Synspilum

Bought two juvies today. They are going to be monsters. I hope they will be as nice as some of the google images I've seen. They are in the 90 gallon where my angels used to be. For two of them (if they get along) I was told we need a minimum of 125 gallons.

Was hard to get these pics, don't know why...

Yeah they get pretty big. Used to have a 12 inch pair myself.

They look great!I use to have some myself until I sold them to make room for other fish!I wish I could take pictures as good as you do.I'm crapy at taking pictures!

What sized tank did you guys keep yours in?

Mine were in a 140g,but mine were small about 3"to4" and wanted to grow them out,but at the time I had tomany fish and more fish coming in so I had to get rid of them to make room.If I had another big tank I would have kept them!

I had mine in a 75 wit a couple of big rocks and a flower pot on its side.

Oh wow, then maybe they'll be ok in the 90 permanently. Will wait and see.
I'll get me a flowerpot, good idea. Off to watch my new fish!

Ohh I love these always wanted some but never got around to it , I hope they grow amazingly and turn out into beauties.

Tell me there's NO WAY they are getting ready to spawn... Do you see what I do? I bought them unsexed and they are only juveniles... These are the clearest pics I could get. I KNOW I see breeding tubes, right???? The 1st two pics are of the larger fish, and the 3rd is the smaller one. Also, the bigger one has bitten the small one.

Looks like it

Looks like tubes to me!
Many fish do a little "dance/flash/wiggle" whatever you want to call it when they pair up. If you have been seeing any of this I would venture and say you are right on.

Thank you, I do think they are male and female. My husband said that I was crazy and that may be true but at least you see what I do. Was not expecting this after only having them a few hours.

Looks like it to me, too, and I'm the least experienced with cichlids of all here. Keep an eye on the proceedings and let us know what happens!
Glad you and your husband were able to come up with a good choice for the 90. My husband asks me from time to time why we can't put fish like yellow tangs in my 75G Corydoras tank! *lol*

Well you got me wanting these guys again. So I am picking up some F1 synspilum Saturday. They are from wild Jeff rapps stock. Cant wait to get them.

It stinks when you want more fish and don't have the tank space for them!

well hopefully when you get them tanks set and going I will be raising up a bunch of juvies. I will fix you up.

Terry wrote:

well hopefully when you get them tanks set and going I will be raising up a bunch of juvies. I will fix you up.

That would be awesome!Thanks Terry!

Terry wrote:

Well you got me wanting these guys again. So I am picking up some F1 synspilum Saturday. They are from wild Jeff rapps stock. Cant wait to get them.

I'm so excited about that. Hope you can post pics. I don't know wild Jeff rapps? I've been watching youtube videos of these fish and some of them look amazing!

BFinley wrote:

It stinks when you want more fish and don't have the tank space for them!

I know how that feels. There's two tanks on craigslist I am interested in and the person can't send photos and they don't live close to me. I think I'll be needing them.

My only update is that I've added a small clay pot to the tank hoping they will spawn on it. I really would be shocked if it was a viable spawn at this young of an age. We are both loving the fish, fun to watch and they come right up to the front of the tank to stare at you.

Shea Jeff Rapps is the owner of Tangledupincichlids.com. He is a great source of American Cichlids(Central and South). Lay that clay pot on its side. They will lay the eggs inside of the pot.

Oh no, I hope I didn't mess up. It's only 1/2 a clay pot.

That should work. I always used the 8 and 10 inch clays for my egg layers

Terry wrote:

Shea Jeff Rapps is the owner of Tangledupincichlids.com. He is a great source of American Cichlids(Central and South). Lay that clay pot on its side. They will lay the eggs inside of the pot.

I just looked at his website, your new guys are going to be MUCH nicer than mine. Wow!

The female is depositing her eggs on the driftwood at the back of the aquarium. The male doesn't want anything to do with that! Probably because she'll beat him up!

Nice I didn't get mine because my cutteri are going to spawn for me.