember when they first started becoming more widely available several years ago and I thought how great they were but that they seemed really difficult to keep. But I was looking for a new fish recently and starting reading more about them and the care regimen seemed doable. Plus, I got F1's, which should be a bit easier to keep. My plan is to grow them out and hopefully get a pair - eventually I'll only have 1-2 in my tank. I'm already in love with these guys - and even at 1-2", they have loads of personality. 2 of them are buddies and always swim together, 1 does his own thing, and 1 has taken up residence in a rock cave and chases away the others if they come near.

They're in my 125g with the following stock:
2 Rotkeil severums (1M, 6-7", and 1F, 5-6")
1 Red-Gold Sev (5-6")
6 Redhead Tapajos (~4")
3 Clown Loaches
2 Cory Sterbai
1 L-066 King Tiger
1 L-114 Leopard Cactus (8-10")

So, any psittacus keepers out there? What can you tell me about them?
 
I can tell you that your tank will be overstocked very quickly now that you have psittacus. ;) Mine went from 1" to 5" in just a few months. My male is now over 7" and I've only had him since April of this year.

My group was very aggressive on one another once they hit the 4" mark or so. That's when I moved the biggest of the group into my 210 gallon tank and the rest I kept in my 150g until I sold them to John (snookn21).

The one I kept is doing well but he absolutely dominates a 210 gallon tank. He's in with a chocolate cichlid, three small pikes, and seven severums. I'd say it's pretty heavily stocked now due to the size of the psittacus and his boisterous nature.

I haven't noticed anything about them being particularly difficult. Like certain other larger SA cichlids, they do appear sensitive to water quality. Keep up on your water changes and feed them a good variety of foods. Mine basically eats anything. And start looking for a bigger tank! :)
 
They are beautiful and personable fish. Congrats!

As Ryan mentioned above, a 125 is not big enough for 4 psittacus in the long run. There is a remote chance that a compatible pair might be ok in a 125, but you are most likely going to end up with a single psittacus and a few tankmates.
 
Thanks, everyone, for the congrats and info.

peathenster;4623557; said:
As Ryan mentioned above, a 125 is not big enough for 4 psittacus in the long run.
Click to expand...

Yep. Like I said, I only plan to end up with one or two. I never intended to keep 4 - just thought it would be a good idea to start with 4 since I had to order them and have them shipped (never know what's going to happen in the shipping process) and they're so small (potentially more sensitive). Plus I really like to grow fish out and pick my favorite(s) to keep.

Honestly, I don't even care all that much if I get a pair. Or if some fish, say the rotkeil pair, have to go eventually. If I end up with one petlike psitt with a few tankmates, I'll be perfectly content.
 
michelle767;4624045; said:
Thanks, everyone, for the congrats and info.



Yep. Like I said, I only plan to end up with one or two. I never intended to keep 4 - just thought it would be a good idea to start with 4 since I had to order them and have them shipped (never know what's going to happen in the shipping process) and they're so small (potentially more sensitive). Plus I really like to grow fish out and pick my favorite(s) to keep.

Honestly, I don't even care all that much if I get a pair. Or if some fish, say the rotkeil pair, have to go eventually. If I end up with one petlike psitt with a few tankmates, I'll be perfectly content.
Click to expand...

You did the right thing by getting 4. At that size you want to make sure you get at least 1 male and you have plenty if time to make stocking changes later. Just let them grow for now and watch them in order to determine the sexes. Clean water is the key with this fish so keep up on water changes and you should be fine. If for some reason you luck out and get a pair, remove the others from the mix. I kept a single male in a 125 for years and he got along great with my Urau's, and Geo's. I wish I hadn't sold him to a fellow hobbiest.
 
i grew out a group of 5. they are very cool fish to see grow because they look almost exactly like they will at 1" as 12" lol. mine were never overly aggressive. i sold them when they were about 4-5" and kept the largest. still she never was very aggressive until she hit 10+". mines with a pair of severums, a few daemon and a small group of festivus
 
Welcome to the madness
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
MonsterFishKeepers.com
Top Bottom