paratilapia bleekeri "starry night cichlid'

[TrailerParkFishTanks]

ive been staring at these cool ass fish from madagascar/ from what ive read it says they are aggressive with their own kind and the person who was detailing about the fish said they kept it with SA and CA cichlids. has anyone kept these guys? they look really cool so i assume that means they're probably a-holes to tankmates. i also read they get about a foot long. do they not play well with others? i would make rom for these guys if its feasible for my setup. any insight would be great

[four_by_ken]

I brought this up too... maybe do a search and we can pick up from where I left off.  I love the looks of them, but just dont have the room for them.

[four_by_ken]

http://michigancichlid.com/simplemachinesforum/index.php?topic=2102.msg17397#msg17397

Here you go.

[TrailerParkFishTanks]

I read up on your thread, damn that died quick. Wtf? Since their spawning habits are similar to new worlds is there temperament similar too? Are there any suitable "target fish" that they would do well with, or any other tank mates that might work well with them?

[four_by_ken]

I still would really like one... just no where to put it.

[Regalblue]

They are like most New World's as far as aggression goes. But more primitive when it comes to threat displays & can be misunderstood by New World tankmates. I have kept single specimens with Flowerhorn, Black Belts, Red Devils,  Carpintis & even a female Dovii. 

IMO you'll want at least a 50/40B to grow one out & a 75 for life (only fish) You'll get the best personality showing if you keep it by itself,  as a wet pet.

[railman4000]

I have some juvies at Wet Thumb. You can stop by and check out the parents size/ temperament as well.

[dstuer]

I realize this thread is a few months old, but because I'm new here, going back is interesting.
These are some of my favorite Madagascans, having kept them about 10 years ago and just recently acquiring some again.  I find them most lethal with each other at a young age and under 4 or 5", once past this, its a lot of bluff but not so deadly in 6 ft tanks or larger. I have a quartet of adults in a 6 ft tank with 5 Paretroplus maculatus, half dozen Herichthys bocourti and a lone Herichthys bartoni, the busyness of the tank seems to male Paratilapia from doing in the 3 smaller females.
i have found species such as Herichthys carpintus to be a bit too aggressive to house with Paratilapia


I also started a growout tank with Paratilapia  sp andapa, etroplus canarensus and Ptychochromis sp tarantsy.
Most of the Etroplus and Ptychos are still around but the largest Paratilapia seems to have eliminated 7 brothers and sisters, while ignoring the other species.