Jag Or Midas ???

[phil_ip]

I just got another 125g tank (72", 18"). I was thinking about getting piranha's, but I've changed my mind, now I I want to get either a solo JAG or MIDAS.
Which fish would be better solitary, I would like a fish that attacks the glass, and withh eat food immediately after it hits the water. The tank will be not decorated, accept for a nice DIY in tank backround I made, and about 3 inches of gravel for the fish to dig in. I want a fish that won't look cramped in the tank.

Which fish would be cooler to own ?

[ChilDawg]

Sounds like the Jag would be better-suited for your purposes.

[NickH]

Go with a male Midas. Mine is 4" and it already almost jumps out of the tank when I feed it. They are also very aware of what goes on outside of the tank.

[Nippy]

Go buy a second 125 and get one of each.
:D

I love my 2 Jags and my Midas. There's no way I could pick one over the other.

[phil_ip]

Can't buy ne morw new tanks, no space......Wish I could though:mad:

[dbcb314]

go with the jag, they look cooler

[ChilDawg]

Wow, dbcb314, that oughta get a few responses...aesthetics between fish is usually not an argument with which I want to get involved, and this is a prime example.

The Midas has those pastel colours and, if you have a male, that attractive nuchal hump.

OTOH, the Jag has just what the common name advertises...spots worthy of the forest king bearing the same common name.

I'd go with the Midas if the looks of the fish matter most, but, you have to know that I miss the color of Mo Betta, the recently-passed "eye candy" for my now drabber (but still behaviourally interesting) 10 gal.

[rus]

a male jag would get cramped in a 18" deep tank.

[inxs]

I would reccomend doing some deco in the tank ex. driftwood, slate and plastic/silk plants - IME it makes the fish feel more comfortable and become more outgoing.

Having both I will say that I wouldn't want to part with either but they have very different personalities.

Jags look cool , but are stalkers, they seem to be very intelligent fish that won't expand any extra energy in attacking glass and swimming around being just curious instead they prefere to lurk in the shadows and stalk the prey - slowly moving in on it until they are close enough to make a quick grab and make the prey dissapear in a cloud of scales. A breeding pair is interesting as they go into display and courtship also raising the young is fun to watch. However to preserve the fish and keep them bonded you need hidingspots and a targetfish.

Midas/RD on the other hand is very curious , always swimming up to the glass and checking out what is going on, they chase eachother and are just a lot of fun to watch. I have also noticed that it is almost impossible to house any dithers with them as they will disappear rapidly.

From my understanding a single specimen of many cichlids alone in a tank will get very aggressive and territorial.

[predatorcichlid]

It's personal perferance. The jag if male will get larger and eat more. The devil will be more visible and have a brighter colors (but lack the cool looking spot pattern). The only draw back with the devils are there bad habbits. Devils tend to move gravel, tear up decor, and both the jag and devil may break there heaters or filtration tubes. Finally devils are a deeper body cichlid, while the jags are longer, sleeker with a much bigger mouth. It really depends on what your looking for in a cichlid.

[dbcb314]

i have a rd/midas cichlid and they are active. he just little but hes always swimmin in the front of the glass, movin the gravel around, or chasin the pleco (mean sob). i havent got a dithers to survive, but maybe thats because he is in a small tank for now