Vieja Regani Pair

[Guenivere]

Wow, I can't believe I can finally legitimately post here - I've been creeping this site for YEARS waiting to get a large tank - we just bought a house in the beginning of the year and I am the proud owner of a fully cycled 135 gallon (I have never loved my boyfriend more than when the words "go for it" slipped out of his mouth). I found a very good LFS in the area and was talking to the owner about how I wanted to see some breeding activity out of a larger cichlid when he showed me a pair of Vieja Regani that had come in and not done well in his 500 gallon new world tank, and told me that he needs a supplier for these guys and would be happy to buy the spawn if they come up. I bought them then and will be picking them up in the next few days, but I wanted to make absolutely sure the tank is pristine when they come home so I have waited a while. In the meantime, I've been researching like crazy to see what I can keep with these guys - I know they're TYPICALLY pretty laid back compared to other Vieja species, but they are also paired up so I am not expecting a total lack of aggression. I currently have 3 juvenile rotkeil severums (around 3") and 12 congo tetras in the tank - the 12 tetras were to make sure the tank was cycled enough to support actual live fish since I had never done a fishless cycle before and can go back to the LFS if necessary, but I'd consider keeping one or two of the rotkeil (depending on colour and whether they pair up). They were in my 70 gallon grow-out tank before I decided to make it into a planted tank, and are now enjoying some extra space - without tearing up all my new plants.

The question I have is this: Vieja/Paraneetroplus Synspilum is the fish that got me interested in keeping large cichlids in the first place, and I now have the opportunity to purchase 6 juveniles and let two of them pair off. Should I go for it and see if they can flourish with the breeding Regani in a 6' tank? Is ending up with two breeding pairs of Vieja a phenomenally bad idea to attempt when one pair is already established? And two pairs in the 135 with a single Rotkeil - too much bioload?

Tank specs: 135 gallon, 6', ammonia 0, nitrite 0, nitrate up to 10 by then end of the week.
1 Hang On Top built in filter (large), 1 FX6 and one sponge filter crammed into a decoration (because i have the bubbler anyways and why not).

Also, a very small consideration is that my husky loves to cram her nose up against the tank and interact with the fish - I'd love something that interacts back. I believe that will be the Synspilum more than the Regani, but I may be mistaken.

Any insight would be immensely appreciated, thanks guys!

P.S. If anyone lives in the Vancouver B.C. area and is looking for a Vieja/Paraneetroplus, I know a guy with paired as well as unpaired Argentina and Guttalutus for sale (too aggressive for my set up).

 

[ehh]

I know the aggression in syns can vary but in time the tank will be pretty cramped. Syns can put on some serious size.

 

[mrrobxc]

The 135 would be about right for the pair of regani. I wouldn't add other cichlids unless you go with a small group of the smaller species. Something robust like cryptoheros or amatitliana.

 

[Guenivere]

Thank you - I think I knew that, but I needed someone to tell me I was being crazy. I wouldn't put four oscars into a 135, this has the potential of being so much worse. I'll stick with the Regani and maybe a Jack Dempsey? Do they have a different enough body shape to avoid triggering the Regani's fight response?

 

[Guenivere]

Sorry, just got that last while I was hitting 'send' - hmm, both of those look very attractive - I'll see what the LFS can get in. Do you figure I should return the Severums?

 

[Tyler_Wentworth_150]

The pair alone will probably be most pleasing. Watching uninterrupted breeding behavior is my favorite part of fish keeping. How's the size difference in the pair?

 

[Guenivere]

Hmm, you've certainly given me much to think about. The male is around 7-7.5", the female is about 6". Still fairly young, but old enough that the male has driven off his competitors. I am slightly worried about him getting overly aggressive/fixated on her if they're the only ones in the tank - I'd heard that having a few target fish helps with this. I've most recently been looking at honduran red points as a possibility, but perhaps I should hold off and see how they settle into the tank before pulling the trigger on anything else. My inner four year old just wants one of every fish

I have been a little unsure of the specific species as well - from what I've read the typical regani would be accepting of a tank with a couple other fish but if I go with a single pair I'm starting to toy with the idea of bringing home the guttulatus instead.They are also paired and fighting for space in the LFS owners 500 gallon tank but they are quite outgoing and much more aggressive/assertive. Any thoughts on the joy of having a shy fish vs an outgoing one, particularly if they're the only two fish in the tank? Both of these pairs of vieja are in need of a good forever home, and both are pulling on my heartstrings. (shoulder-devil is whispering about getting another tank...)

 

[Chockful O Phail]

I'm under the impression that because Regani can get along with tank mates that you think it will be somewhat boring. There is a lot of room between dovii and guppy. Regani are still vieja and big cichlids, imho you should try them and see. If anything you could trade him for the guttulatus. Give the Regani a shot, hopefully they'll breed for you and you could at least trade them for food and stuff.

 

[Guenivere]

I'm under the impression that because Regani can get along with tank mates that you think it will be somewhat boring. There is a lot of room between dovii and guppy. Regani are still vieja and big cichlids, imho you should try them and see. If anything you could trade him for the guttulatus. Give the Regani a shot, hopefully they'll breed for you and you could at least trade them for food and stuff.

lol someone needs to put that on an official species description - Cichlids: Somewhere between a dovii and a guppy.
Good advice all around. You're right, I am somewhat hesitant about the reganI because of their more skittish behavior, but I understand that their attitude at the store is stress induced and not a reflection of their true personalities, just as the gutts' more aggressive nature is most likely due more to the need to stake a claim in a crowded tank than any real proven fighting instinct. It's too easy to see what we expect when looking at a species.
I think I'll give the baby rotkeils and the congos back to the LFS and see how the regani act alone; then if they need a target fish to divert attention or a dither of some sort to get them out of hiding I can play with my options at that point.
Thanks so much for the advice guys, I'll post pictures when they get home and settled down a bit.

 

[dan518]

In your size tank I think you would be better having the vieja as the only cichlids in there, with the regani you should be able to add some swordtails and have the tank as more of a biotope theme. The guttulatus should be alright with some swordtails as well just a bit more risk imo, but they would probably interact with your dog more. As you know all cichlids have there own personality but generally guttulatus are a bit more aggressive and out going then regani. With both sp make sure the female has a hiding place where she can get away from the male and you should be good. I have a pair of vieja in a 180 and the tank is far from boring