Hey Sean, there are a good few (maybe a few hundred) of large CA/SA cichlid keepers in Ireland, I know a good few people that do Just not many of them post on this forum. It's up to us and like minded individuals to try get em to contribute. I am always trying to lure people over to the 'dark side' of fishkeeping!
If you have a large JAG post a pic so others may appreciate why were always banging on about them! It's important for the hobby that people are exposed to the choices that are out there. There will never be a large community of large CA/SA cichlid keepers in Ireland without enthusiasm being shared by the likes of ourselves.
The advanced fishkeeping hobby in Ireland is dominated by Marines, Discus and the king of them all African cichlids.
Most people who get into cichlids end up with Africans. There is a good reason why this is; African cichlids look colourful as juveniles in the shop where as American cichlids don't, they look grey/brown and boring. Imagine you worked in a fish shop and were trying to tell a beginner that the grey/brown American cichlid is gonna be stunning one day but you can't keep it with all these other small fish that are stunning now, oh and it costs 3 times as much! You wouldn't sell a single one!
Thats why most fish shops don't stock many American cichlids at any one time except the usual Discus , dwarfs and angelfish.
So people see discus or africans in full colour in the shop and go for them if cichlids appeal to them. The poor plain juvenile American cichlid doesn't have a chance...
Thats why it's important to show adults, as Few here would disagree, There are not many fish as impressive and certainly none as intelligent as an American cichlid such as a Carpinte, GT,EBJ, Jag,Pearsi, Black belt, synspillum or Oscar's etc
It's a very refined niche in the hobby similar to discus keeping. It has requirements and limitations that are off putting to all but the most extreme cichlid fans. You need a large tank, the fish are generally more expensive, mixing them is as tedious as trying to mix lions and tigers! They can be difficult to source and you cannot keep many.
So many fish keepers in Ireland are addicted to the new fish feeling, the impulse to buy fish is very strong esp in beginners which is the cause of many a disaster. With American cichlids you just cannot do this. Every fish added requires careful study and thought with back up plans at the ready in case 'that red devil decides to kill your new Chuco intermedium ' or similar situation.
So to go with large SA/CA cichlids means;
To have the patience of a saint (ie to be able to wait a year or so before the fish is old enough to look colourful), planning and no more impulse buying! Mixing aggressive cichlids is also a fine art that takes much heartbreak and disappointment to get a feel for, All African cichlid keepers will know this only too wel!.
The rewards in my opinion are the most beautiful and responsive fish on Earth but for most it's just too extreme a hobby to get into. The desire of most people for Instant gratification will always rule any market, and I think more refined niches in the hobby such as American cichlid keeping will always be out of the mainstream hobby.
American cichlids are more pets then ornamental, but beat the ornamental fish on looks anyway! These are just my opinions, i'm sure some prefer guppies to green terrors but hey variety is the spice of life!!
