Umbee cichlid, ~14", in 4500 gal

[thebiggerthebetter]

Toyin of Rehoboth Aquatics transferred this umbee cichlid to us ~1.5 years ago. It was about 7" and grew to about 9" in a few of our 240 gal tanks. It was a bit challenging to find compatible tank mates for it in 240 gal. Either it would harass them, even some as aggressive as purple Labeo, or they would as was the case with Asian red tail catfish.

It's done much better in a 4500 gal, where it has been for about 8-10 months now and reached ~14". It became ~completely relaxed. Every now and then it may get into a tiny argument with a ~14" flowerhorn. It appears to prefer high quality pellets to cheaper pellets, which it still takes, and to thawed fish.

 

[moe214]

Wonder if a dovii would behave in there as well lol. Nice write up as always. Umbees are gorgeous fish

 

[lunsforj]

My guess is it would. Especially in that situation, where there is a ton of dithers and no physical structure to claim.

 

[Kayzee]

Wow those are some true monsters in that thing. I don't really know what the purpose is but seems pretty dam epic.

 

[DarylMac]

Sweet pool!

 

[juddb]

Wow, thats awesome. A female may cause some issues but an way beautiful fish

 

[MP_cichlid]

very nice

 

[thebiggerthebetter]

Thanks all! Much appreciate it.

Wow those are some true monsters in that thing. I don't really know what the purpose is but seems pretty dam epic.

The purpose is to hoard fish and charge admission

 

[thebiggerthebetter]

Our umbee called it quits.

It got sick about a year ago when its left eye ballooned horrendously after hurricane Irma. I thought the hurricane has blown in some water from the wild, also wild things made their way into the tank filter of 15,000 gal that was left unprotected for many months and that was the entry point of infection or other pathogens.

I thought for sure it wasn't going to make it but it proved me wrong. I was so glad. Now recently I rehomed some wild fish (after rigorous treatment) into the tank - walking catfish, blue tilapia, and a mayan cichlid - and after a few weeks umbee's lips ballooned as badly. It short order of a few weeks, it perished.

IDK if this was a coincidence and just that the old infection returned or what. Just reporting in case this is relevant. The fish was beautiful and grew to 1.5'. It has been with us 3 years.

 

[duanes]

Looks like atrophy from the bacteria called columnaris in the photos.