Author Archives: Paul_

Chaetobranchopsis orbicularis is a plankton eater, which can reach a total length of up to 20cm. This may be one of the reasons, why it is not getting imported too often, as such nutrition specialists are mostly only interesting for specialists and enthusiasts. Yet the care of this species from Brasil is not neccessarily difficult, since it is actually a harmless aquarium occupant despite its size, and you can also easily socialize them with smaller fish because of their eating habits. When socializing them with other Cichlids you must see to it that these are no aggressive kinds. As there are no special demands neither to the water condition nor to the aquarium arrangement, the care is not really difficult. However, a man-made breeding was not successful yet. The biggest difficulty of the care surely causes the nutrition. But even this is to realize with a well-functioning artemia breeding. Especially during the settling artemia are absolutely neccessary. Later you can also feed them well-balanced with other food, even smallest possible frozen food like lobstereggs, cyclops or daphnia. The maximum is frozen artemia. Dry food will be hardly accepted. Artemia must always be available as basic food, but please note that you have to feed animals with a size of about 15cm with it, therefore significant quantities are important. If you are willing or able to manage this, there are no obstacles to purchasing these animals. And who knows, perhaps you happen to find out something new or surprising about the reproduction of this species in human care? (Photo & Text T. Weidner)

This very beautiful representative of the surinamensis complex comes from Venezuela. These are very large animals of approximately 25 cm TL. The requirements of keeping, this species is not much different then the other members of its family. A sandy substrate, lots of shady hiding places like bogwood and round eroded stones, are basic requirements, which make feel these fish at home. They also prefer dimmed lights. If you would like plants in the aquarium as well, we would recommend hardy plants which do not require lots of light. Cryptocoryne aponogetofolia is very well suited for the cichlid aquarium, because it is apparently bitter in taste, does not need much light and the leaves can grow up to one meter in length.(Text: I. den Daas, Photo: F. Schäfer)

Cichla temensis does not represent a fish for everyone. We could import them from Venezuela, where they are estimated fishes for consumption and sold under the name Tucunare. In its natural environment they can reach an overall length of 1 m with a weight of approximately 10 kg. They grow to be the largest of all the cichlids. These a predatory fish and will eat anything that moves and can fit in its mouth. So tankmates should be of good size. Recommended companions include Piranhas, Pacu, Arowana and other large cichlids such as Crenicichla species. Recommended foods are live feeders (crayfish, small fish, large fish, insects, etc.), frozen and freeze dried foods, and carnivore pellets. A Cichla aquarium should be decorated with large rocks and roots to offer hiding places. A number of large robust plants are also to be recommended. The roots and rocks should be placed directly on the bottom glass to void that the large fishes tip them of and causes the glass to crack. Cichla species are excellent jumpers and often jump out of the water if they get spooked so a well covered aquarium is a necessity. The pH and water hardness levels are less important since these fishes are very tolerant to different conditions. They need warm water and should be kept in aquariums with a water temperature of 23-28ºC. (Photo F. Schäfer, Text K. Diehl)

You can surely excellently argue about taste, but the various populations of Geophagus altifrons could justly conquer a solid place among Cichlid lovers. And one of the most beautiful variants might be Geophagus altifrons “Tapajos”. Additionally, G. altifrons is an easy-to-keep cichlid. It requires aquariums with at least 500 ltr. capacity due to its size of 30cm maximum, but when being kept in such a tank it is rather undemanding to its keeper. The softer the water, the more beautifully coloured this fish is. But you can also keep it in harder water or higher pH-values without problems. Despite its size it is willing to accept dry food, frozen food must not be too coarse and without hard shells, otherwise digestive trouble might occur. As it is an eartheater, fine ground without sharp edges for burrowing must be available. It does not eat plants, but as it burrows, it is difficult to fasten plants tightly in the ground. Geophagus altifrons is a ovophile mouthbreeder, which can be even bred in a little harder water (approx. 25 °dGH). (Photo & Text von T. Weidner)

To take sensibly care of Retroculus lapidifer, which comes from Rio Tocantins/Rio Araguaia catchment area, you should own quariums with a base of 150 x 60cm minimum, as this species can grow very big (25-30cm). But despite its size you should not socialize it with aggressive cichlids, because it has only a certain self-assertion among his own kind. The food is not really difficult, you will make these fish evidently happy, if you give them big bits, e.g. rough krill, mussels or small fish. Also dry food will be eaten. R. lapidifer might cause difficulties sometimes during the settling and an infection of Ichthyo can drag on for a long time. Often only a daily subsequent dosing will then be helpful. All Retroculus kinds are particular susceptible regarding the water quality and often they are the first inside the aquarium to respond to an interfered nitrogen circulation. Breeding is quite possible, but is mostly only successful in big aquariums and with animals, which are at least 2 years old. Retroculus lapidifer belong to the hole-egg-layer, which means that a ground hollow must be dug over which the fish lay their eggs. Afterwards the spawn is getting collected by both parents and covered with rough sand, leaves, empty shells and things like that. Breeding of the young ones succeeds with new hatchet Artemia without problems.(Photos & text by T. Weidner)

Only one example of at present in extraordinarily good quality arriving Diskus is the “Red Inferno” variant coming from the Rio Moju. On their fins and flanks the animals show a strongly red-orange basic colour, which stands in beautiful contrast to the bluish green wave pattern. The icing on the cake are their cherry-red eyes, which register very attentively each movement inside and outside the aquarium. It is absolutely fascinating to stand before an aquarium with these magnificent animals and to observe the dynamics within a group. Watching them one understands immediately how applicable the old title “king of the aquarium fish” is for these animals. Their perfect form and beautiful colour combination make them surely interesting not only for the lover of wild discus. Even ambitious breeders can get fresh and healthy gene material for these criteria.

(Photo F. Schäfer, Text K. Diehl)

Nhamunda Rosé is the trade name of a strain of the brown discus Symphysodon aequifasciatus axelrodi originated in the Rio Nhamunda (northern influent of Amazon, west the city Alenquer). Now again some Nhamunda Rosé are available. Characteristic for this variety is the partially laminar high red part of the brown primary colour. Thus they are not only for fans of true bred location variants but also for breeders of new colour forms from interest. Their maintenance requirements are typical discus like: soft water, high temperatures, good hygienic conditions as well as a balanced nutrition. Best one maintains it in a group of at least 6 animals and avoids a developing of social stress, since this is probably decisive for the occurrence of the most diseases in discus keeping.(Photo F. Schäfer, Text K. Diehl)

If you search for a Cichlid for a society aquarium (120 l and up), G. meridionalis is almost unrestricted recommendable. Being a all eatingfish, it accepts every imaginable food, getting only approx. 10-12cm it is not growing too big and it also shows really beautiful colours. Besides it is not choosy regarding the water condition and can therefore be kept and bred in soft and sour water as well as in hard and alkaline water. It is a open breeding fish, who can produce approx. 250 eggs per clutch. There only is a small restriction for the care: G. meridionalis cannot stand constant high temperatures from 24°C and up for long. According to its home Uruguay you should keep him at room temperature or you can put it into a tank outside or into the pool from May to October. Dropping temperatures will not disturb him as long as these periods do not last longer than 4-6 weeks. Of course it will take much less food during these phase and it will also be getting much lazier. But as soon as the temperatures rise, it will again shine colourfully.(Photo & Text von T. Weidner)

Normally the durable care of Satanopera acuticeps is only possible in soft and sour pH-value. But as it was finally successful to breed this eartheater inside the aquarium, it could be that the bred ones are easier to keep and even easier to breed. So far the breeding was possible furthermore only in soft (< 4 °dGH) and sour (pH 5.5-6.0) waters at 30°C. But as the bred ones can be unproblematically raised in hard and alkaline water, it is safe to assume that the their care is not as critical anymore. Of course it would be better to use soft and sour water for their care. S. acuticeps is a Cichlid, which must be fed often (3 times a day minimum) and varied. A socialization with greedy or agressive othrt fish should be avoided, because S. acuticeps is only slightly able to assert itself despite its size (20 cm). (Photo & Text von T. Weidner)

January 2007: At present we can offer particularly beautiful Acarichthys heckelii from the region around Santarem. These fish are characterised by an intensive yellow colouring of the body. It forms a beautiful contrast to the red eyes and their magnificent fin rays. Acarichthys heckelii has a large area of origin along the Amazon and the upper Essequibo in Guyana. They like high water temperatures, because they live mainly in laggons and calm areas of rivers. At best they should be kept in groups than they are only little aggresive. Their nutrition is unproblematic, nearly all available food is accepted. The breeding of this cave breeder succeeds only rarely, apart from suitable caves they seem to need temperatures from at least 30°C.(Photo F. Schäfer, Text K. Diehl)

Despite the fact that Heros severus is the type species of the Heros genus, this species is the most uncharacteristic representative of this group. This is mainly caused by its reproducing behaviour, which is mouthbreeding and untypical for Heros, because they are all substrate breeding. Also the coloration is different from the other members of the genus. The care however is typical for a Heros representative. Heros severus should be kept in water with soft up to medium hard water with a pH around neutral. Hard water is tolerated as well although the coloration might then be fading. Also the fish might be more prone to diseases or show signs of deterioration. Vegetarian substances should be added to their menu and they are known to devour aquatic plants as well. Live and frozen food is also taken eagerly and even dry foods, being large flakes or sticks, are eagerly taken by this up to 25 cm large beautiful and fascinating cichlid. (Photo & Text:Thomas Weidner)