Salvini

[mdemers883]

Ok, here is the scenario. I have a 55g that has recently become open, so I am looking for a new fish to put in it. I have never owned a salvini so I have some questions. I have heard that they are very aggressive, but that is what I have heard, I would like some input from people that have owned them. I know personality can vary from fish to fish, but generally speaking what is their temperment? Are they shy or outgoing? Are they interactive with the owner/outside tank environment? Thanks for any input. Also I"m not sure if I posted this in the proper forum, so mods feel free to move it.


Mark

[Rex Karr]

Yes, a very aggressive fish. Better compared to a Red Devil than a Jack Dempsey. Males can reach 9" also. I think a lot of people under estimate their size. And they are usually very shy of people. Kind of like a young Dovii in that aspect.

I don't have a lot of experiance with these but the info I provided is accurate.

[mdemers883]

Thank you for the reply Rex. when you say they are shy with people, do you mean that if I come up to the tank that the salvini will hide, where as a red devil comes out to investigate? I'm just asking cause I like cichlids that are very interactive whether it be in a aggressive way or in a curious way.


Mark

[Rex Karr]

Yes, thats how they usually are. But I'd say they could eventually become accustome to their owner if enough time was spent helping them overcome their shyness.

[Dovii]

That is not true ur giving him rex! I have 6 salvini's and they are very nice against other members in the tank. But if some fishes are harassing them they will put on a aggressive mode and attack the harasser. They are more aggressiver against each other. My salvini's are NOT shy and they eat from my hand. And they dont panic if i put my hand in the tank.(like when moving stones and roots) They are VERY stupid when breeding. My salvini's have bred many times and still dont know how 2 take care of the eggs and frys. If they feel not secure enough they will eat the eggs and frys.

But this is just how mine salvíní's act. And where did u see that they grow up to 9 inches = 23 cm ??? My biggest salvini is now 15 cm and they dont get any bigger than 18 cm = 7"

[Rex Karr]

Dovii, they are typically a very nasty fish. I wouldn't consider keeping them in a community tank of less than 125g. And in most circumstances they are very shy. The same way Parachromis dovii can be (as I said in my previous post). But when kept in a community they will be much more outgoing, as yours are, Dovii. This is the same for any shy or skittish cichlid. And yes, males will reach 9" SL if properly cared for. Why do you think they only reach 7"?

[Dovii]

Check this out http://www.aquazoo.co.uk/Page.cfm/Type=Fish/ID=139

And believe me you are sooooo wrong about this http://www.cichlidforums.com/postimages/2003-03-24/9783-001.gif

And like you said : "I don't have a lot of experiance with these"

[Rex Karr]

When I say I haven't had a lot of experiance with a species, that generally means I've kept less than 10 of them. Not that I know nothing about them.

One of the best books around, Aqualog; South American Cichlids III, states 20 cm as the adult size. Thats 8 inches.

The "Fish Base" website (which is in my opinion the best site on the net for finding accurate info on a fishes size) gives 22 cm as the largest that they have recorded the species in the wild. Thats 9". You can view that here http://www.fishbase.org/Summary/SpeciesSummary.cfm?ID=4693&genusname=Cichlasoma&speciesname=salvini



And here is a very nice example of a male that would measure 8-9" easy and probably 10".

http://www.cichlidforums.com/postimages/2003-03-24/9786-001.jpg


But I should note that there are smaller races which typically only reach 7" at most.

[crickett]

I had a male and a female. The male used to belong to my friend, when he had him in a community tank with african cichlids, he was pretty outgoing. He grew to 5" and my friend sold me his tank and his fish. I separated his africans in with mine and put the salvini into a 30 gal tank. I bought a 3" female salvini to go with him. They proceeded to breed, but with little sucess. I found this tank very boring as they were alway shy and hiding even though I had giant danios as dithers in with them. I did notice that when my friend came to visit the salvini male seemed to recognize him and would come up to the glass--pretty cool. Then for some reason he got lethargic, sick from an unknown illness and died. I ended up putting the female into my 55 gallon cichlid community. The 55 gallon has a 7" Green Terror male she is in love with. So now she is much more fun to watch as she is always displaying the the GT. He is known to chase her back into her "cave" inside a resin tree stump after she bugs him enough. The other cichlids are a 4" blood parrot and a 3" lifalli jewel. The jewel and the salvini have tied into it, but nothing serious so far. Mainly the GT keeps the salvini "in her place." But no real aggression---I am not sure if he thinks she is is mate or not exactly. But he is determined that she stays around the cave, not leaving it for too long--this has been going on for months now. But she is a gorgeous fish and much livelier than she was in the 30 gallon with the other salvini---they were really pretty boring to watch just as a pair in there together---even though they are beautiful. They did not swim around much at all. Now she is much more active and colorful as part of the community. I would guess maybe the males are more aggressive?

[Rex Karr]

Thanks for posting your experiance Crickett.

Rex

[ttman]

i have read & seen that they are a shy fish as well, preferring to hide than be out & about.