The hump of the male of G. balzanii is comparable to the feather tail of a peacock: it is simply the expression of manhood! The Paraguay Eartheater originates from the southern parts of South America and is imported now and then from Paraguay as wild collected stock, but the species is also bred on a regular basis. The peaceful and quirky animal is thus quite often available, like our photographed specimens.
The species is a maternal, larvophilous mouthbrooder; this means that only the female takes care for the brood and that only the hatched larvae are taken in the mouth, while the eggs (which are placed on stones etc.) are treated in a “normal” way.
For our customers: the animals have code 676013 on our stocklist. Please note that we exclusively supply the wholesale trade.
The dwarf spezies among the pike cichlids have recently been separated as an independent genus Wallaciia (see https://www.aquariumglaser.de/en/fish-archives/the-crenicichla-have-been-reclassified/). They include W. compressiceps, which occurs only in the Tocantins and Araguaia rivers in Brazil. It is one of the smallest, the prettiest and the most aggressive pike cichlid species. Although it only grows to a maximum length of 10 cm, females always remain smaller, the animals should be provided with at least a 120 cm aquarium. Otherwise they can attack each other like small, biting terriers.
The males can be distinguished from the females already from the relatively small size of 4-6 cm by the clearly denser and more intensive striation of the softly rayed parts of the anal and dorsal fin as well as the caudal fin. In the latter, the stripes are either indistinct or even absent. In addition, males have a red stripe in the dorsal fin that is absent in females; however, this stripe is only seen when the animal spreads the dorsal fin.
If you can meet the space requirements of the little ruffians, you should definitely take care of them once. They are beautiful and relatively easy to breed. To do this, let pairs find each other from a group of animals. Like all pike cichlids they are cave breeders with parent family. The requirements for the water composition are easy to meet, they need a pH in the neutral or slightly acidic range, so they are by no means black water inhabitants! The water temperature should be between 26 and 28°C. Dry food is rejected by the fish, but any kind of frozen and live food is accepted.
For our customers: the fish have code 669202 on our stocklist. Please note that we only supply wholesale.
It does not always have to be bright colors that make a fish interesting. Rather, it appeals to nature lovers to study the life history of the animals they keep and this often leaves a deeper impression in the long run than the colorful appearance. By cichlid standards Heroina isonyterina is a gray mouse. However, it is exciting that this animal became known to science only very late. First collections were made in Colombia in 1958, then in Ecuador in 1971 and 1981 and in Peru in 1986. In spring 1995 H.-G. Breidohr, I. Kranz, U. Werner and W. Zucker flew to Colombia and searched east and west of Florencia in the drainage of the Rio Caqueta for cichlids. Among others, they caught the then scientifically unnamed H. isonycterina there, were able to bring it back and breed it. This prompted S. Kullander to finally give a formal scientific description of the new genus and species. The genus name is the female form of Heros – another genus of cichlid – and literally means “heroine”, the species name isonycterina means “equinox” and refers to the narrow distribution strip of the species in the far west of the Amazon drainage near the equator, where day and night are known to last 12 hours each.
The species falls quite out of the frame of what one expects of cichlids in South America. On the one hand it reminds a bit the also South American genera Hypselecara and Caquetaia, on the other hand it reminds very clearly to the Central American Cichlasoma relatives. With about 15 cm maximum length (males, females remain smaller) H. isonycterina is not a giant and already well accommodated in a meter tank. They are open breeders with a parental family. Some specimens spawn completely open, e.g. on flat root woods at the bottom, others prefer somewhat protected places under overhangs up to cave-like structures. Males and females differ in color when sexually mature. In females, the unpaired fins are less stippled and a greenish reflective zone develops in the dorsal fin.
We can currently offer offspring of this very rarely commercially available cichlid.
For our customers: the animals have code 682882 on our stocklist. Please note that we supply exclusively to wholesalers.
Text: Frank Schäfer, photos: Uwe Werner (adults) & Frank Schäfer (juveniles)
With 93 accepted species, the pike cichlids (Crenicichla) are the most species-rich genus of cichlids anywhere. Closely related to Crenicichla are the Teleocichla cichlids. The relationship is so close that the independence of Teleocichla has been doubted several times. In a recent study in which 74 species of the complex could be considered (65 Crenicichla species and all 9 Teleocichla species), different methods were tested to better understand the relationships of the pike cichlids. The result is that strictly speaking only one species remained, namely the type species of the genus Crenicichla (Crenicichla macrophthalma Heckel 1840)!
Crenicichla macrophthalma, type species of the genus Crenicichla, was described already in 1840. The species originates from the Manaus area in Brazil, but is an extreme rarity in the hobby. The strange lateral line pattern makes the fish distinctive.
However, the authors of the study (Varella et al., 2023) consider two groups of pike cichlids to be so closely related to this species that they established subgenera for them. The two subgenera to Crenicichla are Batrachops (9 species, type species Batrachops reticulatus) and Lacustria (34 species, type species Cycla lacustris). This approach is sure to meet with criticism because the concept of subgenus is in itself a paradox. Either the members of a subgenus represent an independent, monophyletic line of development, in which case they can just as well be placed in a full genus, or not, in which case there is no need for a subgenus. Anyway, this is for others to judge.
Crenicichla (Batrachops) reticulata, type species of the subgenus Batrachops. If Batrachops became full genus rank, the species name must be reticulatus (masculinum), in Crenicichla it is femininum, i.e. reticulata.
Most species of the subgenus Crenicichla (Lacustria) are hardly available aquaristically, they come from southern Brazil. The pictures of the type species C. lacustris shown here were taken 17 years ago. At that time the not yet identified fishes were called C. sp. Itapemirim or C. sp. Malaria.
However, the remaining 49 species are so different from Crenicichla in the proper sense that they have been transferred to separate genera: Wallaciia (type species Crenicichla wallacii) with 8 species, Lugubria (type species Crenicichla lugubris) with 16 species, Hemeraia (type species Crenicichla hemera) with 2 species, and Saxatilia (type species Sparus saxatilis) with 23 species. The independence of Teleocichla was confirmed, it includes 9 species, type species is Teleocichla centrarchus.
The dwarf crenicichla were transferred to the newly established genus Wallaciia (No typo, two i’s). Type species is W. wallacii from Guyana (pictures), a species very similar to the aquaristically much better known species W. regani.
Lugubria species are quite popular with owners of large (!) aquariums. The pictures show a population of the type species L. lugubris from the Rio Jutai in Brazil.
The representatives of the new genus Saxatilia belong to the group of forms around S. saxatilis. The pictures show S. edithae, a typical representative of the genus from Paraguay. The two Hemeraia species have not yet appeared alive as far as we know.
The independence of the genus Teleocichla was confirmed. The pictures show the type species T. centrarchus from the Rio Xingu in Brazil.
As experience with breaking up other large collecting genera in the past has shown (e.g. Cichlasoma, Barbus/Puntius, Botia, etc.), some fine-tuning will now certainly take place in the near future and the outliers in the new genera will be subdivided once again.So there is some learning to do for fans of these elegant predatory cichlids if they want to be on top of scientific classification.
The new names will almost certainly not be adopted by the trade for the time being, because any change of name means a major intervention in the merchandise management systems and is associated with high costs and – what is more important – with a loss of information. Therefore, one will wait a few years to see how the scientific community will accept the proposals of Varella et al. before taking action.
Text & photos: Frank Schäfer
Literature:
Varella, H. R., Kullander, S. O., Menezes, N. A., Oliveira, C. and H. López-Fernández (2023): Revision of the generic classification of pike cichlids using an integrative phylogenetic approach (Cichlidae: tribe Geophagini: subtribe Crenicichlina). Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society Advance article: 1-43
In the Rio Atabapo in Venezuela, from which Uaru fernandezyepezi originates, it is already some weeks closed season, i.e. no fish may be caught there. The beautiful Uaru fernandezyepezi, which we can offer at the moment, are therefore the last specimens of the current season.
There was a time when people hardly dared to import Uaru fernandezyepezi. Rio Atabapo is a blackwater river with very low pH (around 4.5) and hardly detectable hardness, therefore very low in bacteria. And it is very warm (28-30°C). Against bacterial contamination (e.g. of the transport water), cooling down (e.g. in the comparatively “cold” Bogota, over which almost all international flights pass) and also against very hard water, Uaru fernandezyepezi is extremely sensitive, at least in the acclimation phase. But fortunately these problems are solved in the meantime and there are very well kept animals of this beautiful cichlid.
We can offer just two sizes: 12-15 cm, with some animals still showing remnants of the brightly spotted child coloration, and 14-17 cm. As fully adult these animals are considered with about 25 cm. Similar to Discus, with which they are closely related, Uaru are almost schooling fish outside the breeding season, at least they like to swim in a troop with their peers. Adult Uaru are largely vegetarians and prefer to eat soft plants. They are peaceful, almost shy fish, which should not be kept together with rough large cichlids, to which they have nothing to oppose.
For our customers: the animals have code 688405 (12-15 cm) and 688406 (14-17 cm). Please note that we only supply wholesale. Only a few animals available!
Solid blue-green angelfish are apparently the dream of many angelfish breeders. The body base color blue, a mutation, has been known in angelfish since World War 2, but it was very difficult to establish it in large-scale breeding. It was not until the end of the 1990s that this was achieved. Since then, a wide variety of lines have been pursued with Blue Angelfish.
The pictures in this post show one of the current Blue Angelfish as we receive them from our breeder. The juveniles are still relatively unspectacular, you have to know what will become of them, but the adults are very attractive.
For our customers: the fish have code 693402 (md) on our stocklist. Please note that we only supply wholesale.
Crenicichla zebrina is one of the still extremely high-priced fishes, because the finding areas are located far away and it is very costly to transport live fishes healthy and lively from there to the export stations. The wonderful coloration makes the animals nevertheless desirable.
Unfortunately it is hard to tell the sexes of C. zebrina apart and furthermore randomly mated animals rarely get along. Juveniles, on the other hand, are inconspicuous in coloration and still expensive, but quite peaceful among themselves. A troop of young animals is the best chance to get to a breeding pair.
The Real or Heckel Discus (Symphysodon discus) is always somewhat behind its close relatives, the Blue and Green Discus, in popularity. This is certainly only because it breeds less willingly. There is no doubt about its special beauty.
The Heckel Discus “Blue Moon” is found only in a rather remote region of the Alto Nhamunda (i.e. the upper reaches of the Rio Nhamunda). To the nearest “normal” collecting station it takes four hours by speedboat!
Nevertheless, the Blue Moon are selected animals. Although the Blue Moon is only found in the Alto Nhamunda, not all of the Heckels of the Alto Nhamunda are Blue Moon. Only a relatively small percentage show the unique coloration. Some of these Blue Moon are so intensely colored that at first glance they could be mistaken for Area Turquoise Discus, a breeding form that evolved from Blue and Green Discus. However, all Blue Moon are wild caught.
For our customers: the animals have code 735036 on our stocklist. Please note that we only supply to wholesalers.
The “golden cichlid” is one of the first cichlid species that became known for aquaristics. It originates from Mexico. Already in 1911 the first imports took place. However, the species never really caught on in general, in contrast to its cousin T. meeki, which was first imported more than 20 years later and is still one of the most commonly kept and bred cichlids. Astonishing, as the “meeki” with nearly the same shape and size (maximum 15 cm) is by far not as colorful and also on average much more aggressive than T. aureus.
The reason is probably the much more inconspicuous juvenile coloration of T. aureus. Up to a length of about 10 cm this fish comes along rather pastel colored. Meekis are colored much earlier. Therefore T. aureus is rather a fish for connoisseurs.
Normally we have only relatively small juveniles (mostly 4-7 cm) of these animals in our offer. Now it happened by chance that one of our breeders had to give away a big pair. We think the pictures speak for themselves, don’t you?
For our customers: the animals have code 688170 (4-5 cm) to 688174 (8-10 cm) on our stocklist. The big pair found a new home right away. Please note that we only supply wholesale.
From Peru we received wonderful, large angels (Pterophyllum). They have a yellowish to reddish back and many brown-red spots on the flanks. This exceptionally beautiful wild form has been called Pterophyllum leopoldi for decades due to a misidentification in aquarium circles. The “true” P. leopoldi originates from Brazil and is the fish always referred to in the hobby as P. dumerilii, while the “true” P. dumerilii from Brazil is considered synonymous with P. scalare. Other names, equally incorrect, that circulate for Peru scalars are “Peru Altum” or “Pterophyllum peruensis”.
In fact, the “Red Spots Peru” is a scientifically undescribed species. This has nothing to do with the red spots: this species also exists without red spots. Rather it is the black, comma-shaped spot, which extends as extension of the 2nd body bandage into the dorsal fin, which is characteristic for the species (in the order: eye bandage – 1st body bandage – 2nd body bandage – tail root bandage, thus four dark vertical bands, of which the tail root bandage is often only indistinctly visible).
Regardless of the name, the red-spotted angelfish from Peru are magnificent animals, which unfortunately can be imported only very rarely and in small numbers.
For our customers: the animals have code 699307 on our stocklist. Please note that we only supply wholesale. Only available in limited numbers!
The 1980s and 1990s were the high times of traveling aquarists who wanted to shed light on Central American cichlids. And this succeeded more than satisfactorily! One of these amateur researchers in the best sense of the word was Hans-Günther Breidohr (1938-2017). In his honor Uwe Werner and Rainer Stawikowski named a cichlid Paratheraps breidohri, which was discovered on such trips and recognized as a new species due to the subsequent aquarium care. Today it is – research progresses – placed in the genus Vieja, so it is called Vieja breidohri.
We are very happy that this cichlid, which is apparently very rarely found in the wild – it is only known from a reservoir in Chiapas, Mexico – has been included in the program of Southeast Asian breeders. Right now we have juveniles from Indonesia in the stock. The animals are still somewhat inconspicuous in color. Thankfully, Uwe Werner, one of the discoverers of the species, has allowed us to use his pictures of adult specimens for this post.
Vieja breidohri grows 25-30 cm long, so it belongs to the large cichlids. You only need to offer them enough space, then you can enjoy these character fish for many years. They are – as usual in the Cichlasoma relatives – open breeders with parent family. It is strongly discouraged to combine different Vieja species with each other, as they can hybridize. The days when it was so easy to take research trips and bring back fish are, unfortunately, long gone. This is very much to the detriment of nature, but the ignorant bureaucracy is not expected to change this situation in the foreseeable future. That is why we have to take care to keep the existing strains pure in conservation breeding.
For our customers: the animals have code 688521 (3-4 cm) and 688523 (6-8 cm) on our stocklist. Please note that we supply exclusively to wholesalers.
Central American cichlids often require large aquariums. Not so much because of their swimming needs, but because they form territories and are often unbearably aggressive in aquariums that are too small. In large aquariums, on the other hand, this is hardly a problem. But there are also dwarf cichlids among the Central Americans, which – according to the definition of the word dwarf cichlid – do not grow larger than 10 cm. The beautiful Cryptoheros species belong to them, also C. myrnae.
So even owners of medium (standard) aquariums can enjoy Central American cichlids and their varied, interesting behavior and fiery colors. Unfortunately, nowadays it cannot be assumed that regular fishing trips to the countries of origin – in this case Costa Rica, where C. myrnae occurs in rivers on the atlantic side – are possible. Commercial imports from there never existed anyway. Therefore the conservation of species in the aquarium is of special importance and for this purpose it is important to breed “true to species”, i.e. on a population basis, wherever possible. Therefore we are very pleased to be able to offer C. myrnae offspring even with locality designation. However, the animals are German offspring.
The sexes of this peaceful, hardly burrowing and also for suitably furnished and occupied community aquariums suitable species, are to be distinguished well starting from a size of approximately 3 cm. Then the females develop a black and white spot in the dorsal fin. The water values are unimportant for care and breeding, any drinking water is suitable. The temperature can be between 22 and 28°C, medium values have proven. Every usual ornamental fish food is eaten. It is very interesting if the animals have territorial differences. Then they color themselves within seconds in the face and on the chest deep black!
For our customers: the animals from Rio Sarapiqui have code 674432 on our stocklist. Furthermore we have very nice “no name” C. myrnae, code 674402 in our stock.
The kings of the discus fishes are the “Royal” varieties. A discus is called Royal if green or blue pattern elements are spread over the entire body surface. Among the green discus the Royal from Tefé in Brazil (which is also one of the type localities of S. aequifasciatus, i.e. the locality from which the specimens on which the scientific description is based were collected) is the legendarily most beautiful. Here one finds particularly many Royal fishes, which additionally have orange-red spots on the flanks.
However, it should be clear to every discus lover that there are royal fish in (almost) every discus population and that this is not a species or race characteristic, but an individual color variation. In nature royals and “normal” color varieties, which are far less attractive in our eyes, live together and form a reproductive community with them. Only in the export stations the animals are sorted by color. Just like the royal coloration, the eye coloration is not a race characteristic. There are always specimens with yellow and red iris ring among the wild fish.
We have very nice Royal selections of Tefé in the stock right now. Each fish is – seen for itself – a gem. Currently the animals have a length of 12-15 cm.
For our customers: the fish have code 733095 on our stocklist. Please note that we only supply wholesale.
The Rio Nanay is a large, left-bank tributary of the upper Amazon River. It is considered a blackwater river. The Rio Nanay is home to Green Discus, which have always been sought after in the hobby. In the past, in the 1950s and 1960s, these precious animals came to us via the Colombian city of Leticia, which is still a major hub for South American ornamental fish. This is because Leticia is located in the triangle of Peru, Colombia and Brazil. In fact, the Colombian city of Leticia and the Brazilian city of Tabatinga are one municipality and you can get from one to the other without border controls.
Discus are and have always been relatively expensive fish, which is partly due to the fact that they have to be packed and transported individually and therefore there is only room for a few animals per box. This results in a high freight price. In addition, however, discus of all varieties and locality forms are also sorted in the country itself. Depending on rarity and demand, different prices for animals from the same locality arise. In the case of green discus from the Rio Nanay, specimens with many spots on the flanks are particularly sought after and therefore significantly more expensive than their cousins in which these spots are less numerous or missing. The number of spots says nothing about the sex and is not necessarily inherited. And, of course, the animals with numerous spots are, according to their status, a bit more reserved towards the paparazzo in front of the glass who wants to photograph them, than their bourgeois cousins …
For our customers: the animals are 10-14 cm long and have code 749944 (spotted) and 749934 (few spots) on our stocklist. Please note that we only supply wholesale.
The redhump eartheater (Geophagus steindachneri) from Colombia has had a regular place in the aquarium since it was first imported to Germany in 1972. There are numerous reasons for this. First of all it is very attractively colored. The males develop a red colored forehead hump, which varies very much in size. Over all: the size. In fact, G. steindachneri can grow up to 25 cm long! But sexual maturity starts already with 6 -7 cm length.
Geophagus steindachneri is considered to be the most specialized mouthbrooder of South America, because the eggs are taken into the maternal mouth immediately after spawning. Instead of egg spots in the anal fin, as found in many African mouthbrooding cichlids, G. steindachneri have orange spots in the corners of the mouth, which achieved the same effect.
We have at the moment nice offsprings of the species in the stock, where the males have as a special feature green-golden areas in the area of the gill covers.
For our customers: the animals have code 678212 on our stocklist. Please note that we supply exclusively to wholesalers.
The Blue Dempsey is a beautiful blue variant of the normally rather dark colored Rocio octofasciata (formerly: Cichlasoma or Nandopsis octofasciatum). In the youth Blue Dempsey still have relatively many black color parts, the extremely intensive, then almost solid blue coloration develops only with increasing age.
Presumably the animals are descendants of a mutant, which originated in Argentina (however, the fish is not native there, the ancestors of the Blue Dempsey were commercial aquarium fish) and was stabilized by backcrossing to “normal” Rocio octofasciata.
According to various keepers, the animals also seem to be significantly less aggressive than the wild form, which makes them particularly valuable for the aquarist. They do not make special demands on the water chemistry, according to their final size of about 20 cm the aquariums should not be chosen too small.
For our customers: the animals have code 657021 (2-3 cm) and 657022 (3-4 cm) on our stocklist. Please note that we supply exclusively to wholesalers.
The small cichlid Biotodoma cupido – it reaches about 12-15 cm total length, but is already sexually mature at 6-8 cm – is probably the most widespread cichlid species in Amazonia. Among experts there is cheerful disagreement whether all the different looking animals are only local color variants or independent species.
Be that as it may: the animals from the area of Iquitos in Peru can be easily recognized by the large bronze to copper colored spot that the males show and which makes the fish very attractive. We have also posted a video about these animals: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NZFRAksTFew
These extremely peaceful fish are open breeders with parent families. Only when they get into breeding mood their behavior changes and they become very rabid. In nature they prefer to live in moving water, otherwise they have few demands and some populations of Biotodoma can even be found in tidal areas.
For our customers: the animals have code 634005 on our stock list. Please note that we only supply wholesale.
Lexicon: biotodoma: means “house of life” (these fish were once thought to be mouthbrooders). cupido: after a Roman god of love.
The beautiful cichlid Rocio octofasciata from Mexico is still known by many older people as Cichlasoma biocellatum. But all over the world young and old know him also under the popular name “Jack Dempsey”, although you have to be quite old to have experienced this legendary heavyweight boxer still in his active time: Jack Dempsey’s fights for the world championship took place in the 1920s.
R. octofasciata got its popular name from its combative nature. However, one must keep in mind that in the 1920s a 60-cm aquarium was considered quite large. In such small tanks, many cichlids actually behave very aggressively against tankmates, because they claim the entire space as their territory. In today’s common, much larger aquariums the Jack Dempsey can be classified as rather peaceful.
In the photo tank, we had used one male and four females for this session; after all, the real Jack Dempsey was married four times. One of his wives was silent film star Estelle Taylor, considered one of the most beautiful women of her time. And the cichlid females are really very fancy, too. Hardly in the aquarium, they dyed themselves almost black and fenced a hierarchy among themselves, while the well double so large gentleman observed the happening unimpressed and drew measured his courses…
Rocio octofasciata is an open breeder with parent family. Breeding usually succeeds without problems with a harmonizing pair, which is best found from a group.
For our customers: the animals have code 657002 on our stocklist. Please note that we supply exclusively to wholesalers.
We have received an incredibly beautiful pair of wild caught Oscars from the Rio Tapajos. At least the male absolutely competes with the breeding form “Red Tiger Oskar” in color, but as we said, they are wild-caught!
The sexes are difficult to distinguish externally in Astronotus, but the striking color difference and the expression of the dorsal, anal and ventral fins make it very likely that our animals – they are 20-25 cm long – are indeed a pair. However, for safety reasons we have housed the precious animals individually and therefore cannot say whether they get along.
For our customers: the animals have code 633427 on our stocklist. Please note that we only supply to wholesalers.
The Rio Tapajós in Brazil is a more than 800 km long tributary of the Amazon. It is also the largest tributary of the Amazon River and flows to its right side when viewed downstream. It is not surprising that the great Tapajós River contains numerous endemic species, i.e. species that only occur there and nowhere else. Among these is the still scientifically undescribed Crenicichla sp., also known as Cobra Pike ( = Snake Pike) because of its striking juvenile pattern. Adult this fish, which can reach over 30 cm length, becomes splendidly red. For pictures of the adult please see https://www.aquariumglaser.de/en/fish-archives/crenicichla_sp_tapajos_en/
Crenicichla sp. Tapajos does not only grow big, it is also very aggressive. Among themselves it can come to wild, sometimes deadly fights with adult animals and even young animals can only be characterized with the adjective “cheeky”. With them the first priority is to examine every tankmate for its eatability and in the puberty – from about 8-10 cm in length – conspecifics are perceived only as annoying food competitors. Only adult pairs get along relatively well. The key to successful breeding of this species – they are cave breeders with a parental family – therefore lies in huge aquariums. Here one can raise a group of juveniles so that pairs can be found. However, a single fish can also be kept in normal sized tanks, because the swimming requirement of these animals is relatively low.
For our customers: the species has code 671832 (8-10 cm) and 671833 (10-12 cm) on our stocklist. Please note that we only supply wholesale.
The Red Turquoise lines were among the first breeding forms of the Discus Cichlid, developed in the 1980s. Aquaristics had reached the point where wild-caught Brown/Blue Discus could be considered “cracked”. So one mastered their successful acclimation and breeding. Since wild-caught discus turn out very inconsistently – between simply brown and completely blue streaked animals (Royal Blue) everything is possible within the same population – in the next step one wanted to selectively breed the fish that were considered particularly attractive. By selective mating of Royal Blue discus with animals, which had as much red as possible in the body ground coloration, the Red-Turquoise discus were created. Until today many people consider this discus breeding form as one of the most beautiful discus at all.
Also red-turquoise discus are bred nowadays in large numbers in the discus breeders of Asia. They have remained the most „wild typed“ compared with the other Asian breedings.
For our customers: the “Super Red Turqoise” in size 5-7 cm as on the photos have code 715102 on our stocklist. Please note that we only supply wholesale.
The “Pidgeon Blood” discus, which appeared in the early 1990s as a mutation in Asian discus breeding, revolutionized discus breeding. It combined two characteristics that discus breeders had previously only dreamed of: an early coloration, i.e. already 5-7 cm long juveniles look essentially like adult fish in terms of color. And a second advantage of the mutation: even when in unfamiliar surroundings, the animals do not show the discus dress consisting of vertical stripes, nor do they darken.
The original Pidgeon Blood – the name, by the way, refers to a gemstone (ruby) of the same name – no longer exists. It had too many “freckles”, black speckles irregularly distributed over the whole body. By crossbreeding other discus breeding forms, like red-turquoise etc., the freckle pattern was displaced more and more. Today’s Pidgeon-Blood varieties show them almost not at all.
There is no uniform naming of the many dozens of Pidgeon-Blood varieties. Each breeding farm assigns its own names. A “Pidgeon Blood Panda” is usually understood to be a Pidgeon Blood discus in the color red-turquoise (i.e. red body base color and turquoise pattern elements), in which the turquoise pattern elements form a pattern of unconnected spots (= checkerboard pattern) and parts of the dorsal and anal fin are blackish in color.
For our customers: Pidgeon Blood Panda in 5-7 cm length (as shown in the pictures) have code 714952 on our stocklist. Please note that we only supply wholesale.
The color red is the dream color of many animal breeders. Red canaries, red swordtails, red guppies, red angelfish – wherever this was genetically possible, it was realized. With polychromatic fish species, e.g. with Apistogramma, where in nature always several color variants occur together, the red ones were preferred in breeding. And with the discus? Here, too, red is the trump card. With turquoise discus the red-turquoise ones are seen as the most beautiful, with the brown ones one looked – particularly with Alenquer fish – also on red color elements. So it is only logical that among the Asian Discus also a red fish is the best seller: Marlboro Red.
Marlboro Red is descended from Pidgeon Bloods, and breeders are working hard to push back the smoky black color elements that appear in Pidgeon Bloods. They have succeeded quite well with the current strains. The closest you can see to where the genetic roots of Marlboro Red lie is in the smoky gray tail fin.
For our customers: the fish have code 702502 (5-7 cm) on our stock list. Please note that we only supply wholesale.
The Asian discus cultivars enjoy great popularity, because on the one hand they color very early (wild forms all look similarly unspectacular in 5-7 cm length) and on the other hand they are not very shy, so they can be presented well even in unfamiliar surroundings.
Of the solid blue discus, the Blue Diamond, which was created in the 1990s, is the most popular. Breeders also pay a lot of attention to the brilliant red eye in this fish, which contrasts nicely with the blue body color. The modern discus breeds are much less sensitive than wild-caught fish, but even with them one should absolutely observe the three basic pillars of successful discus care: good water hygiene, keeping in schools and a varied diet. Then you will experience much joy with these fish.
For our customers: Blue Diamond 5-7 cm have code 709602 on our stocklist. Please note that we supply exclusively to wholesalers.
From the Colombian province of Caquetá we occasionally receive a magnificent Geophagus of the surinamensis group, which is obviously a scientifically not yet described species. Three color characteristics are used for the identification of Geophagus of this complex relationship: 1. the shape, position and size of the lateral spot in relation to the eye, 2. the vertical body bands and 3. black markings in the area of the pre-gill cover. The corresponding combination of characteristics of Geophagus sp. “Caqueta” does not correspond to any of the described species.
They are, like most Geophagus of the surinamensis group, beautiful, comparatively peaceful animals, of which we can offer just 5 specimens in a size of 13-16 cm.
For our customers: the fish have code 674486 on our stocklist. Please note that we supply only wholesale.
Of the seven scientifically described species of Astronotus, only two are currently recognized by most ichthyologists, namely A. crassipinnis and A. ocellatus; however, a third, A. zebra, is so distinctly different in color from the others that there is little doubt as to its validity. Now a new name has been established: the Oscar from the Orinoco drainage and the Gulf of Paria in northern South America has been scientifically described as A. mikoljii (Perez Lozano et al., 2022). All images in this post show Astronotus mikoljii at different age stages and local populations.
Besides A. mikoljii there are – according to molecular data – at least three more species of Oscars in South America, which are named Astronotus sp. “East”, A. sp. “Negro” and A. sp. “Jurua” in the work of Perez Lozano et al. In the case of these species, however, it must be carefully checked whether they have not been described before and are wrongly listed as synonym. However, the matter is not simple, because Oscars were and are brought within South America also again and again as food fish into areas, in which they were not native originally at all. In addition, this may have led to hybrids, which are also difficult to represent molecularly.
A. mikoljii was named after Ivan Mikolji, an avid artist, nature lover, and explorer of Venezuela and Colombia who is also an ornamental fish exporter. Mikolji’s Oscar, like all Astronotus species, usually grows to 25-30 cm in length and does not differ from the other species in terms of care and breeding.
Literature: Perez Lozano A, Lasso-Alcalá OM, Bittencourt PS, Taphorn DC, Perez N, Farias IP (2022): A new species of Astronotus (Teleostei, Cichlidae) from the Orinoco River and Gulf of Paria basins, northern South America. ZooKeys 1113: 111–152. https://doi.org/10.3897/zookeys.1113.81240
The Texas cichlid was successfully introduced to Germany and bred as early as 1902. In the meantime the species has undergone several name changes. In former times it was called Cichlasoma cyanoguttatum, today it is placed in the genus Herichthys and it is believed that the large spotted form as we can offer it right now belongs to the species Herichthys carpinte and originates from Mexico, while H. cyanoguttatum is smaller spotted and the only species originally native to the USA (Texas). It is the most northern occurring cichlid species at all.
Unfortunately the pearl cichlid has fallen into oblivion nowadays, so we are always very happy when these beautiful animals are offered to us. Currently the fish are 4-5 cm long, but the maximum length is almost 30 cm. Then they belong to the most splendid cichlids at all and are very high-backed, as our archive picture shows.
For our customers: the animals have code 644502 on our stocklist. Please note that we only supply wholesale.
Similar to the fact that there are several red-backed angelfish populations, there are also several red or yellow-spotted wild forms. The ancestors of Pterophyllum sp. “Guyana Red Dragon” came from the Essequibo River in Guyana. Number and intensity of dots vary individually in each fish, but all specimens we currently received (they are now 5-7 cm long and just sexually ripe) are very nicely and intensely spotted. They are German offspring.
The coloration of the red spots of the Pterophyllum sp. “Guyana Red Dragon” changes with the incidence of light. Sometimes they look more orange, sometimes black-red, sometimes cherry-red. Exactly the same phenomenon is known from the red dotted Green Discus (Symphysodon aequifasciatus). And just like discus, red-spotted and un-spotted specimens occur together in nature. These are not special local variations, nor are they sex differences or even species differences. However, as the magnificent Pterophyllum sp. “Guyana Red Dragon”, which we are currently able to offer, show abundantly clear: this characteristic is hereditary and can be increased in its expression from generation to generation in the hands of experienced breeders.
For our customers: the animals have code 699793 on our stocklist. Please note that we only supply wholesale.
There is a lot of interest in special wild forms of the angelfish. Among the best known is the “Manacapuru Redback”, a very striking form. Because of the strong need for revision of the genus Pterophyllum, it is better not to call it “Pterophyllum scalare” scientifically, because what exactly this “real” scalare is has yet to be researched.
The city of Manacapuru, after which this redback is named, is the fourth largest city in the Brazilian state of Amazonas. It is located directly on the Amazon River, but about 80 km above the confluence of the Amazon and Rio Negro. Until there, the Amazon is called Rio Solimoes. However, red-backed angelfish are not only found there and unfortunately different red-backed local forms have been crossed with each other in the past, either intentionally or unintentionally. The Manacapuru redback is characterized by the fact that the caudal fin is almost completely featureless or at most delicately striped (more or less strongly striped in many other redback local forms). The “Amapa redback”, very similar to the “Manacapuru redback”, is less intensely colored and, when fully grown, is of “eimekei” appearance. As juveniles, these two forms are almost indistinguishable.
Care of the Manacapuru Redback is no more difficult than that of the “common” angelfish breeding forms. They become most beautiful in high tanks (around 60 cm). Young animals often do not show much red in the back yet, this depends on the strain and feeding. One pays attention with purchase above all to the thread-like belly fins. If they are nice and straight and about as long as the anal fin, then they will be nice animals. Crooked, shortened ventral fins indicate bad growing conditions. This is not hereditary, but it also never really grows out. Feeding a lot of small crustaceans (Daphnia, Cyclops, Artemia, Mysis etc., whether live or frozen) will intensify the red colors in the back. Our pictures show young adult animals and juveniles.
For our customers: the animals have code 699673 on our stocklist. Please note that we only supply wholesale.
The taxonomic status of this small cichlid, which has had quite a respectable aquaristic career as Amatitlania sp. Honduras Redpoint, is controversial. It is currently assumed that it belongs to the species scientifically described as A. siquia. Now this species is itself controversial and is seen by some scientists as a synonym to the old familiar A. nigrofasciata, accepted by others as a distinct species.
Of course we can’t decide that, but the two forms look different and therefore one should be careful not to mix them accidentally. In contrast to A. nigrofasciata A. siquia shows a beautiful blue-green shining patina at least in the female sex.
Aquaristically, A. nigrofasciata and A. siquia are similar in size, water values, diet and brood care.
For our customers: the animals have code 674452 (4-5 cm) and 674453 (5-6 cm) on our stocklist. Please note that we supply exclusively to wholesalers.
Are you in a phase of the hobby, in which nothing at all wants to work out concerning breeding? Then it is time for the emergency rescuer in all situations, the convict cichlid Amatitlania nigrofasciata. Although it is no longer available everywhere and at any time, especially in its natural form, it hardly ever disappoints with regard to breeding intentions. Any male and just as any female (recognizable by the copper-red spots on the belly) almost always form a pair. A tip: the greater the size difference, the less chance of serious quarrels. So choose a large male and a much smaller female.
After a few days in the fresh aquarium with slightly increased temperatures (26-28°C compared to 22-24°C for normal care) it is usually already so far: the pair cleans a flat stone or a root, one spawns and the keeper enjoys the sight of a caring pair with many, many young.
For our customers: the natural form of A. nigrofasciata has code 655902 on our stocklist. Please note that we only supply wholesale.
For the first time we were able to import a beautiful Aequidens from Venezuela, which is probably Ae. superomaculatum. This species has been described scientifically only a few years ago – in 2015. Unique in the genus and also giving the name (superomaculatum = with a spot above) is the combination of a continuous lateral stripe and a lateral spot positioned far above. In the other Aequidens species the lateral stripe is either interrupted or/and the lateral spot is located in the middle of the longitudinal band. However, our new imports differ from the first description specimens in that they have two side spots: the eponymous one below the dorsal fin and additionally one within the longitudinal band. Thus they show a striking similarity with the to our knowledge still scientifically undescribed Ae. sp. “Jenaro Herrera” from Peru, which was found near the locality Jenaro Herrara at the Rio Ucayali. Between the occurrences of the two Aequidens is a good 500 km as the crow flies. Also Ae. diadema from the Rio Negro in Venezuela is very similar and also fits geographically. Certainly some more research is needed before we can be sure about the name of this cichlid.
Our new imports look particularly attractive because of the orange markings, which on the one hand frame the side spot located within the longitudinal band, and on the other hand decorate the back…. About the behavior of the animals, which according to the first description can become about 15 cm long (the largest specimen available to the describers had a length of 133.8 mm without caudal fin), we cannot say much yet, but they show themselves with us – typical Aequidens – reserved and somewhat shy. According to Uwe Werner, who could bring Aequidens superomaculatum already once privately, it is a larvophilous mouthbrooder, i.e. the fish spawns in the manner of an open brooder on a solid object as adhesive spawners and takes the hatched larvae for further care in the mouth.
For our customers: the animals have code 611174 on our stock list. Please note that we supply exclusively to wholesalers.
There is no doubt that Astatheros macracanthus is a fish for connoisseurs. This 20-25 cm long cichlid is distributed quite widely from southern North America to Guatemala and El Salvador. The species was scientifically described already in 1864, but in the aquarium it has always remained an absolute rarity. The reason is clear: in the normal coloration this cichlid is pretty, but by no means striking. Only those who know how the parents present themselves during breeding – namely almost snow-white with contrasting, pitch-black lateral markings on the hind body and likewise pitch-black lips – will acquire Astatheros macracanthus.
The care of the typical open-breeders with parent family corresponds to that of all Central Americans of the bull class: as large as possible aquaria dampen the aggressiveness. Sand, stones and roots form the main furnishings. Strong filtering provides for hygienic conditions and a varied nutrition (almost everything is eaten, which fits into the mouth, whereby vegetable components are usually hardly touched) let power packages grow up, which let the heart of each cichlid friend beat faster. The water values are of secondary importance, if extremes are avoided.
For our customers: the fish have code 631503 on our stocklist. Please note that we only supply wholesale.
Text: Frank Schäfer, Photos: Frank Schäfer and Marc Kranz
Few fish show as clearly how dynamic things can get in aquaristics as Cichla. These large cichlids are among the most popular food fish in South America, but until the turn of the millennium they were not considered very suitable for aquarium care: they were considered too large and too sensitive.
In the meantime, however, the 5 species known until then have become 15 species and this increased the interest of aquarists interested in biology and nowadays the demand for these magnificent animals has grown so much that for some of them even commercial breeding in SE Asia is worthwhile!
Of course these magnificent fish are and remain animals for specialists and show aquariums, because they easily break the 40 cm mark, as maximum length 80-100 cm are given for record animals. But one should not underestimate how many enthusiasts are willing to set up really large aquariums for their favorite animals. And so also local offsprings come from time to time into the trade.
We have received an absolute speciality from a German breeder: Hybrids between Cichla ocellaris and C. melaniae. Especially interesting is how these hybrids present themselves externally, namely in all possible intermediate levels between the coloration of the parent species. Some look almost like pure C. ocellaris regarding juvenile coloration, others almost like pure C. melaniae, but most somehow in between. There are also patterns that have not yet been described from any free-living Cichla species. This is significant in that hybrids must always be expected in the wild as well, since Cichla were and are widely shipped as stock fish within South America as popular food fish.
The pictures show juveniles (9-12 cm) from our current stock, as well as a 10 months old specimen, whose picture was provided to us by the breeder.
For our customers: the animals have code 636534 on our stocklist. Please note that we only supply wholesale.
For the first time we could import this magnificent Heros from Venezuela in 2016. The animals should originate from a Rio Curare, therefore the name; however, no Rio Curare is known to us. We suspect the Rio Ventuari as origin.
The fish are extremely colorful, otherwise everything speaks for the fact that it concerns the “genuine” Heros severus. Practically all Heros mentioned so far under this name in the hobby belong in reality to other species.
Origin: Rio San Christobal = Laguna El Camalote, San Blas, Nayarit, Mexico
The small town of San Blas, where the Rio San Christobal empties into the Pacific Ocean, is considered the northernmost place with a tropical climate on the Pacific coast of Mexico. The name Laguna El Camalote was originally applied to a marshland southeast of the river mouth, but is also used for the ocean bay south of San Blas.
The Mayaheros beani found here are of the contrasting black and white variety during breeding. However, coloration can vary greatly depending on mood and incidence of light. Outside the breeding period they are blue-green in color, which has earned them the native name Mojarra verde.
The fish occur from the brackish waters of the estuary and mangrove swamps to the headwaters of rivers and streams. They also live in marshes, reservoirs, ponds and irrigation ditches.
They can reach a size of 30 (m) or 25 (f) in the aquarium. They are sexually mature at about 6 cm at the earliest.
Water temperatures vary between 16 and 34 degrees. The mineral content of the water and the pH-value are also very different depending on location and season.
The offered animals come from the conservation breeding program of the DCG (Arbeitskreis Großcichliden, studbook number 07702020 ). They are descended from fish from three sites, which are located at intervals of about 1-3 km in the outflow of the La Tovara spring. This small river flows into the Rio San Christobal at San Blas.
For our customers: the animals have code 640202 on our stocklist. Please note that we only supply wholesale.
Text: Carsten Weile, Photos: Carsten Weile and Frank Schäfer
This beautiful cichlid has been swimming in the world’s aquariums since 1906 and has been delighting for generations with its varied behavior and beautiful looking brood care. The animals are typical open breeders with parent family, i.e. both parents lead the numerous brood.
Confusion gave in the course of time due naming. For a long time the fish was listed in the genus Aequidens and Andinoacara latifrons was considered for a long time as a synonym to the similar species A. pulcher. Our animals – German offspring – are descended from parent fish caught in the Rio Atrato in Colombia.
The maximum length of the fish is about 17 cm, from about 6-8 cm length they are able to spawn. Andinoacara latifrons has always been considered a relatively calm, little burrowing species that is gentle with plants. The larger the aquarium, the more peaceful the cichlids are.
For our customers: the fish have code 613804 on our stock list. Please note that we supply only wholesale.
The Emerald cichlid has become a bit out of fashion. This is a quite sad thing, for this impressive large cichlid – males can become up to 30 cm long, females always stay much smaller – is one of the most beautiful species of cichlid of South America.
Once more we can offer now German bred specimens of the population from the Rio Oyapoc. The splendid red colours makes the look a an artifical sport, but they are a true wild form!
Juveniles, as we offer them, are of course still relatively colorless, but even with them the reddish coloration of the fins already shows from which stable they come. The young animals almost always show a longitudinal stripe, sometimes additionally a dot, the dot can be faded out or in within seconds. Juveniles should always be kept in a troop, they need the company of their peers and like to stand – like flag cichlids (Mesonauta) – slightly slanted in the water, with the head pointing upwards.
For our customers: the fish have code 683082 on our stocklist. Please note that we exclusively supply the wholesale trade.
Lexicon: Hypselecara: means “deep bodied Acara”; Acara is the Tupi word for cichlid. temporalis: means “with a high forehead”.
Common name: Emerald cichlid
Text: Frank Schäfer, photos: Thomas Weidner & Frank Schäfer
In very small numbers we have received this beautiful Geophagus as German offspring. The species reaches a maximum length of 20-25 cm and is exclusively found in the inlet of the Marowijne River, the border river between French Guyana and Suriname. One of the tributaries of the Marowijne is the Maroni River, known to cichlid enthusiasts for the keyhole cichlid, Cleithracara maronii, named after this river. The Marowijne and its tributaries are not easy to travel to, ornamental fishers never get there, therefore G. harreri was a pipe dream of cichlid fans for a long time. Only in 1998 traveling aquarists were able to bring some animals from the Maroni and breed them. The description specimens of the species scientifically determined in 1976 were collected by Jean-Pierre Gosse, King Leopold III and Heinrich Harrer. The species was named in honor of the latter, known mainly for his book “Seven Years in Tibet” (made into a movie starring Brad Pitt).
Quite untypical for Geophagus is the central dark vertical body band, which reminds very much of the pattern of Guianacara. The many bright spots show already young specimens. G. harreri is considered to be a bit more aggressive than one is used to from Geophagus, but in the large aquariums, which have to be provided for such a fish anyway, this does not matter much.
For our customers: the fish have code 678103 on our stocklist. Please note that we supply only wholesale.
The Rio Madeira is a right tributary of the Amazon River and is considered the largest tributary in the world. Its origin is in Bolivia where it is formed from the confluence of the Rio Beni and the Rio Marmoré. It flows into the Amazon in Brazil at Itacoatiara. The Rio Madeira is a white water river, purely from a geographical point of view one would expect the Heros species H. efasciatus, H. severus and H. spurius there. Concerning the dark body bands H. sp. Madeira corresponds most closely to H. efasciatus, but the coloration deviates quite considerably from the known color forms of this species. Such a pigeon blue ground color, which is already shown by juveniles and which becomes more and more intense with age, is not shown by any other Heros species known so far.
Like all Heros species this one grows well over 15 cm long, in large aquariums you can expect 5 cm more with these long-lived animals. There are known to be two brood care strategies in Heros, mouth brooding and open brooding. H. sp. Madeira is an open brooder, both parents care together for the extensive brood. In sexually mature animals, the sexes can be easily distinguished by the different facial markings; in juveniles, sex differentiation is not possible. Heros sp. Madeira originally came to Germany on private initiative; our animals are German offspring.
For our customers: the animals have code 682969 on our stocklist. Please note that we only supply to wholesalers.
The pike cichlids (Crenicichla) are with 94 accepted species (and there are still a large number of undescribed ones) the most species-rich genus of cichlids at all. One of the most distinctly different species is Crenicichla jegui from the Rio Tocantins drainage. There the fish lives very hidden and was therefore discovered only when the Tucuri dam was built. This created shallow residual pools in the area of the former rapids, where a few specimens were found. The scientific description was made in 1986.
The up to 30 cm long species is an absolute rarity in the hobby. They are animals with strongly reduced swim bladder, therefore they live a bottom-bound life. The teeth show clearly: C. jegui is a predator. Fish, fish pieces, shrimps etc. form its food in the aquarium. The location/shelter is defended vigorously against conspecifics. This looks brutal, but hardly leads to injuries. However, a prerequisite for keeping several specimens is a very large aquarium, plenty of hiding places and strong current.
We currently have some 10-12 cm long wild caught specimens in the stock. Sex differences are not yet recognizable in this size, sexually mature females get a bright red stripe in the rear part of the dorsal fin.
For our customers: the animals have code 669062 on our stocklist. Please note that we only supply wholesale.
This season we received especially attractive Pterophyllum leopoldi from Brazil. Unfortunately, the animals do not like the photo tank at all and show there only a fraction of the wonderful colors – a magnificent green shimmer all over the body and a very nice red tone in the back – that well acclimated animals of this form can show.
But also in “fear pallor” the fish are still very beautiful. The very distinctive teeth of this P. leopoldi are also striking, especially in the male (the larger of the two photographed specimens with higher red content in the back) very eye-catching.
For more information please see https://www.aquariumglaser.de/en/fish-archives/pterophyllum_leopoldi_en/
For our customers: the fish have code 699006 on our stocklist. Please note that we only supply the wholesale market. Only available in small quantities!
The convict cichlid Amatitlania (formerly Cichlasoma) nigrofasciata is really not a novelty anymore: it has been kept and bred in aquariums since 1939. The first aquarium animals of this very widely distributed fish in Central America came from the lakes Atitlan and Amatitlan in Guatemala. The genus to which the convict cichlid currently belongs was named after the latter.
As early as the 1960s, a uniformly flesh-colored variety appeared in breedings, and since then the “piggies” have also found their enthusiasts. “New” is the marble variety. It originated in 1992 by chance in large-scale breeding of the monochrome animals in Florida and became lokal quite popular. Across the ocean they spilled first to Southeast Asia, where the busy professional breeders are always on the lookout for interesting novelties, from there to Europe and the animals we are currently offering, we got from a Czech breeder.
Apart from the coloration, which is different for each individual, they are typical convict cichlids, which move through the aquarium like a pack of wild pigs, examine every corner for food and are always ready for a fight. You can almost hear them squealing…
For our customers: the animals have code 655922 on our stocklist. Please note that we supply exclusively to wholesalers.
In the 1990s, when the large river cichlids of Brazil experienced a certain boom, also four Crenicichla species came to Europe for the first time, which were named Crenicichla sp. Xingu I – IV due to the lack of availability of a scientific name. All four grow quite large by ornamental fish standards, you have to expect 30-40 cm in length, moreover Crencichla are robust animals that are able to assert themselves. Very large aquariums are therefore a basic requirement for the care of these animals. For a long time they were closed for export, now Brazil has released them again. Two of the species we can offer right now.
Crenicichla sp. Xingu I is strangely not described scientifically until today. Juveniles up to 5 cm length are bright red, then they turn orange. Adult fish look quite different; the males are then brassy yellow, the females gray-green with a bright red band in the middle of the body. We have juveniles (“fries”) in the stock that are decidedly schooling fish. Kept in a school, they sometimes retain their beautiful coloration until 20 cm in length. When this size is reached, the keeper has to watch out! In the “puberty”, before they become sexually active, these fish are extremely incompatible among themselves! Only when the sexes are clearly recognizable, you can dare to try to put pairs together.
Crenicichla sp. Xingu IV was scientifically described as C. percna in 1991. From this very rarely imported species we have only one large animal of 24-28 cm length in the stock. We do not agree about the sex, but it speaks more for a male than for a female. This fish has a real personality, watching everything that is going on in front of the aquarium very closely, and it takes quite a bit of cunning and guile to approach it for a photo. Once the animal understands what’s planned, it squats in a corner and won’t budge – if it could, it would certainly stick its tongue out at the photographer!
For our customers: C. sp. Xingu I/Orange has code 671801 (5-7 cm) and 671802 (6-8 cm), C. percna has code 671896 on our stock list. Please note that we only supply wholesale.
The Rio Candelaria is a lowland river in Central America. It originates in northern Guatemala and flows through regions there and in southeastern Mexico whose jungle landscapes were almost untouched by man for a long time. The Rio Candelaria gained sad fame because the conquistador Hernán Cortez had the last Aztec ruler Cuautémoc, a fierce fighter for the independence of his people, executed here. Whether the firemouth cichlids (Thorichthys meeki) of the Rio Candelaria are so intensely red in color because the blood of the Aztec got into the river? Probably not, because Cuautémoc was hanged, but the thought is romantic, isn’t it?
We currently have beautiful offspring of this location variant of the Firemouth Cichlid in various sizes in the stock. They have all the advantages of this magnificent species, i.e. relative peacefulness and magnificent appearance, plus the originality of this strain.
For our customers: the animals have code 654702 on our stocklist. Please note that we supply only wholesale.
Fully grown angelfish of the various breeding forms are comparatively rare in the trade. The reasons are obvious: The breeding is time and space consuming, because they are still cichlids, which demand a certain individual space for themselves. That’s why XL angels have to be comparatively expensive. But occasionally such animals are in demand and we then ask our breeders to satisfy this demand.
Therefore we have just such adult angelfish in color mix in the stock. With them it shows up clearly that probably all breeding strains finally – at least by crossbreeding – are to be assigned to the eimekei form of the angelfish. Pterophyllum eimekei is currently by most scientists not seen as an independent species, but as a variant of P. scalare, which differs among other things by a lower body height from typical P. scalare. However, this only becomes apparent in fully adult animals, the otherwise commercially available angelfish juveniles of 3-6 cm body length of both forms look the same.
For our customers: the animals have code 688707 on our stocklist. Please note that we supply exclusively to wholesalers.
Some of the earth-eaters of the genus Satanoperca have frightening names (Satanoperca = devil-perch, Jurupari = devil, Daemon = demon, Lilith = the bride of the devil), but there are only few cichlids that are as peaceful and harmless as they are. The most important thing they need in an aquarium is a part of the bottom with sand. Then they have fun and dig around in it all day long. Like children in a sandbox, but enough with the humanization. For an explanation of the devilish names see here: https://www.aqualog.de/blog/satanoperca-daemon-die-dreipunkt-teufelsangel/ (in German only, sorry).
Satanoperca jurupari grows up to 20 cm long. The animals are widespread in South America. They live in groups over sandy areas and are therefore territorial for a short time only during the breeding season. As ovophile, biparental mouth-breeders (i.e. both parents take the eggs into the mouth immediately after spawning) they defend the spawning place only for a few hours. Because of the wide distribution and because the animals look a little different everywhere, they are best named in the hobby with place of origin. The type locality of S. jurupari is the mouth of the Rio Negro into the Amazon (below Manaus).
We have currently very beautiful Juruparis of the population from the Rio Tapajós as offsprings in stock.
For our customers: the animals have code 678523 on our stocklist. Please note that we only supply wholesale.
Manacapuru is the third largest city in the state of Amazonas in Brazil. It is located about 80 km west of Manaus at the confluence of the Rio Manacapuru and the Amazon. A large, lake-like extension of the Rio Manacapuru near the city is called Lago Cabaliana.
From the surroundings of Manacapuru, especially the red-backed angelfish have become famous. But there are also wonderful local forms of other cichlids. One of them is the Heros sp. Manacapuru. “Technically” the species belongs most likely to H. efasciatus, but as the fine systematics of this cichlid species is not really understood, it seems more reasonable at present to use the locality name instead of an uncertain species name.
We currently have beautiful German offspring of this Heros in stock.
For our customers: the animals have code 682995 on our stocklist. Please note that we only supply the wholesale trade.
Only in 2012 this pretty cichlid was scientifically described, before that it was known in the hobby as Krobia sp. “Xingu Red Head”. As the name suggests, the animal originally comes from the Rio Xingu in Brazil. However, the species is only available as bred ones.
This beautiful Aequidens relative is the ideal cichlid for beginners: there is hardly any other cichlid species that is so peaceful. Furthermore the animals are very attractively coloured and belong with less than 10 cm final size to the dwarf cichlids. This is true at least for specimens in the wild, old aquarium fish might become bigger. K. xinguensis are typical open brooders with parent family.
For our customers: the animals have code 683263 on our stocklist. Please note that we only supply the wholesale trade.
Currently we import very pretty young Oscars from Brazil, which are offered under the name “Astronotus crassipinnis”. The species A. crassipinnis exists in Brazil, but there is no possibility to check if the species identification is correct. We suspect that the animals are bred ones.
The beautiful fish show the typical behaviour of all Astronotus children: they have a strong need to be with conspecifics. The conspicuous colouring of all young Oscars is in fact a camouflage. The animals form larger groups and swim so close together that they look like one big fish to a potential attacker.
The loss of the child’s pattern is indicated by the fact that the animals develop their typical eye spot on the tail root. From then on, the young Oscars begin to live rather individually (or in small groups). The eye spot is used to mislead attackers (who orient themselves by the eye of the victim when preying). Oscars from this size upwards prefer to eat small fish themselves, but in the aquarium they also take any other kind of strong food of carnivorous nature.
How these Oscars look like as adult fish, we do not know, therefore a safe scientific determination is not possible. However, it can be assumed with some certainty that this Astronotus species also grows to a length of about 25-30 cm.
For our customers: the animals have code 632302 (4-6 cm) and 632303 (5-7 cm) on our stocklist. Please note that we only supply the wholesale trade.
The genus Crenicichla is with about 100 species one of the most species-rich cichlid genera at all, and yet there are numerous forms that, if we see them alive, do not really want to fit the described species. On the other hand, there are also described species of which we already doubted about their existence, as only similar but not identical fishes are exported from the area from which they were described.
One of the latter is Crenicichla notophthalmus, a dwarf Crenicichla from the Rio Negro near Manaus, which was described as early as 1913 and is easily recognizable. The males (not the females!) have long pointed first dorsal fin rays, which is not found elsewhere in the genus. The otherwise identical C. regani does not have this. Now Manaus is the main market for ornamental fish in Brazil, so it should be no problem to get these beautiful fish, which are only up to 8 cm long (females remain smaller), regularly? Puff pieces, almost always when we order them, come instead of C. notophthalmus C. regani!
But now we have finally got the “real” C. notophthalmus. The females may have one or two of the cherry red bordered eye spots in the dorsal fin, this is a variable feature. One should not be deceived by the small size of these cave breeders with parental family, they really have fire in their bodies and should therefore ideally be kept in aquariums of at least 80 x 50 cm floor space.
For our customers: the animals have code 671502 on our stocklist. Please note that we only supply the wholesale trade.
The genus Guianacara currently comprises seven described species, all of which originate from the Guiana shield in South America. The genus was only established in 1989 and only one species – G. geayi – was known before; Pellegrin described it in 1909. From this one can already conclude that the species look quite similar. Before the genus Guianacra was established, the only known species G. geayi was listed in the genera Aequidens and Acarichthys. The aquarists who were lucky enough to get such animals speculated even then whether the different “colour forms” might not be independent species after all. Guianacara dacrya was described in 2011 and originates from the tributaries of the rivers Rio Branco and Essequibo.
Apart from minor anatomical differences, the species differ mainly in their colouring. This makes a determination quite difficult, because there are only a few cichlids that change their coloration as drastically as the Guianacara species, and that within seconds! The determination of our G. dacrya, which we are currently able to offer, was nevertheless easy, because they are bred ones and the breeders of such “special fish” usually know exactly which species they are looking after.
Guianacara are high backed, medium sized cichlids (12-15 cm), which reproduce as cave breeders with parent family. For cichlid conditions they can be considered peaceful, as cave breeders they do not dig excessively and plant food is not on their menu. This makes them ideal cichlids for larger community aquariums.
For our customers: the animals have code 682783 on our stocklist. Please note that we only supply the wholesale trade.
The pike cichlids (Crenicichla) are one of the most species-rich cichlid genera with 94 valid species at present. Many species grow to well over 20 cm in length and thus belong to the large cichlids, but there are also dwarf cichlids. The latter include the beautiful, slender C. regani, which according to literature should grow 15 cm long in the male sex and 8 cm in the female sex. Wild catches, as we usually have in stock, are however considerably smaller. The larger of the photographed animals, for example, which are already sexually mature, have a total length (i.e. with caudal fin) of 7 cm (males) and 5 cm (females), while the slightly smaller specimens from our current stock, which do not yet show any differences in colour, are only 1-2 cm smaller.
The species Crenicichla regani is widely distributed in Amazonia. Similar to the Tropheus cichlids in Lake Tanganyika, they form numerous geographical colour variants, of which it is unclear in individual cases whether they belong to the species C. regani, to the closely related species C. notophthalmus, C. wallacei or to a new species yet to be described.
In this category belong the beautiful animals that we regularly import from Venezuela and Colombia and call Crenicichla sp. “regani-Orinoco”. Characteristic for this species/population is the cherry-red edge around the eye spot (ocellus) in the dorsal fin of the female, which by the way is a sure sex difference; however, among the currently in our stock, about 45 specimens (4-7 cm long), not a single one shows a dorsal fin spot. As it is very unlikely that these are only males and that there are clearly animals with a “female figure” (i.e. a clearly rounder, reddish belly), we assume that the females probably still have to train the ocellus in the dorsal fin and are currently a little too young for this.
It is not difficult to keep these beautiful animals. But you should not put them in too small aquaria, they are very quarrelsome there. They eat coarse frozen and live food of all kinds. In nature the animals can be found in soft, very sour water. In the aquarium this is not so important, but you should keep the animals warm (27-32°C). All Crenicichla are cave breeders with parent family.
For our customers: the animals have code 672712 on our stocklist. Please note that we only supply the wholesale trade.
Lexicon: Crenicichla: ancient Greek, means “Cichla with comb”; Cichla is another genus of cichlid. regani: dedication name for Charles Tate Regan (1878 – 1943), a famous ichthyologist at the British Museum in London.
In the past, the genus Cichlasoma included practically all the larger Central and South American cichlids, more than 200 species; currently there are only 16 species in the genus, all were cultivated and valued in the early days of aquarium science as Aequidens portalegrense. It is rarely possible to distinguish the 16 scientifically described Cichlasoma species with certainty, as they form numerous colour and local variants. If – as in the present case – the original location is unknown, one can only roughly indicate to which species the animals are closest.
The very beautiful Cichlasoma, which we can offer as offspring from a German breeder, were discovered by him in a pet shop; these animals were probably already bred. They are obviously the closest to the species Cichlasoma boliviense.
All Cichlasoma species in the narrower sense are comparatively tolerable, calm cichlids; the larger the aquarium, the less important are occasional digging and the very rare tantrums. C. boliviense grows to about 14 cm in length, but is already capable to breed when half grown. The species is temperature tolerant (20-28°C) and can be kept in any water that is suitable for drinking. The animals are open spawners and form a parent family. If a pair leads their offspring, there should be plenty of hiding places available for possible tankmates, because C. boliviense are very good parents who do not allow other fish to eat their cubs…
For our customers: the animals have code 641102 on our stocklist. Please note that we only supply the wholesale trade.
The small cichlid Biotodoma cupido – the species can attain a maximum length of about 12-15 cm, but is sexually mature already at 6-8 cm total length – is probably the species of cichlid with the widest distribution in Amazonia. However, experts are merrily discordant wether all the different looking populations represent only varieties of the same species or represent different species on their own.
May that be as it is: the specimens originating from the vicinity of Iquitos in Peru can be easily recognized by the large, bronce- or copper-colored spot that is exhibited by the male and that makes the fish very attractive. Females lack this spot and sometimes have also a differently-shaped dorsal spot. We have a video of our current import online: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NZFRAksTFew
The fish are very peaceful – except when they start breeding. Then the openbrooding species becomes very aggressive against tankmates. These fish prefer water with some current in the wild. Otherwise they are very adaptive and some populations of Biotodoma can be found even in tidal zones.
For our customers: the animals have code 634005 on our stocklist. Please note that we exclusively supply the wholesale trade.
Lexicon: Biotodoma: means “house of life”; formerly scientists believed the species would be mouthbrooding. cupido: after a Roman God of love.
The approximately 300 km long Nhamundá River, one of the smaller left hand tributaries of the Amazon, forms the border between the Brazilian states of Amazonas and Pará. Near the mouth of the Nhamundá River into the Amazon lies the city of Nhamundá. The estuary is basically a large lake district. One of these estuary lakes is Lago Tureré.
The Nhamundá discus have long been famous and sought-after aquarium fish. They differ from the majority of the other brown and blue discus in that males and females are often of different colours. There are especially many females here, which correspond more to the type of the brown discus and – especially in the front third of the body – show an intensive red coloration. Many males, however, correspond to the blue discus, often they are so-called Royal Blue. Although this distinction is not very sharp (there are also females of the blue type), it is striking and characteristic.
We currently have wonderful wild catches of the Nhamundá discus from Lago Tureré in our stock. The animals have grown perfectly and look like painted – a dream!
For our customers: the fish have code 731444 on our stocklist. Please note that we only supply the wholesale trade.
Within the genus Uaru only two species are scientifically distinguished at present: U. amphiacanthoides and U. fernandezyepezi. However, there are different local variants of U. amphiacanthoides, which differ in the size and position of the lateral spot. Right now we can offer wonderful, large and three-quarter sized wild catches from the Rio Negro in Brazil.
Additionally we have juvenile Uaru amphiacanthoides offspring. Only few cichlids change their colouring so drastically during growth as the triangle cichlid, Uaru amphiacanthoides. By the way, Uaru are close relatives of the discus cichlids and are very similar in behaviour. However, Uaru are mainly vegetarians.
For our customers: the offspring (4-6 cm) have code 688502, the wildcatch 12-15 cm have code 688516 and the wildcatch 16-20 cm have code 688518 on our stocklist. Please note that we only supply the wholesale trade.
Why the Oscar is called the Oscar? Honestly, we don’t know that for sure. But what is certain is that the name originated in the USA. In 1936, an essay by E. W. Clarke about Astrontus appeared in the journal “The Aquarium”. In 1949 Gene Wolfsheimer reported in „The Aquarium Journal“ that the aquarists in California called Astronotus cichlids Oscars (Wayne Leibel, Aquarium USA Annual 2001). But it is also conceivable that the word “Oscar” is a corruption of the scientific name (Astronotus) or the Tupi word for all possible larger cichlids “Acara”. Tupi is the language of the people living in Brazil before the Europeans arrived in America.
The Oscar is despite its stately size – it can become over 45 cm long and 1,5 kg heavy, although such giants are very rare; usually, Oscars become 25-30 cm long – a popular aquarium-fish. Only few species of fish unite so splendid colors and so much charisma, besides, Oscars, at least for fish-continuances, are rather intelligent and are clearly more pet than aquarium-fish sometime.
We have just some very beautiful, 12-15 cm big Oscars of different colors in the stock, that spent their youth in a garden-pond in Southern France and grew up to powerful adolescents. We have no information whether they became special friends of the film “Oscar” with Luis des Funes during their time in France.
For our customers: the animals have code 632906 on our stocklist. Please note that we only supply wholesalers
We have received beautiful wild collectes animals of this larvophile maternal mouth-breeding cichlid from Paraguay (i.e. the female incubates the larvae in her mouth, while the animals spawn on stones etc. and take care for the eggs here like open-breeding cichlid until they hatch). With only scarcely 9 cm of standard length (with tail fin thus at most 12 cm in total length), Gymnogeophagus caaguazuensis is one of the smallest species of the genus. We can offer it in two sizes: 5-8 cm (hardly sexually mature), 8-12 cm (showsize).
For our customers: the fish have code 676752 (5-8 cm) and 676754 (8-12 cm) on our stocklist. Please note that we exclusively supply the wholesale trade.
This beautiful cichlid from Brazil is only very rarely imported. Currently we can offer some specimens in perfect size.
Despite the frightening name o the fish Satanoperca lilith is a very peaceful and reserved species, it can be even a bit shy. Maximum length reported for the fish is around 20-25 cm, our specimens are currently 8-10 cmand not yet sexually differentiated.
All species of Satanoperca are closely associated to sandy bottom. The tank for these fish should contain fine sand under all circumstances. This substratum is chewed through the whole day for food particles. S. lilith lives in black water, so it prefers soft and acidic milieu, which must be poor in bacteria.
To the best of our knowledge Satanoperca has not been bred in aquaria yet. However, it is very likely the the fish are hollow breeders like their closest relative, S. daemon. The sexes look alike in respect of coloration. The best way to distinguish the sexes are the ventral fins which are in males much longer (in specimens of comparable size). Moreover, the attractive filaments of the dorsal fin are more developed in males.
For our customers: the fish have code 687564 on our stocklist. Please note that we exclusively supply the wholesale trade. Available in very limited numbers only.
Lexicon: Satanoperca: means “Devil perch”. lilith: this is the name of a female demon, the companion of the devil. demon: means “demon”.
The real or Heckel discus is maintained considerably more rarely in the aquarium than brown, blue or green discus and their sports and becomes as good as not at all bred. It is therefore only regularly available as a wild collected fish. At the moment we have some very nice, well-adjusted Heckel varieties in our stock.
The Heckel is just as color-variable as the other discus-types also, basically it looks like a Royal Blue with a broad center vertical bar. The animals are of course not beginner fish, but do not pose any unsolvable problems for advanced aquarists. They should be cared for in shoals of at least six, better eight to twelve animals. The aquarium must not be too brightly lit and should at least have fine sandy soils in places, so that the discus can pursue their typical search for food, the “blowing out” of food animals from the sand. Very important are humic substances from peat, alder cones, dead leaves etc., which strengthen the immune defense of the fish enormously.
For our customers: we currently have Heckel from Rio Negro (code 73400), from Suncunduri (code 73406), blue-headed heckel from Rio Nhamunda (code 73408), from Mari Cross (code 73506), from Rio Madeira (code 73508) and Nova Olinda (code 73510).
From the many Central American cichlids, that were grouped in the gigantic collective-genus Cichlasoma earlier, most species are cared for only by the experienced “old hares” among the aquarists, who don’t want any more a colorful community aquarium but prefer a preferably big aquarium with few, characterful fishes. The Central American cichlids are perfect for that: character-fish, that don’t make any compromises and show a complex and varied behavior.
But also among these character fish there are some relatively peaceful and comparatively small species, which show the exciting behaviour of their bigger and rougher cousins, but can also be cared for in a well chosen community of other fish, such as catfish, barbs, tetras and livebearers, especially as they treat the plants rather gently.
Among these species is Amatitlania sajica from the Pacific side of Costa Rica. These beautiful cichlids have not been imported for a long time, all specimens present in the hobby are bred ones. They are productive open breeders. It has often been the sight of such a pair cichlids, leading babies, which turned community tank aquarists into breeders…
Amatilania sajica can become in the male sex up to 12 cm, in the female up to 9 cm long and is regarded as one of the smallest species of the genus.
For our customers: the animals have code 660002 (4-6 cm) on our stocklist. Please note that we only supply wholesalers.
In their Central American home countries, the predatory colorful cichlids, that are classified currently in the genus Parachromis – before this, they were placed in Cichlasoma or Nandopsis – are called “Guapotes“. That means “the big pretty ones”. And actually, these species, some of which can reach up to 50 cm in length, are very attractive.
The smallest of them has so far been called Parachromis loisellei. It becomes “only” 25-30 cm long and only the males and in exceptional cases. Usually one can count on sizes up to 20 cm, they become sexually mature with 10 cm.
Particularly P. loisellei is besides regarded as most peaceful species, that in contrast to some other species of the genus. They only becomes “soggy” if the animals feel molested. However, a large aquarium is still a basic prerequisite for fish and aquarists to enjoy each other without restriction.
It was not until 2018, during the follow-up examination of the type specimen of P. friedrichsthalii, a species described as early as 1840, that it turned out that this specimen is actually identical to P. loisellei described as late as 1989. Thus P. loisellei became the synonym of P. friedrichsthalii. The fish that has been common in the hobby as P. friedrichsthalii is another species, which is now called P. multifasciatus. The exact background can be read here:
Morgenstern, R. (2018): Fishes collected by Emanuel Ritter von Friedrichsthal in Central America between 1838-1841. Vertebrate Zoology v. 68 (no. 3): 253-267.
We have the smallest of the “big pretty ones” as German offspring in the stock; until the current naming in the trade and among the hobbyists has prevailed, it will probably still take some time, on our stock list it is to be found until further notice still as Cichlasoma loisellei.
For our customers: the animals have code 652803 on our stocklist. Please note that we only deliver to wholesalers.
Once colourful large cichlids were so popular that imports from Ecuador were organised mainly because of them. On the pacific side of the country live the “Green Terror”, so the then still Aequidens rivulatus named gold seam cichlids were called, and the “Red Terror”, then Cichlasoma festae, today Mesoheros festae. Both species become easily over 20 cm long (the maximum-size of M. festae lies even with 25 cm), are extremely colorful, but can also distribute neatly.
These times are long past and M. festae has become almost a rarity in the trade. Almost all animals offered under this name are in reality Mayaheros urophthalmus. But Andinoacara rivulatus, as the Green Terror is now called, is still available from time to time; we have now once again got very pretty specimens, they are offspring from Indonesia.
The gold seam cichlid is an open breeder with a biparental family. A leading pair with juveniles is one of the most beautiful sights you can have in an aquarium.
For our customers: the animals have code 610003 on our stocklist. Please note that we only supply wholesalers.
You may wonder why the title does not contain a scientific name. The reason for this is that the fish we are presenting to you was born from a crossbreed and crossbreeds do not have their own scientific name in zoological naming (unlike in botanical naming).
The Red Texas Cichlid, which we offer as B-grade, are still relatively young and far from full colored, but there is already fire in them! The Red Texas Cichlid is the result of crossing a male Texas cichlid (Herichthys cyanoguttatus) and a Red Parrot female. The Red Parrot on its part is already a cross, allegedly of Redhead Cichlid (Vieja melanurus, formerly Cichlasoma or Vieja synspilum) and Amphilophus labiatus, the Red Devil Cichlid. The Red Texas Cichlid combines the genes of three cichlid species.
According to our informant Kamphol Udomritthiruj, whom we would like to thank very much for this information, which can hardly be obtained in this country, this multiple crossing appeared for the first time in 2004. At this time $4,000 per specimen was charged. The Red Texas Cichlids we currently have in stock come from the breeder’s facility who bred these first specimens. We offer 6-8 cm long B-grades, which are affordable for everyone, and also some few A-grade specimens, which are clearly more expensive.
In terms of appearance, the animals have much of daddy, Herichthys cyanoguttatus, the general body shape and the green spots, while the mother’s side contributed the red color.
Those who like breeding forms will be enthusiastic about the Red Texas Cichlid, because they are not only very colorful, but also very temperamental fish. At the moment they are still small, but with the kinship one must expect that they reach 20-25 cm in the course of the years. And one thing is for sure: such cichlids are long-lived pets that you can enjoy for many years!
For our customers: the animals have code 662502 on our stocklist. Please note that we only supply wholesalers.
This beautiful and peaceful, somewhat reserved cichlid comes from Venezuela. It was collected in the Rio Ventuari, at a place where the river has to avoid the mountain Moriche. Mount Moriche is 1216 m high. Aequidens sp. Ventuari/Moriche is undoubtedly closely related to A. metae and becomes about 20 cm long. They are open breeders with a biparental family. The female gets a dark head in excitement, while the male’s orange zones behind the head and in the back area intensify.
For our customers: the animals have code 606423 on our stocklist. Please note that we only supply wholesalers.
This beautiful flag cichlid (Mesonauta) comes from the Venezuelan federal state of Amazonas and there again from the administrative district Manapiare. Since it cannot be assigned without doubt to one of the Mesonauta species already described, the cichlid enthusiasts currently call it Mesonauta sp. Manapiare.
As far as the care is concerned, this fish shows its most beautiful colours in soft, slightly acidic water with a dark bottom, subdued lighting and much vegetation. The species is frightful, so it is best to care for it in the company of other calm, less frightened fish. Like all Mesonauta species, it grows to about 15 cm and is an open-breeder with a parent family. Our animals are German bred.
For our customers: the animals even code 683413 on our stocklist. Please note that we exclusively supply the wholesale trade.
The wild forms of the angel (Pterophyllum scalare) are enjoying increasing popularity, particularly the variants with locality information. Surely they are also cultivated; so come (or came, because there are currently hardly any exports from there) e.g. in wild catches from Guyana again and again especially many red spotted specimens. And who would blame the breeders if they preferred to continue breeding with animals that show this characteristic particularly intensively? We have now received about 2 months old offspring of such intensively red spotted animals as German offspring.
We have received wonderful Heros notatus from Brazil. A typical feature of this species are the dark spots in the lower half of the body. As with all Heros the sexes differ by the head colouring, however, it is not always easy to distinguish a strongly coloured female from a male standing far below in the hierarchy. To avoid to get constantly in trouble with the dominant male, low-ranking males assume female coloration. One calls this also “Sneaker”-behaviour. Sneaker-males frequently appear in cichlids. In the nature, they “take revenge” for the humiliation through the territorial, dominant male by joining the spawning couple during the spawning process and fertilizing many eggs on that occasion. So they can pass on their genes to the next generation, without having spent energy on building up the territory, defence of the territory and courtship display in front of the female.
For our customers: the animals have code 682955 on our stocklist. Please note that we only supply wholesalers.
This pretty cichlid has been described scientifically only in 2012. Up to that time it was known among hobbyists under the name of Krobia sp. “Xingu Red Head”. This nice relative of Aequidens is the ideal cichlid species for beginners, because it is one of the most peaceful species of cichlid at all. Besides this the fish have beautiful colours and the fish stay small: less than 10 cm, which means that they are dwarf cichlids. K. xinguensis are typical open brooders with biparental family.
For our customers: the fish have code 683263 on our stocklist. Please note that we exclusively supply the wholesale trade.
Especially worth mentioning is – besides the gorgeous colouring, the size and the beautiful growth – that these Santa Isabel are very peaceful among each other. This is not self-evident with Santa Isabel angels, there are among them also distinctly quarrelsome tribes.
For our customers: the animals have code 699843 on our stocklist. Please note that we only supply wholesalers.
We obtained very nice juveniles of the Oscar from Colombia. In contrast to the adults the juveniles are strictly schooling fish. In case of a real or imaginary danger the fish school performs a kind of globe. This behaviour also explains the otherwise illogical attractive pattern. In a school this pattern works as a camouflage, comparable to the wear of militairs.
However, one should not be fooled by the large innocent looking eyes of these fish, which are, by the way, real personalities. Oscars are predators and 5-6 cm long ones will readily take a guppy as snack. So the oscar is suited for community tanks only under certain circumstances. Tankmates must be large enough that they are not taken for food. In case this preference is fulfilled the oscar is on its best behaviour. Compared with other large species of cichlid, members of the genus Astronotus are rather peaceful creatures.
For our customers: the fish have code 632501 (4-6 cm) and 632502 (4-7 cm) on our stocklist. Please note that we exclusively supply the wholesale trade.
We received wonderful wild collected angelfish from the municipality of the city Santa Isabel at the Rio Negro. Like many other fishes from that area – mainly discus and Apistogramma – the angels show a high degree of red coloration on the body. The reason for that phenomenon is unknown to us. The water in the upper reaches of the Rio Negro is very soft and acidic. Like all larger wild fish, these angels have their experience with fin-eating piranhas. However, the angels are very healthy and stable and regenerate their finneage very fast. So after a few weeks nothing of the hurts of the wild will be visible any more.
For our customers: the fish have code 699835 on our stocklist. Please note that we exclusively supply the wholesale trade.
Here, as promised, another remarkable Heckel variety we currently have in stock: Blue Head Tumbira. One should not think that every specimen of that variety has a solid blue opercle; Tumbira (the name refers to a Tukano community at the bank of the Rio Negro, below Sao Gabriel de Cachoeira) are still wild collected discus and this means: each indvidual fish has a pattern on its own. But the number of Blue Heads is very high among „Blue Head Tumbira“. Another typical feature of that variety is the broad „Heckel bar“, the vertical bar in the middle of the body.
For our customers: the fish have code 735004 on our stocklist. Please note that we exclusively supply the wholesale trade.
We are now in the last third of the current discus season. A particular charakter of this season is the comparably great number of extremely beautiful Heckel discus. We currently have a number of varieties in stock and want to feature them for you. But of course it is not that easy to take pictures of these beauties in their regular tanks in the fishhouse that have the quality these fish deserve; so it takes time…
But here nevertheless is the result of a first session: „Nova Olinda“. These gorgeous animals are also termed sometimes as „Heckel Cross“, because they exhibit features of Heckel discus as well as of Blue Discus. But it is rather unlikely that the fish are really hybrids. Much more likely the population is simply highly polychromatic, a well known phenomenon for example in dwarf cichlids (Apistogramma).
So each „Nova Olinda“ is an individiual beauty on its own. Many specimens have a canary yellow forehead, others are typical Blue headed Heckel, again others look almost like solid turquoise discus – amazing animals!
For our customers: Heckel Cross Nova Olinda 12-15 cm have code 735105, Heckel Nova Olinda 9-12 cm code 735084. Please note that we exclusively supply the wholsale trade.
We can offer this brandnew sport of the Angelfish (Pterophyllum scalare „Bicolor Blue“) for the very first time now. The animals still differ individually in respect of pattern, but especially the front back of all specimens is already blue. The breeder guaranteed us that the parents are full blue bicolor with a real intensive colour.
For our customers: the fish have code 693602 on our stocklist. Please note that we exclusivey supply the wholesale trade.
Currently we have as well larger wild collected specimens and bred ones in stock. G. cf. abalios is a beautful, ovophilous mouthbrooider and originates from Venezuela. The fish have bred in our showroom. At that time they had a total length of about 8 cm, so we initially thought they would represent a dwarf variety. However, in the meantime this initial suspect has been proofed as erranous. The fish are no giants (the photographed adult male is 14 cm long, inclusive the tail fin, but exclusive the prolongation of that fin), but also no dwarfs. So Geophagus cf. abalios can be told a peaceful, beautiful cichlid that is perfectly suited for larger community tanks.
For our customers: the fish have code 677554 (wild ones) and 677562 (bred ones) on our stocklist. Please note that we exclusively supply the wholesale trade.
The Firemouth (Thorichthys meeki, formerly Cichlasoma meeki) originates from Mexico and belongs to the most popular cichlids at all. This popularity is not at least due to the impressive face mask of the species. No other species of cichlid shows in such perfectness the bottom of the mouth and the deep red skin that covers the gills. The Firemouth acts that way to look much bigger for a potential aggressor. Another trick of the Firemouth are the spots on the operculum that look like eyes.
For our customers: the fish have code 654705 on our stocklist. Please note that we exclusively supply the wholesale trade.
There are so many varieties of discus known, but none of the wild collected fish are as variable as the ones from the Rio Madeira. Basically speaking, the Madeira discus is a brown-blue one. The brown morphs of that variety very often exhibit a high degree of red and/or yellow colour on the body, while in the blue morphs often exhibit a „gypsi“-pattern. That means that the blue markings are irregular – this makes the fish very attractive! Another special feature of the Madeira discus is the fact that comparatively often specimens can be found that have a broad central vertical bar, the so-called Hecke bar. The best size for Madeira discus is 9-12 cm. At that size the fish are often breathtaking beautiful. We depict here a selection of our fish we currently have in stock; they all have been imported together.
For our customers: the fish have code 732014 (brown) and 731194 (blue) on our stocklist. Please note that we exclusively supply the wholesale trade.
A few weeks ago we received a shipment of hald grown wild collected discus via Manaus. The animals acclimatised very well. As soon as they showed the normal coloration we found that there was one very special animal among them. It was blotched. Initially we thought that the animal would be sick, but it feeds well and interacts with its conspecifics. If the fish is disturbed it becomes dark, and sometimes the regular stripes are visible. In situations the animal is relaxed the basic colour tends to orange. There are only little doubts left that the fish indeed represents a so-called „Orange Blotch“ (= OB) morph.
The OB phenomenon can e observed in serval species of cichlid from Africa and South America that are not closely related to each other. The most popular OB fishes come from lake Malawi, the so called „marmelade cats“, but OB morphs are also found in Tropheus moorii from lake Tanganyika, in species of Oreochromis from Central and Western Africa and in species of Amphilophus from Central America. The biological sense of this phenomenon is not understood yet.
We can say that we never heard so far that the OB phenomenon also appears in wild discus. From an aesthetic point of view the fish is not very spectacular. But the phenomenon as such is remarkable and we are very curious if this fish will become the ancestor of a new strain of bred discus sport.
We received wonderful wild collected specimens of this mouthbrooding cichlid (the females orally broods the larvae and young fry) from Paraguay. This species attains a maximum length of about 9 cm only (standard length, with the caudal fin the maximum length is around 12 cm) and thus is one of the smallest members of the genus. We have three sizes in stock: 4-6 cm (just reaching maturity), 8-10 cm (adult) and 10-12 cm (show size).
For our customers: the fish have code 676752 (5-8 cm) and 676754 (8-12 cm) on our stocklist. Please note that we exclusively supply the wholesale trade.
In the lakes of Nicaragua a group of cichlids evolved, which is very interesting from a biological point of view: the Midas cichlids. Formerly they were classified only in two or three variable species within the catch-all genus Cichlasoma: Cichlasoma citrinellum, C. labiatum, and C. zaliosum. Nowadays they are placed in the genus Amphilophus.
These fish are in the focus of several scientific research groups. These cichlids have settled several small satellite crater lakes from large lakes (like Lake Nicaragua) in different times. As these small crater lakes are closed biotopes one can study perfectly the mechanisms of speciation in the Midas cichlids. As a consequence recently a number of new species has been described: in 2002 three new species (A. amarillo, A. sagittae, and A. xiloaensis), in 2008 three additional species: (A. astorquii, A. chancho, and A. flaveolus), and finally in 2013 two new species (A. tolteca and A. viridis). However, one can expect even more species descriptions in the future.
We now have for the first time German bred A. xiloaensis in stock. They are typical Midas cichlids. The legend of king Midas says that a wish was fulfilled for him. Everything he would touch would become gold. Soon after king Midas died almost of starvation and thirst, for all the food he touched also became gold… Midas cichlids are famous for their tendency to change the regular striped coloration in a uniform (golden) – this color can be rather white, yellow, orange or red – oder blotched coloration. In the wild, one can find striped pairs, mixed pairs, or pairs that are formed from two uniform or blotched animals. This is a very interesting phenomenon that is not understood yet. Among our fish are also all the three varieties.
Midas cichlids become large (15-35 cm) and are quarrelsome. One should keep them in the largest tanks possible and only in company of very robust fish. Midas cichlids usually live in pairs and are biparental open brooders.
For our customers: the fish have code 613692 on our stocklist. Please note that we exclusively supply the wholesale trade.
The Altum angel (Pterophyllum altum) is extremely demanding during the rearing period. If the breeder makes even a minor mistake in respect of water quality or the food this results at once in a life-long deformation of the fish. These gnarled ventral fins, crooked anal fins or defects of the operculum are not heritable; so it is possible to get good offspring from these deformed animals. But they nevertheless do not look good.
Now we are in the happy position that we can offer even two different strain of top quality bred Altums; both breeders offer real perfect fish that look as good a s wild collected ones but lack the notorious sensibility of the latter. The brood we call „Orinoco“ differ from the regular ones by the extremly long filaments especially from the dorsal fin, otherwise both strains have no remarkable differences.
For our customers: the fish have code 698303 (Orinoco) and 698402 on our stocklist. Please note that we exclusively supply the wholesale trade.
Here it is: the cichlid with the probably most interesting mode of feeding from Paraguay! Chaetobranchopsis australis is specialized in feeding small planktic organisms. The up to 12-14 cm long fish swallows water like a vacuum cleaner and sieves the plankton with long gill rakers out of it. Obviously at the time of our importation – last september – the plankton in Paraguay is rather rare, for the fish are more skinny than we like it; but we are sure this has become corrected in the meantime in the fishhouses of our customers.
Chaetobranchopsis belongs to the very few species of cichlid in which the breeding behaviour is absolutely unknown. Aquarium fish have been observed in cleaning stones, so they might be open brooders, but no one knows!
For our customers: the animals have code 634904 on our stocklist. Please note that we exclusively supply the wholesale trade.
The high season for wild collected discus starts around October and ends in April. Nevertheless, good wild collected discus are available the whole year throught! Some varieties are in general very rarely offered, a good example are the so called Heckel Cross from the Rio Jatapu. They are real beauties! The out-of-season summer discus have a great advantage: they are even healthier and even more stable than the comparatively fresh collected animals available during the high season!
For our customers: the Heckel Cross from the Rio Jatapu have code 735046 on our stocklist. Please note that we exclusively supply the wholesale trade.
The mouthbrooding species of Heros from Venezuela has finally a widely accepted scientific name: Heros liberifer. Please see http://www.aqua riumglaser.de/en/fish-archives/the_mouthbrooding_heros_from_venezuela_a_new_species_heros_liberifer_en/ for detailed information on that case. From time to time we can offer beautiful, 10-14 cm long German bred specimens of that rare fish.
For our customers: the animal has code 682945 on our stocklist. Please note that we exclusively supply the wholesale trade.
We received this extraordinary and beautiful sport of Acarichthys heckelii from Taiwan. A. heckelii is a comparatively large species of cichlid that can attain over the years a total length of more than 20 cm. And the fish becomes more and more beautiful with every year! The species is very peaceful. Aquarium maintenance is comparable with Geophagus or the Ram, but A. heckelii is much less demanding in respect of the water chemistry. A. heckelii is a cave brooder that can be quite productive.
For our customers: the fish have code 601043 on our stocklist. Please note that we exclusively supply the wholesale trade.
The very first species of cichlid that was ever kept in private aquaria was the Chanchito. At that time – in the year 1894 – the species was classified as Heros facetum. Later it was transferred to Cichlasoma, nowadays it is placed in the comparatively new genus Australoheros. Initially it was thought that there would be only one, but very variable species, of Chanchito. The current opinion is that all these varieties represent different species. Many of them remain still undescribed, so determination of Chanchitos can be pretty difficult. Currently about 30 different species are accepted.
We have obtained the pretty Australoheros scitulus from a German breeder. This Chanchito orginates from Uruguay and is very insensitve against low water temperatures. The brigt red eyes and the yellow breast make that species very attractive.
A second species – also from a German breeder – is rather close to what was thought to be the „classical“ Chanchito. That fish has very nice orange fins and many blue spots over the body.
For our customers: A. scitulus have code 633472 and A. facetus (which is listet for technical reasons still as Cichlasoma facetum on our stocklist) 645501 on our stocklist. Please note that we exclusvely supply the wholesale trade.
There are two accepted species of Biotodoma: B. cupido and B. wavrini. Both differ basically by the position of the lateral blotch, which is positioned above the upper branch of the lateral line in B. cupido and below the upper branch of the lateral line in B. wavrini.
Biotodoma cupido is widely distrubuted in South America and many differently colored populations are known – maybe at least some of them even represent different species. In contrast to that B. wavrini looks very uniformly. That species is distributed in the Orinoco and Rio Negro systems. Most often we obtain B. wavrini from Colombia, but this time the fish originate from Brazil. It is known scientifically that B. wavrini occurs in Brazil; there is even a quite isolated population reported from the Rio Preto da Eva. However, there are no externally observable differences to their Colombian relatives.
Biotodoma wavrini usually attains a maximum size of 8-12 cm and is thus almost a dwarf cichlid. The photographed specimens have a total length (including the caudal fin) of about 8 cm.
For our customers: the fish have code 634224 on our stocklist. Please note that we exclusively supply the wholesale trade. Available in very limited numbers only!
If one likes artifical sports or not is a matter of taste. But these sports are in any case interesting, because they show the genetic potential of a species. So finally men-made sports give hints even for the scientists working exlusively in the field how to distinguish local populations from different species.
The Lemon Oscar is a sport that is in part an albino – it hs red eyes – but in which the yellow pigment in the body is still extant. Only very few specimens are yellow all over the body, most of the fish are rather wild colored. The initially dark brown parties of the wild fish look, however, only very faint ashgrey and the initially red parties yellow.
Most interesting is the fact that the ventral fins in this sport are extremely prolonged, a feature not observed in other oscars so far.
For our customers: the fish have code 633264 on our stocklist. Please note that we exclusively supply the wholesale trade.
Text & photos: Frank Schäfer
Sadly
we can offer this beautiful mouthbrooding cichlid from Colombia only
very rarely; the last time we had it in stock was 5 years ago. Now we
had the opportunity to import this animal. They originate from the Chocó
region in Colombia, located in the West of the country. The main river
of the Chocó region is the Rio Atrato.
The
few specimens we imported now – and from which the photos were taken –
are almost sold out again, but we have the opportunity to order more
specimens.
For our customers: the fish have code 680255 on our stocklist. Please note that we exclusively supply the wholesale trade.
We
received beautiful German bred specimens of this rare eartheater. Until
the species has been described in 2012 under the name of Satanoperca
rhynchitis it was known in the hobby as Satanoperca sp. “Red Lips”. The
fish develop the pretty red lips only when adult, so we add a picture of
an adult specimen to this news. And as a special goodie we can preset
here a picture that shows the species in its natural habitat in French
Guiana.
For our customers: the fish have code 687633 on our stocklist. Please note that we exclusively supply the wholesale trade.
Text: Frank Schäfer, photos: Frank Schäfer, Dieter Bork
For the first time ever we were able to import this splendid species of Heros. Reportedly the animals have been collected in the Rio Curare (name). However, we haven´t eard of a Rio Curare so far. We think the fish have been collected in the Rio Ventuari.
The fish are extremely colorful; all other features make it very likely that this is the “real” Heros severus. In fact almost all Heros spread in the hobby under that name belong to other species.
There
is no other genus of larger cichlids from South America that is so
poorly understood as the oscars (Astronotus). Currently only two species
are widely accepted, namely A. ocellatus and A. crassipinnis. However,
there do exist a lot of more species as can be easily observed with the
bare eye. We were able in recent times to import repeatedly one of them,
A. zebra. (see
http://www.aquariumglaser.de/en/groe-zebra-oskar-wildfnge-eingetroffen_de_1607.html)
Finally,
after quite a long time, we were able to import oscars from Paraguay
(Rio Paraguay, near Asuncion). Most probably the specimens belong to the
species A. crassipinnis. However, current knowledge allows only to name
specimens from the Rio Guaporé to be named A. crassipinnis without any
doubts (see http://www2.nrm.se/ve/pisces/acara/as_crass.shtml). So we
name our fish A. cf. crassipinnis. The “cf.” stands for the Latin word
“conferre”, which means “(to) compare (with)”.
Despite
a great individual variabilty in respect of pattern the very attractive
animals nevertheless show some unique features. First, the basic colour
of the body is very dark, almost black. Second, there are no ocellated
spots in the region of the dorsal fin, which are so characteristic for
A. ocellatus.
Astronotus
crassipinnis seems to stay a bot smaller than A. ocellatus. The maximum
length reported for A. crassipinnis is 24 cm standard length (without
the tail fin). Our specimens are currently 14-18 cm long (incl. the tail
fin). Hopefully the quite few (only 7 specimens) form pairs that breed.
For sure this oscar is a great enrichment for the aquarium hobby!
For our customers: the animals have code 632307 on our stocklist. Please note that we exclusively supply the wholesale trade.
For
the first time ever we obtained from one of our breeders so called
“Clown-Angels”. The attractive fish look much alike the leopard angels,
but the spots are restricted to the hinder two thirds of the body. The
first third of the body is plain, so the contrast to the spotted part is
very strong.
For our customers: the fish have code 694802 on our stocklist. Please note that we exclusively supply the wholesale trade.
We
received very nice wild collected angels from the Rio Xingu in Brazil.
The animals are “real” P. scalare with pointed snouts. They will most
probably grow up to impressive, large fish.
For
our customers: the fish have code 699853 on our stocklist. Please note
that we exclusively supply the wholesale trade. Available in limited
numbers only!
The
cichlids of the genus Cichla are the largest cichlids in South America
and they are regarded as the best food fish at all there. The maximum
size recorded for Cichla is around 75 cm, but usually they attain a
length between 25 and 40 cm. These fish have been kept in aquaria only
very rarely formerly, because they were said to be very sensitive
against transportation. However, nowadays this is no real problem
anymore.
Determination
of species within Cichla was almost impossible until 2006; only very
few species were accepted, but a lot more phenotypes existed. Currently
this is not that difficult anymore thanks due to a revision of the genus
made by Kullander & Ferreira in 2006. But still the juveniles –
these look totally different to the adults and are very similar in the
different species – are tricky to tell apart.
Breeders
in Southeast Asia offer already bred specimens. All these fish are
named “Cichla sp. temensis” by the breeders. However, they belong to at
least two different species. The fish we obtained from Thailand are most
likely Cichla monoculus, while those from Singapore seem really to
belong to C. temensis. But we have decided now to grow some specimens to
find out what they really will become.
For our customers: the fish have code 637003 on our stocklist. Please note that we exclusively supply the wholesale trade.
Aquarium Glaser obtained in spring 2014 a boxed that contained a mixed group of Geophagus, which belonged to three different species. Among them were seven specimens that could not be applied to any known species of Geophagus so far. The fish were 7-8 cm long. Over the time the grew up to gorgeous, about 20 cm long specimens. They have not only grown to real beauties, but also spawned. So now Aquarium Glaser is able to offer exclusively the first bred specimens of the new eartheater at all.
According to the supplier the new Geophagus has been collected in the Rio Aporema (basin of the Rio Araguari) in the Brazilian state of Amapa. Juveniles and subadults look very much alike Geophagus camopiensis. But this species – it originates from the system of the Rio Oyapock – has a comparatively drab coloration on the flanks, consisting mostly of green-beige colours. Geophagus sp. “Aporema” – this is how the new entries should be termed provisionally – becomes much deeper bodied than G. camopiensis, and much more colourful! There is a lot of strong yellow on the body and in the fins. Depending on mood and food the colours behind the opercles can become even orange.
This fish should be kept in large aquaria, as it becomes pretty big. The tank should contain about 500 litres. It is best to keep this Geophagus in groups of six specimens or more, for eartheaters often like to swim in groups. And the fish show more of the interesting behaviour when kept along with a number of conspecifics. The sexes can be recognized only in full adults. There is no well marked sexual dimorphism or dichromatism. The females stay smaller and have a more swollen belly, that´s all. Soft, slightly acidic water with a temperature between 28 and 30°C fulfills the desires of the splendid animals. They should be fed with a broad variety of different food items that can contain flakes as well as frozen and live food items.
For our customers: the animals have code 682122 on our stocklist. Please note that we exclusively supply the wholesale trade.
Text: Thomas Weidner, photos: Thomas Weidner & Frank Schäfer
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