Rather Urgent! Can You Id These Fish Please?

[beetlesteve]

Need to know this asap as they may need to go back to the LFS as I may have been mis sold them!

I bought this pair yesterday, can anyone ID them please? I have an idea, but can't find any back up of this? Are they actually a male/female pairing?

Thanks,

Steve

 

[jayjay]

The fish in the first two pictures I would say is a male Hypsophrys nicaraguensis. However the fish in the third picture is not the same species. I'd guess the fish in the third picture is Aequidens portalegrensis. It could be some other species of Aequidens though.

 

[shroob]

I'd be inclined to go with Jayjay on both. The first is definately a nic, the second I'm not so sure on.

 

[beetlesteve]

Thanks guys,

That's what I was thinking! Shame, as I love both fish and was hoping they were a pair!

I was sold them as a pair of Port Acaras.

Now I have to decide, which goes back?

Cheers,

Steve

 

[Davo86]

I agree with the IDs but i'm now curious to know why they need to be returned?

 

[juanveldez]

I must say that I am curious too, to have 2 nice fish like that is a good score even if it isn't a pair.

 

[beetlesteve]

I must say that I am curious too, to have 2 nice fish like that is a good score even if it isn't a pair.

As you may guess, I'm very new to Cichlids. Is it ok to keep them as single specimens? My tank is 180l

Thanks,

Steve

 

[Davo86]

IMO it is better to keep single specimens provided they each have their own space, with pairs you get much more aggression shown towards other fish.
The two fish you have are quite mellow as far as american cichlids go and shouldn't really cause each other that big of a problem.
What are your tank dimensions though, that may be your only problem?

 

[juanveldez]

with the exception of my F1 firemouths everything I have is a single specimen but thats because I am trying to get a breeding pair of FMs to make a food source for my crenicichla and my two amphilophus

 

[beetlesteve]

IMO it is better to keep single specimens provided they each have their own space, with pairs you get much more aggression shown towards other fish.
The two fish you have are quite mellow as far as american cichlids go and shouldn't really cause each other that big of a problem.
What are your tank dimensions though, that may be your only problem?

It's a Rena 100 Bowfront. Dimensions: length 101cm x width 44.5cm x height 47.5cm


Rena 100


What sizes do the two fish grow to? Don't seem to be able to find much (useful) info on them using google!

Also, I like a planted tank, will either of them destroy this?

Cheers!

 

[Davo86]

The port acara has a max size of about 8" but i'd say they're usually smaller (around 6") a male nicaraguence can get to around 10" but again i think they are more likely to peak at around 8". I don't think you will have much luck with plants with any american cichlid species, My male nicaraguence (my avator) soon destroyed my plants.

 

[juanveldez]

its a pretty common trait among american cichlids that they will change the tank to suit their needs not exactly how you want it many of my fish have destroyed even plastic plants