Any One Kept A Vieja Synspilum Before?

[mattlee]

if so what are they like?

are they evil fish that will bully my oscar and friends?

the reason i ask is that i almost bought a 6 inch vieja today but was warned off by the staff...... was i advised right?

 

[hamfist]

I've only got a little 1.5" bifasciatus (very, very similar to synspilums) which I'm growing up with my larger SA's, so no real experience to go on, as yet.
However, from all my reading, they seem to be rather variable. Some can be terrors, although many can be very good community members. Get one youngish and socialise it with a few other fish and I think your chances are good in a decent sized tank. Bear in mind that they are also a lot more active than something like oscars or sevs.

 

[always4lora]

My friend has some in with an oscar and they're ok. If your oscars are the same size as the vieja id give it a miss. If the Vieja is smaller give it a go.

 

[minxfishy]

I used to keep six synspila all together, never any aggression between them, however, a serious illness eventually killed them all one by one, never could work out what it was. Synspila are less aggressive than bifaciatum, just make sure if you do buy it, its a definate synapila, because there are often hybrids of the paratherpas species around and you could end up with a cross or bifa are often sold as synapila and they are indeed very aggressive.

 

[Sussex Cichlid]

Its like any other cichlid, their are those with good temperament, those that are belligerent and those that are indifferent. I grew six unrelated Synspilus out and got a beautiful pair with a fantastic temperament as long as the male wasn't challenged. I had an Oscar in with mine and as the Oscar grew faster than the Synspilus, he decided he wanted to own the tank (6x2x2) I had to remove the Oscar in the end as my male Syn would not leave him alone after he was challenged. That said they are beautiful fish. All I can say is try it and see.

 

[star4]

Go for a persei, gorgous, lovely temprement too