In the 1990s, when Brazil’s large river cichlids experienced something of a boom, four species from the former collective genus Crenicichla also arrived in Europe for the first time. Due to the lack of a scientific name, they were designated Crenicichla sp. Xingu I – IV. All four grow to a considerable size for ornamental fish, reaching lengths of 30-40 cm, and are robust animals that can assert themselves. Very large aquariums are therefore a basic requirement for keeping these animals. They were banned from export for a long time, but Brazil has now lifted the ban.
Strangely enough, Lugubria sp. Xingu I has not yet been scientifically studied. The young fish up to 5 cm in length are bright red, then they turn orange, which led to the nickname “French fries” for the fish. Adult specimens look completely different; the males are then brass yellow with vertical lines, the females gray-green with a bright red band in the middle of their bodies. At water temperatures above 30°C, when they are in breeding mood, the females look absolutely magnificent, with the entire middle of their bodies glowing coral red and their dorsal fins having a dazzling white edge, while their heads and tail stems are coal black.
We have young fish in our stock that are distinctly schooling fish. When kept in a school, they sometimes retain their beautiful coloration up to a length of 20 cm. Once they reach this size, the keeper must be careful! During “puberty,” before they become sexually active, these fish are extremely incompatible with each other! Only when the sexes are clearly recognizable can one attempt to pair them up. However, the small number of reported breedings —like all Lugubria species, these animals are cave breeders with a parental family—shows that this is rarely successful.
For our customers: L. sp. Xingu I/Orange has code 671801 (5-7 cm) and 671802 (6-8 cm) on our stock list. Please note that we only supply wholesale customers.
Text & photos: Frank Schäfer
