True Red Terror Festas

[dinnese]

I have 6 juvenile True Red Terror Festas. They are approximately 2 to 2 1/2 inches long. They are in a 55 gallon tank. Will they get large enough in a 55 gallon tank to identify a mating pair and will they also breed in a tank that size?

[Crispy]

they will start fighting as soon as they put on a bit of size. festae do not tolerate other festae. you'll be best to pick the dominant female and keep 2 males with her. she'll pick her mate (hopefully) and you can get rid of the other male. 55g is fine for now, but red terrors get huge, and they require ALOT of territory. they will definitely need a 6 foot tank once you have an established pair.

I started with a bunch also and my dominant female hated every male. she is now over 12" and the only cichlid in my 200g tank.

[dinnese]

Thanks for your reply. Can I identify male from female this early?

[Crispy]

pics would help identify best, but a good way to tell is females lose their blue spangling while males spangling intensifies. females tend to have darker striping and black on their dorsal fin. females will get extremely red heads.

when small (under 5"), they can be tricky to sex because your less dominant festae will have subdued coloration.

[Rocksor]

I would separate each one using multiple tank dividers. This ensures that they don't kill each other, and increases your chances of finding a male versus female.

[fishguy420]

I have to get rid of mine they pic on anything in sight and there only 4-5 inches.I have them in a 60g tank with 5 jds and 2 parrot cichlids bad idea on my part.I got them before i came to the ac know hopefull the lfs will take them back.