Vieja/Paraneetroplus - Which is Best?

[AquaStudent]

I've been researching a bit on some Vieja/Paraneethroplus cichlids and stumbled upon a MFK thread discussing which is the most beautiful.

I was surprised to see Vieja argentea taking the top spot for a significant number of people. I looked them up and they look pretty from the pictures but there's not much color. Many described the personality as one of the best. The shimmer is apparently spectacular too.

Tried looking for some threads of people keeping them on here but only really turned up an old Pre-order form of Josh's. Has anybody kept them? What other Vieja/Paras do you like more? (I'd even be willing to listen to what's your favorite New World cichlid )

I believe this is the fish which used to belong to one of the guys on YouTube I was watching. It's a pretty fish (in a huge tank too...)

 

[spazmattik]

They are cool looking fish but like you said, with all the colorful paraneetropowhatevers there are it is a little surprising they seem to be the most popular. I have not had one but I have had guttulatus, bredohri, synspillum, regani, black belt, zonatus and bifas... seemed like they all had similar personalities, some a little more or less aggressive.

 

[AquaStudent]

They are cool looking fish but like you said, with all the colorful paraneetropowhatevers there are it is a little surprising they seem to be the most popular. I have not had one but I have had guttulatus, bredohri, synspillum, regani, black belt, zonatus and bifas... seemed like they all had similar personalities, some a little more or less aggressive.

I'm currently keeping some synspillum and love them. I think the scientific name should be changed to paraneetropowhatevers. That has a much better ring and I think I could actually pronounce that

 

[dogofwar]

I'm partial to V. regani (and have 4 in a 150g) but P. melanurus (formerly synspilus) are nice too.

Choose what YOU like and what you have tank to house. The cool fish of the week on fish web sites changes far more often than the time it takes for people to grow fish to maturity, spawn them and really get to know them...

Argentea are great fish but are 1) huge and 2) mean as crap. For that matter, most Vieja are (zonatum especially).

Matt

 

[Lord Fauntleroy]

Argentea

My male

 

[festaedan]

My pair of melanurus are pretty entertaining and colorful, but my favorite paraneetropolus is p. heterospilus

My male

Wow,really nice

 

[Lord Fauntleroy]

Paraneetroplus

My favorite right now. Mainly because I searched so long for it. P. GIBBICEPS

 

[AquaStudent]

Those are gorgeous James. The argentea looks more gold than silver. Is that the lighting or does he actually have that yellow coloration.

It's interesting how fish come in and out of popularity and the spotlight. I have no idea what my favorite is because I haven't seen enough. I can't wait for the ACA!

 

[jonclark96]

I really like melanurus. I also enjoyed the catemaco fenestratus that I kept in the past.

Like Matt said, pick what you like go from there.

 

[blkmjk]

These were my favorites by far until umbees took over. Hetros were the fanciest I kept. I liked their color and personalities. And I think at least 20% of the club has some that either came from me or Jon. LOL. Next would be melanrus quickly followed by black belts, and the list goes on and on. I would put their aggression on part with a amph imo. Once they hit 10" They want to try to take over a tank and considering most of them can reach 14" easily a very large tank is a must have for multiple adults to find peaceful cohabitation. Tparker and Rich-One on here still have community tanks with big CAs. Their input on any species your interested in would be invaluable.

Drew

 

[dogofwar]

I've still got some breihdori and guttulatus from Drew

Matt

These were my favorites by far until umbees took over. Hetros were the fanciest I kept. I liked their color and personalities. And I think at least 20% of the club has some that either came from me or Jon. LOL. Next would be melanrus quickly followed by black belts, and the list goes on and on. I would put their aggression on part with a amph imo. Once they hit 10" They want to try to take over a tank and considering most of them can reach 14" easily a very large tank is a must have for multiple adults to find peaceful cohabitation. Tparker and Rich-One on here still have community tanks with big CAs. Their input on any species your interested in would be invaluable.

Drew

 

[Lord Fauntleroy]

I currently keep Argentea, Synspilum, Melanurus, Regani, Heterospilus, 3 strains of Bifasciatum, Zonatum, Guttulatum, Breidohri, Fenestratus, Hartwegi, and Gibbiceps. They're all beautiful. They're all different. Keep all males if you want lots of them in a tank. And grow them out together if possible. Personalities differ. I' had 10 inch Blackbelt that got chased around the tank by convicts.

 

[spazmattik]

I currently keep Argentea, Synspilum, Melanurus, Regani, Heterospilus, 3 strains of Bifasciatum, Zonatum, Guttulatum, Breidohri, Fenestratus, Hartwegi, and Gibbiceps. They're all beautiful. They're all different. Keep all males if you want lots of them in a tank. And grow them out together if possible. Personalities differ. I' had 10 inch Blackbelt that got chased around the tank by convicts.

Do you still have the fene i sold you? Id love to see a pic of that one now

 

[rich_one]

Thanks for the nod, Drew... much appreciated! That said, I can say with confidence that Jamie has likely surpassed me in vieja/para-whatever-they-are-today species. This guy has studied this species perhaps maniacally, and as much as I feel I know about them in general, it is very possible Jamie has become CCA's resident expert, much as Drew has become CCA's resident umbee expert.

But certainly, I, and I'm sure both Jamie and Terrell, would be happy to help in any way we can!

-Rich

 

[Lord Fauntleroy]

Those are gorgeous James. The argentea looks more gold than silver. Is that the lighting or does he actually have that yellow coloration.

A little of both. It has a gold sheen and some shadowing in the picture.

Do you still have the fene i sold you? Id love to see a pic of that one now

I sold her Matt. She spawned with everything in the tank.

That said, I can say with confidence that Jamie has likely surpassed me in vieja/para-whatever-they-are-today species. This guy has studied this species perhaps maniacally, and as much as I feel I know about them in general, it is very possible Jamie has become CCA's resident expert, much as Drew has become CCA's resident umbee expert.

Wow. High praise friend. Thanks.

 

[spazmattik]

A little of both. It has a gold sheen and some shadowing in the picture.

I sold her Matt. She spawned with everything in the tank.

Wow. High praise friend. Thanks.

tell me how you really feel about my old fish LOL

 

[AquaStudent]

hehe

Thanks for the tips guys! I'm happy to learn about everything. It's nice to see what's out there and there's no better resource than speaking with someone who has tank experience with them. Will any of you be attending the ACA this year?

@ James - On your suggestion with an all male tank is that for the same reasons as keeping an all male Aulonocara tank? Seems like a reasonable connection. I'm probably not going to be keeping an all male tank since I'm working with an empty 75 and a currently inhabited 135G but the info is nice.