Blue Spot Cichlid (african, however...)

[ShadowP]

I have the opportunity to purchss a few fine looking Blue Spot Cichlids, Paratilapia polleni. These being african cichlids, max size in the wild 11.2" for males and half that for females..They are from Madagascar and very well tolerate a ph range of 6.5 to 8, water hardness from only moderately soft to hard wster 8*-25* . Temp range 72F - 82F and has been found surviving in waters in the wild as warm as 104F,
They do, however, have a tendency to hybridize and can become very territorial when spawning.
All things considered, they seem compatible with what I am considering doing.
So here's the question.
Have any of you successfully kept a pair of these fish with Electric Blue Jack Dempsey?
I have two 75 gal tanks at the ready.
Suggestions, and comments would be greatly appreciated from those who have kept them (these are large spot variety).

 

[Buphy]

Well as I understand it, Paratilapia species are some what debated right now. I have what was originally labeled as a P. Bleekeri in with my JD and EBJD. While seeming more territorial than either, over all the 3 get along just fine in my 55 for now. My bleekeri seems to have more of a beef with my normal JD than my EBJD, which is understandable, but it's normally just charging when he enters his territory. If the JD doesn't leave (which he doesn't cuz he dont give af) he turns to "pecking" it the JD sides and gills. From another member I'm hearing that's a normal thing, they like to "fight cheap" from the sides or behind. My EBJD, when not caught off guard and from the side, will square off and the bleekeri decides better. I'll now stop my long rambling rant! ^.^

 

[ShadowP]

Well as I understand it, Paratilapia species are some what debated right now. I have what was originally labeled as a P. Bleekeri in with my JD and EBJD. While seeming more territorial than either, over all the 3 get along just fine in my 55 for now. My bleekeri seems to have more of a beef with my normal JD than my EBJD, which is understandable, but it's normally just charging when he enters his territory. If the JD doesn't leave (which he doesn't cuz he dont give af) he turns to "pecking" it the JD sides and gills. From another member I'm hearing that's a normal thing, they like to "fight cheap" from the sides or behind. My EBJD, when not caught off guard and from the side, will square off and the bleekeri decides better. I'll now stop my long rambling rant! ^.^

Much appreciated, thanks...anything on hybridizing with EBJD? Seems possible since compatible sizes and similar aggressiveness. Afterall, it is claimed in many arenas that EBJD are a hybrid, and due to the almost totally non-virile spawnings EBJD x EBJD, I tend to agree, since a pure recessive non hybrid would/should yield low #s of fry... not NO #s of fry.

 

[Buphy]

I actually was curious about that but found nothing really. + idk what gender mine is. I know for sure my JD is male (or as sure as I can be from just looking at his scaling patterns) and I think my EBJD is male too. Think you could confirm, you said my smaller EBJD was female.

 

[ShadowP]

I actually was curious about that but found nothing really. + idk what gender mine is. I know for sure my JD is male (or as sure as I can be from just looking at his scaling patterns) and I think my EBJD is male too. Think you could confirm, you said my smaller EBJD was female.

if you're talking about the second fish you showed as comparison having the longer dorsal and anal fins, let alone the faster growth rate... absolutely a male. Much better true to species form too, and an acceptable breeder, though maybe not top notch show quality... he's got some growing to do before you'll really know. Mine are in my avatar, male behind, female front.and here's my male at 1 yr old.

Yours may color up to this intensity, or he might not, but your male has good overall form.
Note the dorsal on Pride here.. got it severely split when he was much smaller and picked a fight with one of the angels.... lol... they were paired and ganged up on him. Trimmed it Jan 7th this year and its almost back to perfect competition form.

He's a horny bugger though. Near his sexual peak (actually just starting it) which is why I think the hybrid situation with a blue spot is possible moreso than totally out of the question. I like the form of the blue spot, and if a good breeding prog can pull off electric blue spot, the payoff could be tremendous.

 

[Buphy]

That was the one I was referring too. Never a show fish but I love him and he's actually the "meanest" in my tank. Sadly his tail got damaged when my old jewels spawned and my lack of water quality at the time caused what I've been told is scaring more or less.

Anyways, my vote is go for it. The beautiful silky black they get is stunning and brings out the spots even more. I've had fine luck with it and would love to know if other people have the same experience.

 

[ShadowP]

That was the one I was referring too. Never a show fish but I love him and he's actually the "meanest" in my tank. Sadly his tail got damaged when my old jewels spawned and my lack of water quality at the time caused what I've been told is scaring more or less.

Anyways, my vote is go for it. The beautiful silky black they get is stunning and brings out the spots even more. I've had fine luck with it and would love to know if other people have the same experience.

Just what I was thinking... not exactly sure why I was seeking someone to push me off the dock to get my feet wet.
Was very concerned about the safety of my EBJD pair though. Competition quality fish like those two are few and far between at present. I plan on changing that with their progeny.

 

[duanes]

The chance of a Paratilapia hybrid with JD is practically nonexistant.
Paratilapia lay grapelike clusters of pink eggs that they hang on roots and the like, JDs are substrate spawners, they lay plaques of eggs on flat surfaces.
Info that says Paratilapia hybridize easily, is because they hybridize within their own genus. example
A polleni may easily breed with species "Andapa"(large spot) or another variant.
below is "Andapa"

This happened in the past because many thought Paratilapia contained only 1 or 2 species (or variants) and weren't able to tell hem apart.
I find alpha Paratilapia can get very aggressive within its own species but not so much with other species. I've had adult males kill all other Paratilapia in tanks 150 gallons and larger. My last pair was in a 500 gal, and the female was in constant danger.
Here is a video of a quartet of P polleni "small spot" in a 120, before they were moved to larger quarters. click pic to start

 

[neutrino]

The chance of a Paratilapia hybrid with JD is practically nonexistant.
Info that says Paratilapia hybridize easily, is because they hybridize within their own genus. example

This happened in the past because many thought Paratilapia contained only 1 or 2 species (or variants) and weren't able to tell hem apart.

+1 Pretty far fetched for them to hybridize with CA imo. They are considered by some biologists to be somewhat distantly related, so won't say impossible and stranger things have happened, but it would be big news if it did imo.

 

[ShadowP]

Paratilapia lay grapelike clusters of pink eggs that they hang on roots and the like, JDs are substrate spawners, they lay plaques of eggs on flat surfaces/QUOTE]
So that wasn't you snapping your fingers with him attacking "on command"?
Excellent video indicating the strength of his bite and overall aggressiveness. Thank you VERY much!
Not sure of accuracy of info source, but I read they prefer the grapelike custer spawning on exposed roots, but have been known to spawn on flat diagonal surfaces in the absence of them. If ever the cross species hybrid could be achieved, it seems by what you have shown, it will have to be male EBJD x female Paratilapia.
Who knows?