Fish ID needed please

[Saffire]

I got these from someone when they were wee little babies. He didn't know what they were and I didn't expect them to get as big as they did, but they're pretty docile now that they're big.

[Aquaman]

It will be a matter of time before them fish kill each other as well as everything else in your tank....sorry to say They are a very aggressive fish especialy to their own kind. I have owned 3 and they have all had near death experiences .
Here is a link to the Tank buster's.
Species Profiles -- Cichlid-Forum

yours could be a Vieja bifasciatus /Vieja fenestratus or possibly a Vieja synspilum ( but I doubt it )
Your best bet at keeping ONE of them is in a community tank with non aggressive fish that are smaller than thenm and absolutely no threat.
Worked for me...

[Saffire]

How long do you figure is "a matter of time"? I've had these 3 since before last Christmas so they are over a year old and, like I said, are very docile. Everything I've read says the male will kill all other males and possibly the female. Could it be that I have 3 girls and all will be peaceful? I can wish, can't I?!

[Holyarmor]

How long do you figure is "a matter of time"? I've had these 3 since before last Christmas so they are over a year old and, like I said, are very docile. Everything I've read says the male will kill all other males and possibly the female. Could it be that I have 3 girls and all will be peaceful? I can wish, can't I?!

Yes, these viejas are real killers when they reach about 6". They will bully & kill other tankmates and rip them in pieces in no time.

Best to keep them on their own.

[Aquaman]

Hard to say for sure ..mine laid eggs several times when she wa 6 -7 in.Never bothered anyone to speak of ...just made it clear that one side of the tank was hers .She may of swallowed the odd neon ( hard to say ,there were so many )..but mostly she didn't care so much as no one was a threat.Eventually the 2 will NOT get along. ( things change overnight when the lights go out ) Your best bet is to sepperate them and try to keep way smaller fish with one or all by them self. They are beautifull and thye first one I had would swim into my hands and let me stroke her and I could pick her up out of the tank and never needed a net .* sniff sniff *

[Saffire]

Well then maybe these aren't what my fish are or mine are "special" cause the biggest is about 11" and the smallest is about 7" and they don't pick on anyone. Actually my upside down catfish is the one bullying them. And before my filter quit my little angelfish pushed them around to the point they would be at the other end of the tank to where he was. Very weird.

(look at the second photo - that little yellow fish is not more than 3 inches. That's my biggest fish at around 11")

[Aquaman]

The first one I had was a female ( wiped out a friends tank twice ) ..killed fish bigger than her, everytime she laid eggs. ...that in itself is a awsome thing to see ..1 egg at a time ( then she would do a 360 ) in perfect rows.800 of em. then guard them .
I had her at 6 in. with small fish as stated.
I then got a male ( funny .it was beat up ? ) brought it around and added him ...raise fry and male ate em ...female almost killed him..then 6 months later he returned the favour . Along comes another female ....sheesh them fish are MEAN. Wait till they get to be a foot long ..3 in a 135 ...not a pretty site.
If you do keep them get a hospital tank and a gallon each of pima /mela fix ...you will need it.
They take a run at the side of a fish and beat it to death they are relentless when they get the upper hand.
"The force that they hit with is so great that they can actually break a tank thus the name Tankbusters" -- Capt.Nemo.............
Sorry couldn't resist

[Aquaman]

Well then maybe these aren't what my fish are or mine are "special" cause the biggest is about 11" and the smallest is about 7" and they don't pick on anyone. Actually my upside down catfish is the one bullying them. And before my filter quit my little angelfish pushed them around to the point they would be at the other end of the tank to where he was. Very weird.

(look at the second photo - that little yellow fish is not more than 3 inches. That's my biggest fish at around 11")

well your off to a good start ...only time will tell tho. I hope they get along forever ...that would be SWEET Beautifull fish tho arent
they

[Peterchow]

The first one I had was a female ( wiped out a friends tank twice ) ..killed fish bigger than her, everytime she laid eggs. ...that in itself is a awsome thing to see ..1 egg at a time ( then she would do a 360 ) in perfect rows.800 of em. then guard them .
I had her at 6 in. with small fish as stated.
I then got a male ( funny .it was beat up ? ) brought it around and added him ...raise fry and male ate em ...female almost killed him..then 6 months later he returned the favour . Along comes another female ....sheesh them fish are MEAN. Wait till they get to be a foot long ..3 in a 135 ...not a pretty site.
If you do keep them get a hospital tank and a gallon each of pima /mela fix ...you will need it.
They take a run at the side of a fish and beat it to death they are relentless when they get the upper hand.
"The force that they hit with is so great that they can actually break a tank thus the name Tankbusters" -- Capt.Nemo.............
Sorry couldn't resist

Hi Bill,

The following are pictures of the F1 from your vieja pair. I had him/her for a few weeks from Budahrox and I passed on to another member. THis vieja was very fun to watch when I kept him by himself, however, when I put a same size oscar in the same tank, he practically tore the oscar into pieces within hours.

[Aquaman]

Sweet !! awsome pics. Peter..
I have pictures of him/her when it's eye balls were the biggest part... looked like this from the front ..............