Excited about this newbie!

[SinisterKisses]

Very happy about this latest acquisition! I picked up this little girl (okay, she's not really little, she's about 9") from a friend today - totally worth the 3 hour round trip. I finally managed to get a Zonatum in my tanks (Vieja or Paratheraps, depending on who you ask...) Now I just have to work on a barred midas and an argentea...

These are from a couple minutes ago, only about 2 hours after putting her in her new home.

 

[IDunnoWhy]

Wow, she really is pretty!

Looks like she almost changes colors depending on camera angles?

 

[Katie217]

Omg
You know how much I want THOSE!!!!

 

[SinisterKisses]

Not as much as I

Her colour should improve GREATLY from here on out. She's by herself, so she can heal up a bit (her fins are torn a little) and be happy instead of bullied. She's stressed right now and her colour is reflecting it, but you just wait

 

[IDunnoWhy]

OK, so stupid questions....

Where is she from? e.g. Africa, CA etc?

How big will she get fully grown? Or is she already there?

Will she always be alone, or can she be a community monster?

Note, if those are her 'stressed out' pale colors, she's going to be stunning when she's all colored up *SUNSMILE*

 

[SinisterKisses]

She's a Central American cichlid. Not sure if she's full grown or not...males can get very large, up to 16", but I really don't know too much about the species - there's not a heck of a lot of info out there on them. I would imagine she likely might have some growing left in her, but I really don't know. And yes, she will likely always be alone while she lives with me, but she did just come out of a community tank. However, that community tank is about 250gals. In smaller tanks, she probably has to be alone. Viejas are typically very aggressive, but I'll have to wait and see what her individual personality is like.

 

[Katie217]

Dang, SK's got the hook-ups
If you get that Argentina you'll have ANOTHER fish I want

<-- so jelous

 

[SinisterKisses]

I should have at least one argentea in a few months, with any luck. The friend I got this girl from makes trips down to Seattle once in a while, apparently there is a store there that gets just about everything he wants in for him. He's actually got one argentea in his tanks right now, promised me he'd get me one or two as soon as he could. I don't think he's planning another trip down for a while though, so I have to be patient

 

[Big Vine]

Congrats on finally getting one...
I know you've been waiting for quite a while. Well worth the wait, eh?

Can't wait to see how she's colored-up once she's had a few weeks of that good ole' SK TLC, lol.
BV

 

[SinisterKisses]

Latest news - she's not a Zonatum. She's a V. fenestratus. The guy I got her from told me a zonatum, and I had only seen her briefly before bringing her home. All the red in her face means she's not a zonatum. Still pretty, but I'm a tad disappointed. Eh well.