[Sir Nathan XXI]

I know that George at Sharkaquarium keeps these Spilo CF with Nattereri of the same size at his store without many problems. Anybody that tries to keep gold spilos with there pygos always have problems. Is the more of a difference in the complex form than just visual differences? I also would like to know how it was classified as a complex of a Spilo for reference.

 

[Xenon]

Good question Nate.....too bad I dont have any opinion. Maybe once I get my 55g set up I can attempt to keep my spilo CF in there with 2-3 red bellies and monitor the situation closely....It might be a fun experiment but could cause the death of a fish :sad:

 

[Grosse Gurke]

The following is Pure speculation:
I think it may have to do with their behavior in the wild. Spilo CF I believe shoal with reds and/or cariba in the wild, which is why they have mimicked the color, so they can blend in. If they do it in the wild, I dont see a reason why they would not be more apt to do it in an aquarium.
I dont think gold spilos shoal with cariba or reds in the wild and therefore would not be as apt to do it in an aquarium.
Like I said though, this is only a guess!!

 

[Judazzz]

The following is Pure speculation:
I think it may have to do with their behavior in the wild. Spilo CF I believe shoal with reds and/or cariba in the wild, which is why they have mimicked the color, so they can blend in. If they do it in the wild, I dont see a reason why they would not be more apt to do it in an aquarium.
I dont think gold spilos shoal with cariba or reds in the wild and therefore would not be as apt to do it in an aquarium.
Like I said though, this is only a guess!!

That makes sense to me,
and if my memory serves me right, spilo's feed on the fins of the pygo's they share the shoal with in the wild. I don't think they will stop doing that once put in an aquarium with reds or other pygo's. But in an aquarium, there's not much room to hide (even in a 100 gallon with only 2 or 3 reds), compared to the situation in the wild (where the spilo could easily retreat from the shoal alltogether), and therefore confrontations in a tank are inevitable, with the consequences we all know...
And i like to add that in the wild, when a single redbelly perishes due to the injuries inflicted by the spilo, it's almost unnoticable (it's insignificant when you look to the total number of fish in the shoal): in a tank, with a very limited number of fish (by definition: even in a 1000 gallon tank the amount of fish in a shoal is limited, compared to the situation in the wild), you'll immedeately notice the difference. Maybe wild spilo's do cause pygo victims as well, but does it just go by unnoticed.....

This is just a little contemplating based on what Jeff mentioned: just guesses, no more, no less...!!!

 

[Xenon]

If they do it in the wild, I dont see a reason why they would not be more apt to do it in an aquarium.

Dont Rhombs shoal in the wild? Isnt it understood that this species CAN NOT shoal in an aquarium.

 

[Grosse Gurke]

If they do it in the wild, I dont see a reason why they would not be more apt to do it in an aquarium.

Dont Rhombs shoal in the wild? Isnt it understood that this species CAN NOT shoal in an aquarium.

I think that has to do with the lack of space. There is a guy in Germany that has a few in a tank together, and I believe there was a shoal in a pool or pond in Florida that mated, this was a while ago. I dont know if they shoal like pygos, but they can cohabitate given enough room.

 

[Sir Nathan XXI]

I actually kept my first Spilo CF with two Nattereri for several months with minimal problems

 

[Judazzz]

I dont know if they shoal like pygos, but they can cohabitate given enough room.

I think they travel in small, loose groups in the wild, and go their own way when they feel like it (as opposed to truely [well, "truely" may not be the right word, but you know what I mean] shoaling piranha's fish like natts).
I believe I read that on Frank's site, but correct me if I'm wrong.

 

[rosecityrhom]

I guess its worth a shot if you have the money to run the experiment and expect negative results. Rhom's have cohabitated with Red's for around 3 months in the aquarium setting until problems began to occur. The experiment should last well beyond that period of time to give an appropriate judgement on whether it can or cannot work. Expect the loss of a piranha and hope for cohabitation if you wish to try it out. I don't think the concern would be that the spilo cf blends in with the red bellies, the concern should be will the spilo cf cohabitate? Even if it blended in I believe a red belly is less likely to start a fight with a spilo cf as apposed to the spilo cf starting the fight with the red.

 

[Raptor]

Sea world in roseville michigan keeps one or two gold p's in with there reds and the owner said that he does this all the time and ive seen the same fish for over a few mos they are a little tattered but ok.
He says he keeps the golds out numbered by reds and they do fine.
anybody in the s.e. mich area should check it out.

 

[Sir Nathan XXI]

How far is that place from the Ohio border?

 

[Raptor]

About an hour and 1/2 , 12mile and gratiot