Cichlid Fish Forum banner
1 - 9 of 9 Posts

· Registered
Joined
·
336 Posts
Discussion Starter · #1 ·
Just got a group of 2m 5f, anyone with experience with these guys pls chime in. Hopefully I'll be raising these guys when they decide it's time to spawn. In addition haven't seen much info on this species on this site. Anyone know of a better online reference for Cyno species? They're in a 55gal by themselves.
 

· Registered
Joined
·
454 Posts
Since no one else is responding, I'll give you what I've learned. I've just kept this variety of Lion for about a year and just have one group of them--so the little experience is based on that small window--YMMV.

Of all the Cyno forms I keep (and I keep LOT'S of 'em!), these are undoubtable one of (if not the) most aggressive. Even in a well rocked 75 with 2 other aggressive species, the males would go at it with each other until real/significant damage was done. Once I removed all but one male, things settled somewhat for a while. Then the lone male started to go at it with the dom Zebra Long Pelvic and the dom Pundamilia nyererei--both of whom are at least 1.5X his size. I think because of the teeth, the Cyno was able to beat down both the other dom males after multiple jaw-lock sessions. He had over 1/2 of the 75 completely to himself--no one else allowed to cross that line :roll:

I've since moved the 1M/3F group to a 40BR. They've done quite well in the species only setting. The male is not a wife-beater so the femmes are all in good shape and they breed quite regularly. I'd say each female has 25-30 fry every 2-3 months. The females are quite attractive so the species only concept doesn't equal an unattractive tank. Eventually,once some of the juvies grow-out more, I'll have a better idea if the aggro behavior of the adult males that I originally purchased is 'standard' or just something 'learned' by that group.

HTHs
 

· Registered
Joined
·
1,230 Posts
I have heard that they can be a real handful to.
They love to claim large regions of territory, dominate and eliminate it's tank mates.
Drop a fully mature Dim. Compressicep in there with them, might teach him to loose the small man syndrome 8)
 

· Registered
Joined
·
336 Posts
Discussion Starter · #4 ·
good to know, I just got them in and had them in a 20gal for a couple day just until my seeded 55gal is finished and the males started to go at it the same day they came in. So after lights out I had to put one male in a 55gal with a trio of mature O.Lithobates and he's clamied a cave so we'll see what happens when the species only tank is ready
 

· Registered
Joined
·
1,751 Posts
I think the sp. lion group is all pretty well high-strung. I've got the sp. lion 'Lion's Cove' and had the sp. lion 'Cape Kaiser'. Both have been on the upper part of the "aggression scale" of all the mbuna I've had.

They may be a smaller sized group of Cyno's, but they sure have a lot of stamina when it comes down to a brawl.
 

· Registered
Joined
·
336 Posts
Discussion Starter · #6 ·
I must have large males then because they are really good looking specimens and are at least 4"
 

· Registered
Joined
·
454 Posts
My MRs are quite a bit larger than the LCs. I think the largest male LC may be about the size of the MR females, maybe a bit smaller.

I've had a little different experience than Why with the LCs and have found them to be one of the calmer Cynos. The group I've had for years in a species tank is very settled and a very calm tank. I got a WC group a while back and they're in a 125 with some Cyno. sp. Hara/tropheops lilac/pundamilia. The dom Hara is the king of that tank so far. The lion males each have a small territory claimed but only flash for their females and don't challenge the Hara at all.
 

· Registered
Joined
·
1,751 Posts
thevein said:
I must have large males then because they are really good looking specimens and are at least 4"
I guess my sp. lion 'Cape Kaiser' that I had were about that size - they were bigger than the sp. lion 'Lion's Cove'.

nick a said:
have found them to be one of the calmer Cynos. The group I've had for years in a species tank is very settled and a very calm tank.
Mine have became quite docile since they have been moved into the 100 gallon with all the other mbuna/peacocks/Cop.'s. The sp. hara and sp. mbamba in the tank are far more dominating than the sp. lion 'Lion's Cove's are.
 

· Registered
Joined
·
59 Posts
I'm interested to hear what others have to say about this fish. It seems to be getting a lot more popular lately. I have a small group of four but they are way to young to express themselves, only around an inch.

mark
 
1 - 9 of 9 Posts
This is an older thread, you may not receive a response, and could be reviving an old thread. Please consider creating a new thread.
Top