Parachromis Folks - Looking for input -

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dr exum

dr exum

Goliath Tigerfish
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Sep 29, 2007
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I’ve never really explored Cichlids,

Just stumbled on to these, I’ve kept Dovii years back and do not have an 8’ tank to put one in, currently have a few juvi Jags…

I’m interested in the Red Tiger Mota and La Cieba -

I’ve cleared out 3-5 medium tanks and have 4-5 smaller holding qt tanks for individuals and fry

Looking for a lil guidance / experience with folks have keeping these, is it solo / pair only or folks have in community set ups?

I saw a Red Tiger Mota it seemed a male with a few females…

I’ve seen Jags in bigger tanks in community set ups ….

I’ve been think keeping boys / girls separate and using a 150g i have for pair activity -

i’ve stocked up on dithers and have plenty a SD on hand -

Thanks all!

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Parachromis are straightforward and break down into two broad groups….some say three.

Jags and Dovii are the brutes and will need large tanks accordingly. Jags, being smaller are easier to mix in communities and are also the most common species to find. Care is straightforward and they’ll live/breed in any water as long as it is clean…they are found primarily in Honduras and Nicaragua. Leo in mind that males can still get up to 16-18”.

dovii need larger setups given their eventual adult size and are very aggressive as a rule, though exceptions have been well documented. Given their size, should be reserved for ideally a 300 gallon or larger. That said, many keep pairs in 72x24” tanks for life. Key is staying on top of water quality of course and decor being at a minimum in such a small tank. They are found primarily in Nicaragua and Costa Rica. Dovii are the true brutes of the cichlid world rivaling temensis bass and emperors cichlids for the title of largest cichlid species.

the second group include the Multifasciatus (formerly Friedrichshtali), Motaguense,and arguably the La Cieba since they are lumped in as a variant of Multifasciatus….though many feel they deserve to be their own species. Let the ichthyologist figure that out. Multifasciatus are straightforward and their care is just like the jag in a smaller, bright yellow package. They are found from southern Mexico down to Guatemala and Belize.

Motaguense, are a bit trickier and more sensitive to poor water conditions. This is the soecies among the Parachromis most likely to get bloat as juveniles. It’s important to include a lot of roughage in their diet like chitin from the shells of insects or a blend of veggies in their pellets. They also come from water with more flow. These are medium growing fish andget to about the same size as the Multifasciatus…about a foot long for males.

the last group, if you believe it doesn’t belong with the second group, is the Friedrichshtali (formerly Loisellei). These are the most southern species of Parachromis found primarily in Costa Rica and Panama. These are also the smallest species andand Males average 10-11”. Thought tk be the most docile (which has been my experience as well), theycan be mixed with better with the medium sized, less aggressive CA cichlid tankmates. Of course, that also depends on how much room you have in the tank.

all species will breed as soon as they hit sexual maturity which is early….with most species being able to sex out and mature at a fraction of their adult size…think somewhere in the 4.5-5” range, with Motaguense being the only exception to that rule. Temps are straightforward and can range from 74-82 degrees Fahrenheit . 76-80 being better. Or 78 if you split the difference. Water params aren’t crucial but they do prefer water slightly harder than neutral…more on the alkaline side.

for pairs,my opinionfor minimum tank size for adults would be 75-90 for the three smaller species and a 150-180 for the Jags. Dovii 240. Now I know I’m inviting controversy and really don’t feel like arguing with other members who disagree. This is just my opinion.

pair bonds are relatively stable. I mean that in a relative sense since CA cichlids as a rule have terrible pair bonds. That said, I’ve found them to be more stable than Amphilophus, Mesoheros, even Thorochthys. Many breeders will use an incomplete or full divider to breed them. I hate the look of dividers, so I choose to fashion hideouts and caves large enough for the female, but too small for males. If your goal is to breed instead of a display, go with the divider method. It’s the surest way toprotect whoever partner is weaker. (It’s not always the female that gets whacked).

Feeding is easy, care is straightforward. And they are among the easiest cichlids to breed. They require very little effort as long as you follow the basics.

there was a long period in my hobby where I was obsessed with Parachromis. That’s largely why I set up a tank with them again after a long hiatus. You’ll enjoy them. PM me if I could be of anymore assistance.

on a final note, there will be people here who disagree with me. And I really don’t have the energy to debate, argue, or prove anything. This has been my experience and I have a lot of it.

hope this helps.
 
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Didn’t mention anything on communities. My bad.

overall, all the species can mix in a community if the tank is large enough. A lot of folks will overcrowd their tanks and it works for them as long as they keep water quality up. If you’re not one who is a fan of overcrowding, I’d recommend that you are deliberate in your planning.

with the exception of Dovii, the rest can mix well with other species. Robust speciesin The Amphilophus, Vieja, Maskaheros, larger Herichthys species, and Chuco work and the temperaments ar matched well. I’d mix the “types” of cichlids being careful not two add another species that occupies largely the same niche. For instance, mixing a Chiapaheros Grammodes with a Freddy is inviting trouble. That is, unless your tank is large enough for both species tk carve out their territories. I like mixing fish that occupy different niches and have found that they’ll largely ignore one another most of the time. Obviously the three smaller species mix with others the best.

lots of folks like mixing Jags with the bruisers of the Amphilophus family like soecies in the Midas complex. This is also Biotope corret. Midas are real glass bangers and if you get some, I promise you’ll love their charm.

JD’s, GT’s are not the best mixes for them but it’s done often and more often than not, you can make it work in larger tanks. But most often,those two species will be low man on the totem pole.
 
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Lots of great info above.
My only add would be that I have never been able to keep adult pairs in anything smaller than one pair to a 6 ft tank for any length of time.
They could grow out to about half size in tanks like 75s, but not able to maintain a permanent pair bond without enough space.
Where dither fish work in keeping many cichlids calmer, Parachromis eventually just eat them.
Some young "Ceiba" below
And trying to keep any Parachromis with subordinate cichlids like GTs, or JDs usually deesn't end well for the non-parachromis, they are just not equipt to deal with the jaw strength, and instinctual territoriality.
With other similar apex types like X Parachomis grammodes, or Nandopsis, its too close to equal ground to call whose left standing in the aftermath of inevitable territorial battles .
 
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After having a 10" male jag in a 8 foot tank with 6 other 6-10" cichlids, and then have it be a passive jag that claimed 4 feet of the tank, I personally wouldn't put a male jag in with other cichlids in a 6 foot tank. Something about a jag hovering in its territory and the other cichlids crammed into 4 foot of space, just didn't look right to me. Of course, at another time I had a 6" GT be a piss-ant and terrorize 6 other cichlids much larger than itself in the same 8 foot tank.

That 6 foot tank with males is a gamble in the first 3 years
 
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mrrobxc said:
Didn’t mention anything on communities. My bad.

overall, all the species can mix in a community if the tank is large enough. A lot of folks will overcrowd their tanks and it works for them as long as they keep water quality up. If you’re not one who is a fan of overcrowding, I’d recommend that you are deliberate in your planning.

with the exception of Dovii, the rest can mix well with other species. Robust speciesin The Amphilophus, Vieja, Maskaheros, larger Herichthys species, and Chuco work and the temperaments ar matched well. I’d mix the “types” of cichlids being careful not two add another species that occupies largely the same niche. For instance, mixing a Chiapaheros Grammodes with a Freddy is inviting trouble. That is, unless your tank is large enough for both species tk carve out their territories. I like mixing fish that occupy different niches and have found that they’ll largely ignore one another most of the time. Obviously the three smaller species mix with others the best.

lots of folks like mixing Jags with the bruisers of the Amphilophus family like soecies in the Midas complex. This is also Biotope corret. Midas are real glass bangers and if you get some, I promise you’ll love their charm.

JD’s, GT’s are not the best mixes for them but it’s done often and more often than not, you can make it work in larger tanks. But most often,those two species will be low man on the totem pole.
Click to expand...
Your post, here and Instagram are always the most informative and helpful and breathtaking.
Love seeing you active here!
 
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Such good info, thank you both!

Going to keep the research going.

Do male / female pairs have to be introduced young and grow up together? I’m trying to separate genders right now to keep the peace, I’m wondering if this may be a misstep if i would like breeding later?

Thanks all ??
 
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dr exum said:
Such good info, thank you both!

Going to keep the research going.

Do male / female pairs have to be introduced young and grow up together? I’m trying to separate genders right now to keep the peace, I’m wondering if this may be a misstep if i would like breeding later?

Thanks all ??
Click to expand...
I’d grow them out together. The bonds they form on their own are often better than the ones we try to force.
 
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