What's your favorite American cichlid?

[Chet]

What is your favorite American cichlid that you have personally kept and why?


Also, what is your favorite American cichlid that you have not kept?


Just a little poll of sorts to get things going. Everyone put in your two cents. :)

[CichlidPete]

Being that I am more of a afrcian cichlid guy my experience with the Americans is rather limited. I got started since the LFS here has the nasty habit of giving me all the fish that come back for "eating guppies" "being mean to others" or "getting too big"

I like Jack Dempsey's, they have lots of personality and are tough without being mean. Right now I have one in a 55 with a pair of convicts with new fry to the left of him and another pair with 3 wk fry to the right of him. When he comes out of his flower pot one pair goes after him and after scuffling with them he turns around and chases the other pair around the tank! He can't be too happy though and since the LFS has a JD and a pictus cat they want me to take....I am filling another 55 just for the 2 JD and the pictus.

[Beaker]

Even though it's hard to choose, I love my Green Terror. Partly because he was my 1st and the other reason being that he got my wife hooked on cichlids and then she let me buy the 125g. He's a great fish with loads of personality and great color. He's also a great tankmate. He's the biggest, but he never picks on anyone. Also, this may sound weird, but he will sometimes break up fights between other fish. He'll get in the middle of it and then chase away the aggressor until it's over. I swear I'm not lying, I've seen it multiple times.

As far as the one I never kept? I'm not sure. I had a baby managuense once. I raised her from 1" to about 6" when she started to eat tiger barbs. She was really cool, but she was getting to be too much. I'd love to get another big tank for a breeding pair. I guess that's the closest I can come for one that I never kept because she still wasn't even close to her potential.

[Beaker]

Um, I lied. For the one that I would want, but never kept...peacock bass. Awwww yeah, that's the one. :D I have seen a nice pair kept in a 125g at a LFS, they were about 12" and were beautiful. I have seen "little" ones around 4-5" for about $15-20 which is what I'd like to start out with. I'd probaly want a bigger tank for them though.

[Chet]

Alright, and now to answer my own question. My favorite cichlid that I have kept has to be my managuense. She is absolutely gorgeous, and the blue in her fins and her gold background have really started to show through recently. I love her red eyes and the way she looks at me, half challenging, and half like she's glad to see me. I enjoy watching her move gravel and think it's very cool when she cruises around the tank triumphantly with an whole earthworm in her mouth. I'm having a hard time right now feeling guilty because I'm trying to starve her to eating pellet food on a regular basis. I admit that I spoiled her previously on gut-loaded crickets and earthworms.

As much as I love my Jag, my Green Terror would have to be a close second. Such a beautiful and active fish.

As far as my favorite that I have not kept, it's gotta be an Umbee. Now there's a beautiful fish. I am committed to getting one very soon. The Peacock bass and Festae are close seconds. I'm not sure I'll ever have the room for P. bass, but I should have both an umbee and a festae before the year is out.

[Beaker]

Don't get me wrong Chet because I like ya, and I'm in the same boat with ya, but I can't help it. You're just describing your fish like a hot chick. I started to get turned on a little. :wink: You just made gravel moving very sexy to me now, and I'm not sure if that's ok with me. Oh, and the earthworm out of the mouth? Chet, you're killing me here. I think I found the new Pecto commercial. You can love your pets, just don't loooooove your pets, if you catch my drift. All kidding aside, I know what you mean, I just think you have a future in trashy cichlid romance novels.

-I tease, because I love.

[Chet]

LMAO!

:lol: :lol: :lol: :lol:


That is one of the funniest things I've heard in a long time!

I guess I might have a career in cichlid smut... :oops:

[Beaker]

Chet, I don't know what this says about me, but I'd probably buy your 1st book. :wink: There are some sick individuals in this forum, I think that's why I feel so comfortable here. :)

[BP]

Hi all. I'm new to the club but have been raising cichlids for about 20 years. I must say that my favorite is the Aquidens Rivelatus. The Gt's and Goldsaums are absolutely beautiful. The male I raised is 12.5 inches and I recently lost my female but am raising two new youngens and am pretty sure one is female.

Although it is quite aggressive I have to put the Managuence as my second favorite. I really enjoy their spawning cycles but I don't own any right now.

[Chet]

Welcome the the forum BP! I see you have excellent taste...

If you can, post some pics of your GTs (and any other fish for that matter) in the cichlidgallery. I would love to see a pic of your mature male. He sounds like a monster!

[BP]

I don't have a scanner but can take some pics of the GTs and see about getting them into the Gallery. I'm pretty sure I can find someone with a scanner. I must admit I think Gill is a real prize! I hand feed him nightcrawlers and have him in my 90gal with a few africans, a delhezi, retropennis, and a couple of growing ornatepennes'.