I just moved the dom pair into a 75 long of their own. They recently spawned, but it was eaten by the other 6 syns in the big tank. SO they have a tank of their own and hopefully they will continue to get bigger and brighter.







Mrs. Mongo bought a pair of fish this past weekend. She picked out a pair of 'Aequidens' sp. "Goldsaum", or the false green terror. Both the male and female are around three inches long right now. Her reasoning was that #1, she was tired of walking around the store and #2, they looked cute #3, they were all at the front of the tank looking for attention.




Thanx for looking

Getting your Partner to buy his/her own cichlids... now that's an accomplishment!

Kirk, I have to say that your wife has excellent taste (still don't know what happened with that good taste when she met you :blink: ).

The Aequidens look very nice and the Synspilum are getting better and better. That was a great idea to move the pair. It will surely give you a chance to observe them during spawning and looking after their fry.

BTW, your photography skills are getting better and better. Good Job or did your wife take these pictures Hmmmm Hmmmm

Looks like Mongo is feeling better! the Clap

Mongo, I know you've been married long enough to know
that no man can figure out a woman's mind or logic. On the Floor Laughing

But I believe she made a great choice this time. BTW, I
love her reasoning on the fish selection! Giggly

The Vieja's are looking great and like Klaus said it was a
good move to give them their own tank. Good Job

Glad you're feeling better Mongo! Wooo hoo!!

I keep going to "Uncle Mongo's Story" House, but there haven't
been any new entries in a while. I hope to see one soon! Hmmmm

Thanks for posting the pics! 4mongo

PSO, I could have swore a "PRICELESS" was coming. I agree that its kind of cool.

Klaus I have been asking myself that for 14 years now. I just count my lucky stars each and every day that she hasnt come to her senses yet.

No...I am still the family photographer. She still defers to me on somethings.

PB, its a close thing...I still feel like I might loose a lung at any time. But at least I aint puking anymore...I hate that...it so reminds me of my...uhm...formative years.

Klaus & PB, They got their own tank because the male almost killed off the other 6 the last spawn they had. He had 6 six inch fish crammed into the space behind the heater trying to hide form him.

Soon my young padwan...soon.

From Baby Preacherboy: "Oh, goody gum drops, Uncle Mongo is going
to tell us a story, now!" Prboy Prboy


Sorry you're not feeling as well as I had thought. worry wart!

Are you on meds? Hmmmm

I here Derek just got a fresh shippment of Melafix in. Melafix fix!

You know, Derek never needs to check the expiration date
on his Melafix supply because it never lasts that long! On the Floor Laughing

Get better! 4mongo

Great pics, Mongo!

I know nothing about the Viejas...Fill me in...

Just how big are those two now? How big will they get?

Mrs. Mongo has just stepped off into the deep end!

Congratulations! Maybe she'll maintain a bit of sanity!

Kim

very nice pics and fish, thank you for sharing.

Mrs. C, heres what CF says about them:

Scientific Name: Vieja synspilum
Common Name(s): Fire Head, Quetzal Cichlid
Geo. Origin: South Mexico, Guatemala, Belize
Habitat: Still or Slow-Moving Water with Root Tangles
Diet: Omnivore
Gender Differences: Dimorphic
Breeding: Substrate Spawner
Temperament: Peaceful
Conspecific Temperament: Aggressive
Maximum Size: 17"
Temperature: 76 - 82°F
pH: 6.8 - 7.8
Water Hardness: Neutral
Difficulty: 2

Thats about the extent so far...except the part about temperament...BLATANT LIE!!! The male is an absolute terror...his mate...the syno in the tank...the BN plcos in the tank...the heater...the filter intakes...the plants...the rocks, you name it he has tried to bully it. He will even try and attack people standing outside the tank. I had to build caves for the female so she could have a place to hide from his attentions. I can tell you they are very full of personality, and the Mongolings enjoy playing with them.

PB, I will try and get a new story posted this weekend. I have a couple of new ones that are pretty good.

Thanks for the kind words YH.

4mongo

Mongo, just wanna say that I really appreciate that (alongside that sharp humor of yours) when you brief us on a fish you do a thorough and professional job of it. I'm probably as guilty as anyone of posts that share about half the useful information someone would want to read about a fish. You do a great job of really painting the picture.

Great post!

Hmmm...I think I would really want a 17 inch fish to be peaceful! Giggly

I guess you can use them to threaten the Mongolings, though!

Kim

PSO, I'm not sure what to say other than Thank you. I guess it comes from being a cop and all...you know "The truth and nothing but the truth". And Joe Friday's "Just the facts ma'am". These guys are really new for me, so it has been a real experience watching them go from 25 1/4 inch long babies to 2 5/6 inch long sub-adults. I was given them about 10 months ago, maybe almost a year. These are the fastest growing fish I have ever owned. One minute they were happily eating crushed flake...the next thing I knew they were hanging over the lip of the tank demanding a couple of boxes of earthworms, or things were going to "get a little rough".

4mongo

Nice going with your synspillum.I had 7 in a 70 Gal and they killed each other off till there was 3.I started them off as 1.5"fish and ended up with them about 7"Then I introduced the 3 of them into a 120 thats full of S.Americans and Africans and only 1 lived through that.(its a tough tank)So I have 1 seven inch fish left.I was never able to tell the sex either.They were all almost exactly the same.I was wondering if I had all boys and that was what happened.Anyway ,thay are a nice fish and i may try them again one day.Let me know when you get some fry for trade or sale.

Fishtrix, my pair is spawning right now. If you really want some, I am willing to part with any number...the last spawn numbered 700or so...yeah thats right and not a typo...700 fry at one point. My daughter had to help me count as we moved them from the parents tank to the growout tank. I culled them down over the next few months until I had about 30 left. I either sold or traded them off, with the last two (4 inch fish) going out the door about a month ago. So let me know and we can work something out with this new spawn.

And I will try and get some new pics posted this weekend.

I thought I might share a pic of my male V. synspilum. He is just hanging out in the 12 inch flower pot that I gave them to spawn in.



Yeah, that is a 12 inch flower pot. I had to move them into the 125 about four months ago...looks like they are starting to "dance" again.

Wow, that sure is one excellent Synspilum specimen the Clap the Clap the Clap

Great picture too Tres Bien!

Beautiful fish and pic, Mongo!

How much have they grown since you originally posted them back
in October 2007?

Thanx Klaus, I appriciate that coming from you it means a lot.

PB, they were around 6 or 7 inches back then. Now the male is a whopping 10 inches long and about the same in height.