Vieja

[ChilliPepper]

What are Vieja's like temperament wise, in your experience?

I am looking for something that mind its own business, but is ballsy enough to stick up for itself if need be.

I've seen others keep them with GTs and Oscars, and am considering one...

 

[england]

Most are highly aggressive, they need a species tank imo...I had a bifa from small,was great,then turned one day attacking and killing two,beating hell out of my oscars really bad, i would not go down that road,unless you want a single specimen than great, my friend has my old female in a 4/2/2...she has tried a few times to keep something with her,to no avail, everytime she kills whatever is added, evil but beautiful

Chocolate cichlids are good,they are softies but wont take any poo poo
This is all from my own exsperiences, also jack dempseys can work,

 

[minxfishy]

I had a group of 6 vieja synspila, from grew from 2.5" - 6" until I lost them all in a disaster. Anyway, they were very peaceful but they were still young, Vieja generally need to be kept in very large tanks either singularly or in groups of their own kind in order to spread aggression. I would not try to keep them with a GT or Oscar, whilst the GT maybe able to hold its own, the Oscar wouldnt last long, beautiful as Vieja are, IME not the easiest fish to keep either, mainly veggie lovers and prefer lower temps than an Oscar would prefer, although the GT would be ok at the lower temps. I lost mine to an Ich/velvet outbreak and they dont I found do well with medication.

 

[ChilliPepper]

Oh, that's a shame. I've been reading about the Synspilum in particular and they seem less aggressive than the Argentea? It's the Syns I was considering.

Want something colourful really, and the chocs are lovely, but I've already got a browny/chocolately fish with my oscar

I was also considering a Nicaraguan.

Whatever I pick isn't going to come with a guarantee for getting on with all my others though, I try and research as much as possible, but they are all different and sometimes it's trial and error.

For example I got my little Sev and was most worried about my GT picking on him, however HE nipped my OSCAR

I had a group of 6 vieja synspila, from grew from 2.5" - 6" until I lost them all in a disaster. Anyway, they were very peaceful but they were still young, Vieja generally need to be kept in very large tanks either singularly or in groups of their own kind in order to spread aggression. I would not try to keep them with a GT or Oscar, whilst the GT maybe able to hold its own, the Oscar wouldnt last long, beautiful as Vieja are, IME not the easiest fish to keep either, mainly veggie lovers and prefer lower temps than an Oscar would prefer, although the GT would be ok at the lower temps. I lost mine to an Ich/velvet outbreak and they dont I found do well with medication.

I wondered what happened with yours, what a shame

My Oscar is a softy so don't want anything that's going to start a fight. Though saying that, a lot of people recommend JD's as good tank mates with GTs and O's?

 

[snowflake311]

Yeah a jd would be a good pick.

 

[star4]

I keep looking at JD's got a fancy for one. You could consider a Texas Herichthys carpintis sort are calmer and absolutely gorgous and full of character. texas in my pic.

 

[ChilliPepper]

I keep looking at JD's got a fancy for one. You could consider a Texas Herichthys carpintis sort are calmer and absolutely gorgous and full of character. texas in my pic.

Is that a normal Texas or a variation? Plenty of Texas about, but thought they may look to similar to the GT.

 

[star4]

There are 2 types of the texas the Herichthys cyanoguttatus or rio grand perch/true texas this is the more aggressive, I have the "blue" Texas/pearlscale texas Herichthys carpintis. Both look similar but the carpintis variety has an amazing pearl blue spotted colouration which is stunning. They can hold their own well in a tank, I have a group and they tend to be pretty calm in the group. They look absolutely nothing like a GT no where near as chunky.