Petrochromis with Ophthalmotilapia boops

[petro101]

would 1 Ophthalmotilapia boops "neon strike" male tanked with 1 petrochromis trewav. male and 6 good sized barbs be enough distraction? or do you guys think the petro and boops would fight? I've never kept O. Boops so i'm not sure...things I've read online seem to say they focus on same species and not to keep two O. boops male together. I've seen videos of them with tropheus but those tanks were stocked heavily. 

[tankoftangs]

I would say it is a gamble. Disclaimer: I have not tried this particular combo. I have two f1 boops (I believe both males). I had them together in a 75 at first and they fought like cats and dogs as they grew. Once I realized they were probably both males I separated one into another tank. The alpha male that remained is now getting beat up by a frontosa that I have had since 1” and was in the tank the whole time. He is much larger now though. This boop used to run the tank and he and Tropheus seem to have a ignore relationship. So I would say it just depends on whether the boops or petro see the other as a threat. If you are willing you could always give it a go and give away/sell the boops if they start to fight. They are an amazing fish that can move with amazing speed.

[petro101]

thanks for the feedback. i think if i add anything to the tank i'll have to add bulk. I recently added a giraffe catfish a couple days ago and he (the petro) is just too aggressive. the catfish has plenty of hiding places but he cant live in peace without the petro coming over to chomp on him. didn't realize he would have so much focus on new additions, especially non cichlids...

[Mastiffman/ Duramax7Man7]

most fish in lake Tanganyika are what is called "Conspecific aggressive". This means that they are only aggressive towards their species. So being that said, you should be good.

[petro101]

So roughly a year later i finally got a O. boops in the tank. Not going good at all...just like the introduction of the goby/eretmodus the petro is chasing to kill. Very determined to rip this guys head off. I added a few barbs the same time i added the o.Boops and it didnt matter...he is focused on this guy for whatever reason. Going to add more barbs in today and see if i can get him distracted or take aggression towards the others. He's by far the most aggressive trewav I've kept.