Ameca Splendens

[AquaScaper]

I'm getting some of these next week and was hoping to add them to my South American Cichlid tank but from everything I read it says that they thrive best in cold temps 21 (70)....my Cichlid tank is always kept at between 24-26 (75-79) will they be able to handle this? I'm not sure if my Cichlids would appreciate lower temps so that may not be a good compromise either. I'm thinking I may have to give them the 30gal if it's not going to work lol.

Thoughts?

[Melody]

I had mine at tropical temps - around 78. Ranges are just that - their preferred range usually based on the average in their native habitat. Some Goodeids are more sensitive than others when it comes to temp, but I found that Splendens was very adaptable. 4 degrees in one direction or the other shouldn't matter for them, in my opinion, but I wouldn't go warmer than that.

Check with your breeder so you know what they're used to. :smile:

[AquaScaper]

Thanks Mel,

Cichlids are pretty tough little buggers anyhow so I'm thinking that I'll actually keep their temp at around 24 rather than closer to 26 and they should be fine with that and then that'll be closer to what the Amecas would prefer so maybe I can compromise that way. I'll be climatizing them properly anyhow so I'm hoping it'll work out. Maybe Blaine will pop on and add his expertise at some point also :yes:

[Melody]

He's had them for much longer than I did - my tanks couldn't handle their aggression, so I'd definitly listen to what he has to say whether it contradicts me or not...lol.

[AquaScaper]

When it comes right down to it, I'm only getting 6 so I can actually accomodate them in another tank if need be and I've already pre-planned the space just in the event that the Cichlid-livebearer mix doesn't jive so that I don't lose anybody to WWIII LOL.

[Melody]

LOL A fine example of responsible fishkeeping - a Plan B!:notworthy:

[AquaScaper]

LOL if they were guppies, I might not be so vigilant but since these are all but extinct I'd be <insert "Crazy" emoticon> not too have a plan B lol

[fishykisses]

I'm doing the same thing - they're going to go into the 96g to start with...i do have tetras (neon and rummynose) but my tanks is pretty understocked and the tank is 7 ft long. So i'm hoping for the best but i have an empty 25g as back-up. I'm not sure how many i'm getting. I asked for 10 but i'm not sure how many he has so we'll see.

[blainep]

My, soon to be your, Ameca Splendens are kept at 77 F. A couple degrees either way isn't going to hurt.

As for how many ? I'm sending out 16 fish. Some will be to young to sex, but most are juveniles.

[AquaScaper]

My, soon to be your, Ameca Splendens are kept at 77 F. A couple degrees either way isn't going to hurt.

As for how many ? I'm sending out 16 fish. Some will be to young to sex, but most are juveniles.

That's perfect!!!!

I won't have to fiddle with the temps much then...whew!

#'s sound good! 6 for me 10 for Fishykisses :) Hopefully we'll both get lucky and have a female or 2 in the bunch :D.

[blainep]

That's perfect!!!!

I won't have to fiddle with the temps much then...whew!

#'s sound good! 6 for me 10 for Fishykisses :) Hopefully we'll both get lucky and have a female or 2 in the bunch :D.

Females for sure, most of the males are starting to show colours. I'm sending almost my entire stock out you guys. Just keeping my original pairs.
(FYI - I started with pairs from completely different sources, should have a good genetic mix. )

These fish have not shown any overly aggressive tendencies, they get along together very well.

It is interesting to watch them establish dominance, the males line up side by side and take turns beating each other with their tails. They rarely do any damage, sometimes the females will get into the action as well.

Moving and mixing them might make them re-establish the dominance order, so don't be alarmed if you see them beating each other.

[Melody]

LOL You should get a video of that before you send them out. I hope you're taking notes too - we need more documented info on these fish, especially as they get more widely distributed. Ask me about common Livebearers and I can usually come up with an answer, but these wild-types just have NOTHING out there about them. I've never said "I don't know" so much in my life...

Ms. Interested: "So what parameters do they like?"

Me: "I'm not sure, but I know a breeder who keeps them in these parameters."

Ms. Interested: "Do they do better with live foods?"

Me: "Hmmm... mine eat flakes and frozen and they're not dead... yet."

Ms. Interested: "Do they need salt?"

Me: "Well the breeder said so but Ms. Fish Enthusiast has them in freshwater and they're breeding like wascly wabbits."

Ms. Interested: "I see. You are into Livebearers, right?"

Me: "Oh yes, I know everything about Livebearers."

;)

[AquaScaper]

I don't want to jump the gun per say, but I think the Amecas WILL work in the Cichlid environment as far as the Cichlids are concerned...

Not wanting to subject Amecas to the test, I decided to take my 5 Striped Barbs and add them to the Cichlid tank this morning. As of just a few mins ago they are still happily swimming in a tight school being completely ignored by the other fish. In fact the others seem to move out of their way as they come through so it would seem that their aggression will probably be saved for each other as always and they haven't made any attempts at trying to eat the Barbs either which is nice.
I also added the yo-yo's a few days ago and was a bit worried that the Skunks would not accept them, I was worried for nothing all 5 loaches have been swimming together, playing and being a general nuisance to the other bottom fish because they are like a buncha pre-schoolers going around sticking all 5 of their noses into everyone elses beeswax lol.

If the Amecas prove to be not on the too agressive side, I might leave the Barbs in the tank when I add them and then I'll have a really interesting mix. It looks kind of awesome right now because all the other fish are somewhat dwarfed in comparison to the Cichlids so you see these giant fish milling about and then you see these little fish everywhere, going about their business like the giants aren't even there lol.

[Melody]

Its all in the attitude. Haven't you ever been out and a woman walked in the room, making all of the male heads turn, yet you looked at her and said "She's not even pretty!"

All attitude. :laugh:

That's what I think of when I read about or see Splendens. They're small but mighty. They go after the larger fish like they're three times the size that they are and they never back down.

[AquaScaper]

Oh I definitely want them to be able to hold their own, especially with fish which are big enough that they could potentially eat them if it came right down to it, that's why I'm testing the waters and it seems that it might work out as far as having fish which are way smaller and a different species too boot. As far as aggression goes, if the Amecas turn out to be little devils which drive the other fish crazy then they shall have to live in the cramped quarters of the 30gal all by themselves where they can do as they please to each other:yes:.

I've moved everyone around just to accommodate these fish so I'll be pretty darn miffed if they decide that they won't get along in any of the tanks I offer them, although it'll be hard to not get along in a tank with just them in it lol.

[Melody]

I can only speak of my limited experience with them, and I didn't have enough of them either so it really doesn't count. Blaine says his have done well given ample space. They're probably like the CAE's - once they're taught some manners they're just fine.