gravel_digger
Members
I want to do a festae tank and have done a ton of reading so far on them. Now it's time to ask for some personal experiences with this fish. All input is welcome, good bad or indifferent. Thanks in advance.
Festaes and your input
- Thread starter gravel_digger
- Start date
spazmattik
Members
All mine died!
spazmattik
Members
But to expand on that... i bought 5 or 6 juvies from rapps and these actually died along with the istlanums for whatever reason. So this is the only other fish i just havent had any luck with. I know theres a couple others that have had this issue as well. Awesome fish though. Go for it!
DBLN8
Members
I have 3 of them (2.5") growing out in a 120. no problems so far, eating like champs and starting to show lots of red with different amounts of blue spangles. Pics are from when I got them at Aquamania, they've grown maybe 1/2" since then.
AquaStudent
Members
Nice photo dnln8. That's got to be great watching them grow up.
Here's a question to add to the discussion. I'm looking to have a single centerpiece male (or female depending on how bad the aggression is...but either way just one of the species).
Would it be better to get a few and rehome all but one when they get larger (take the pick of the litter) or raise one from a young age. There would be other SA cichlids growing up in the tank max size of 7" to 12" so the festae would be the bosses).
Here's a question to add to the discussion. I'm looking to have a single centerpiece male (or female depending on how bad the aggression is...but either way just one of the species).
Would it be better to get a few and rehome all but one when they get larger (take the pick of the litter) or raise one from a young age. There would be other SA cichlids growing up in the tank max size of 7" to 12" so the festae would be the bosses).
blkmjk
Members
I have tried over thirty festea. I killed them all. 1"-12" they all died for me. In fairness I was pretty inexperienced and it was poor water quality. If I try them again I am going to get a group and grow out some pairs. Good luck with your Conquest.
Drew
Drew
jonclark96
Past CCA President
Good luck in your endeavor. I've never tried to keep them myself, but would guess that conspecific aggression is high once they hit 4-5 inches. If I were going to try them, I'd go with a 6 foot tank with lots of sight breaks and start with a group of small fish.
gravel_digger
Members
Thanks everyone for your input, I think i am going to order a group of at least 6 to start with and see how things go from there.
gravel_digger
Members
AquaStudent, I would probably just get the 1 myself if I only wanted 1. This would eliminate me trying to find homes for the remaining fish. I can see where the argument could go either way though.
tparker
Members
Think you should contact experienced festae breeders/ hobbyists before making purchase. Good blood lines arent cheap. I have two large pairs (12" male, 7" male , 7" & 6" females) currently that are doing well. Not all together however. Had to go thru several nice pairs however before getting some understanding of raising these beautiful fish. I know a breeder that would be more than willing to give great pointers on successful festae keeping. Without pressuring you to purchase.
Sent from my SPH-L710 using MonsterAquariaNetwork App
Sent from my SPH-L710 using MonsterAquariaNetwork App
AquaStudent
Members
Thanks guys and thanks to Terrell#1 for letting me piggy-back your thread and Terrell#2 for the info. Pm sent.
gravel_digger
Members
Terrell always glad to get advice from you man. I sent you a pm as a follow up.
tparker
Members
Give me a call 240-216-2645.
No I wasnt speaking of Ira.
Sent from my SPH-L710 using MonsterAquariaNetwork App
No I wasnt speaking of Ira.
Sent from my SPH-L710 using MonsterAquariaNetwork App
CichlidAddict
Members
I bought 4 juveniles from a local breeder, and all but one survived. They just wouldn't eat and starved to death except one who finally decided to eat pellet food. I wonder if a lot of people have problem raising Festae.
I absolutely LOVE my Festae, Lucy! She's an awesome fish with so much personality. I would also agree to just keep 1. They are so beautiful and so enjoyable to watch, I just believe that one is best because they just deserve so much attention. Here's a pic of my Lucy.
Happily married Mommy of 3 babies, 2 fur babies and 15 gilled babies
Happily married Mommy of 3 babies, 2 fur babies and 15 gilled babies
festaedan
potamotrygon fan
Festae are great. 
I had a male that grew to about 11" before I sold him. He tried to kill every little thing that entered the tank so I sold him so I could have multiple fish in my 120.
I had a male that grew to about 11" before I sold him. He tried to kill every little thing that entered the tank so I sold him so I could have multiple fish in my 120.
BMORE_Cichlid
Members
They look good...
I'm glad that I took time out to read the thread because I have four small festae and wanted to let them stay together. I was going to give up on the festae thing but its hard to turn your back on these beautiful fish.
I'm glad that I took time out to read the thread because I have four small festae and wanted to let them stay together. I was going to give up on the festae thing but its hard to turn your back on these beautiful fish.
gravel_digger
Members
Thanks again to everyone who had input on this thread... I love the sharing of information before bad decision are mad by anybody......
