I've always wanted a pair of these cichlids but have never seen them for sale anywhere. Does anyone know where I can purchase a around 10 of them and at what price? Wanting to setup a new 450lt tank and these fish would be perfect for the aquarium. The only reason I would like ten of them is make sure that I eventually end up with a breeding pair. Enjoy the weekend.
But why dont we see them or find them here in SA for sale? They are such stunning looking fish. Seen black belt cichlids but they just not as impressive as the quetzals
BlackBelt, HUH? A nice batch of Quetzal Vieja(Paratheraps) synspilum were available between Oct and Nov last year. Local trade had them , around 70mm size, they were around R70-100ea , if I remember correctly. Yep, have to agree central Americans are attractive and feisty pets to keep! Most are in the TANKBRUISER category though... I have bred these, and other related species a few times during the past 20years or so... Most of these fish only tend to brighten up from around 150mm upwards, so it's not often seen in best possible colouration..and then, when in breeding finery they're unmistakeably striking. Beware hybrids, and hybridisation!!!! This group of fish yield various "FlowerHorn" types Drop me a pm with your email address, and I'll see what similar spp are available PS Seem to recall V maculicauda Blackbelt cichlid is Blacklisted for import and listed as Cichlasoma Maculicauda Spotted Cichlid Blackbelt Cichlid, but there you may be seeing some of a resident captive bred population from hobbyists/local farmers now and again.:wondering:..or they were snuck into the country
Shakesm I've come to realise that a lot of LPS stores don't bring in the "different" types of fish. THey will stick to the more common stuff, (tetras, easy to keep cichlids, danios, guppys, corys, barbs...) and I think mostly because the SA LPS do no know how to look after them. Let's face it... the most an LPS will do for a fish is acclimitize it. Generally they not going to check if the pH of gH of their tanks are suitable for the fish. If they die, well, it's not a major loss to them. The more "exotic" species they cannot keep longer than a few days because they just don't know how to, and they can't sell them fast enough because they are usually pretty pricey. If you are really wanting some wierd and wonderful, out of the ordinary fish, Dolphin and Altum are probably going to be your best bet.
