Cuban cichlid info?

[rrcoolj]

They tend to be slower growers and can hold their own in a community tank, but I haven't kept them with any super aggressive centrals. I have a pair in a 180gal with some other centrals and so far they haven't caused many problems. A lot more bark than bite so far. Sexing can be near impossible until they pair up, unless you are able to vent. I had a group originally and a few I pegged out for females turned out to be male.

Pics of my pair from 6 months ago... when they were by themselves in a 55gal (Male was 4.5" and female was only 4" back then)

I have had the exact opposite experience. My cubans are more than happy to sink their little "teeth" into any cichlid big or small. My cubans had no trouble sharing a tank with a larger pair of midas and did some damage to the female when they got in fights. My male cuban is a tyrant and can only be housed with larger tankmates. They are defiantly all bite.

I believe I have one of the largest males on MFK...

I have to go to lengths to get them not to breed more often. I can't get rid of the fry locally!

I wish I had your luck! These guys seem like they are getting close but nothing ever results.

 

[badassmc]

Thanks heaps guys and by the way i am very envious of the cubans in these photos! spectacular, and that male looks huge. what size is he?
Also, if i try to breed them then i should get a group of juveniles right? i was wondering what is an optimal number. I know that 6 is probably best but you guys have owned and bred them before, so how did you get your pairs?

 

[tjrcf25]

Sexing is actually quite easy at a decent size. Look at your two fish, the male is obvious.

To breed mine, I crank up the heat to about 84 and increase the water changes.

Yes, these are easily sexed now. They weren't at all obvious until they paired off. The female was not black at all before and the male only recently started showing a little head. I have an 8 inch female that looks near identical to that male and she laid eggs last week. Before that I was 99% sure she was male.

 

[tjrcf25]

Thanks heaps guys and by the way i am very envious of the cubans in these photos! spectacular, and that male looks huge. what size is he?
Also, if i try to breed them then i should get a group of juveniles right? i was wondering what is an optimal number. I know that 6 is probably best but you guys have owned and bred them before, so how did you get your pairs?

He was only 4.5 inches in the picture and only 6 inches now.
Mine must not be aggressive since they are still fairly small compared to their tank mates