Vieja Regani Pair

[Guenivere]

Oh I'd almost forgotten about the dog trying to play with/scaring the snot out of the fish. hmm, maybe I'll bring her to the LFS to help me decide (kidding) (mostly...)

 

[Guenivere]

Just thought I'd update - I picked up the regani today and you were all so very correct - I had nothing to worry about and the two as the only big cichlids in the tank was 100% the way to go. The female is pretty torn up, she didn't have anywhere to hide at the lfs and it shows, so she's still very timid but the male is bold as brass and twice as beautiful. Can't wait for the female to settle in and colour up (she's just enjoying having some private time right now!). The male and my dog had a good three hour stare-off, so I'm pretty sure he'll get enough stimulation outside the tank to keep him off his girl so I won't need target fish. Thanks again to everyone who threw the n their two cents, I really appreciate it.

 

[ragin_cajun]

Pictures!

 

[tlindsey]

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).

Welcome to MFK

 

[kewpiefishypewpie]

Just thought I'd update - I picked up the regani today and you were all so very correct - I had nothing to worry about and the two as the only big cichlids in the tank was 100% the way to go. The female is pretty torn up, she didn't have anywhere to hide at the lfs and it shows, so she's still very timid but the male is bold as brass and twice as beautiful. Can't wait for the female to settle in and colour up (she's just enjoying having some private time right now!). The male and my dog had a good three hour stare-off, so I'm pretty sure he'll get enough stimulation outside the tank to keep him off his girl so I won't need target fish. Thanks again to everyone who threw the n their two cents, I really appreciate it.

Wow awesome, I'm jealous! I agree, pictures! Such a gorgeous species.

 

[cichlidfish]

I would love pics too. I am very interested in keeping this species one day.

 

[adamsfishes]

Pics or it didn't happen.

 

[Guenivere]

None of these really do justice to the iridescent pink and teal colouring, but here he is. While I was uploading he went and got the female out of hiding but I wasn't fast enough to grab a pic before she retreated. You might be able to see the congo tetras and juvanile rotkeils in the pictures - I decided to give the community a shot and see what happened (literally had a net and holding tank beside me) and it paid off - he hasn't even looked at the tetras and lives very peacefully with the severum babies so far. It's still early yet, but I've emptied the holding tank for the moment. They have started digging and clearing out their spawning spot already

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*edited for spelling

 

[ragin_cajun]

It's pretty rare to see a breeding pair of Regani. Not usually this easy.

So now that we have some pics, you gotta hold your phone sideways, shoot some video, post it up on youtube, and post a link to your youtube channel on here.

Wanna see some spawnage.

"Went to the LFS, picked up a pair of Regani. Brought em home and they're spawning" Wish my LFS would get on the ball like that.

 

[Guenivere]

I think there must have been someone in the area who gave a collection of vieja to my LFS because there are a bunch of full grown rare varieties they're struggling to find space for, including two more breeding pairs (guttulatus and argentea). There were three regani to start but my guys tried to end the third wheel so they were relocated to a small tank with potted plants - which now that I think of it, means I could probably toss a few anubias in there and see if the sevs leave it alone! hmm, wouldn't that be neat! But it's definitly interesting that there were three mated pairs already formed up in the LFS.