Checkerboard cichlid

[Lisachromis]

Ok... I was just wandering around the petstore when I looked in the African cichlid tank (with juvies in it), and noticed these little guys. Labelled checkerboards. I bought 5 of the 6 there.

I have a few shots here:

http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c397/lisachromis/DicrossusspFeb122006-3.jpg

http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c397/lisachromis/DicrossusspFeb122006-2.jpg

http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c397/lisachromis/DicrossusspFeb122006.jpg

I know they are young yet, but can anyone ID them?

 

[fredmir1]

Looks like Dicrossus to me.

Don`t know if there are maculatus or filamentosus ???

George

 

[Zapisto]

Yes for me it is Dicrosus
and i will go more to filamentosus than maculatus.

 

[aspen]

lisa, treat with kid gloves for a while. they are not an expensive fish but are very often a real pita to keep alive in the first while, much like cardinal tetras or pencilfish. many stores get these in and lose a whole bunch.

i think i've seen 6 tanks in the gta lose at least 50% in the first 2 weeks.

rick

 

[Lisachromis]

I kind of knew they were Dicrossus, but didn't know for sure the species. I could not believe my luck in spotting them in the African tank. They all have tail damage, but nothing too major. They were already displaying at each other in their new tank. Hopefully I can keep them alive.

 

[tjudy]

Filamentosus is more common, but maculatus has been appearing on lists lately... tough to say. You will know in a few weeks....

 

[Zapisto]

I Have about 25 D. Maculatus wild i got from a shippement
i lost one who jump.

i dont think this little guy are hard to maintain or keep a live.
Water good quality and good food , lot of water change and here you go.

I got them , they was very small , now i have full adult size D. Maculatus Tapajos displaying really nice color.

Males is Beautiful

 

[Mike Wise]

The checkerboard spots are shaped like those of D. filamentosus. D. sp. Obenschwert/Top-sword has a similar pattern, too.

 

[mseguin]

I have a pair of D maculatus in a 10 gal with small livebearers and they are doing fine, eating well.

 

[Lisachromis]

Thanks guys. I'll try and keep everyone updated.

 

[Simon Morgan]

Just curious

Why did you only buy 5 out of 6?

 

[Lisachromis]

Cause there was a deal for 5, and the guy catching the fish was having a hard time catching them.

 

[aspen]

there's never a whip handy when you need 1. :biggrin:

 

[Lisachromis]

Just a small update. So far so good. They seem to be eating well and have acclimated to the tank. No deaths. *crossing fingers*

 

[specialistrick]

I just put a pair of the Filamentosus in a 140 Gallon tank about a week ago and just noticed the female has laid eggs on a plant leaf in the back of the tank. Her "checkerboard" pattern has turned into a solid line and she's keeping the other fish away (Cardinals, lemon tetras, and 2 other pair of Apisto's). I have a question for any of the experienced owners of if they think the eggs will actually hatch. My PH at 7.0 is a little high for these guys but they seem very happy in the tank. They are not shy at all and feed very well. I've been feeding Mysis Shrimp, flakes, and cichlid pellets. I'm using 95% R/O and 5% Well Water (our well water is extremely hard....like liquid rock....88 degrees general hardness by itself!). I've read that these guys need the PH down around 6.
Thanks (my 1st post to this group), Richard

 

[Mike Wise]

You might get some eggs to hatch, but the hatch rate will be smaller than at lower pH values. It is very unlikely that any of the fry will survive with all ot the tetras in the tank. They are exceptional fry predators & my experience with D. filamentosus has been that females are not especially good at protecting their fry.

 

[Lisachromis]

Just an FYI. Dicrossus must be on some petstore lists as my local petstore even has a large sexable pair in the store. There's a definite male in there as he's got the lyretail.

 

[banderbe]

Just an FYI. Dicrossus must be on some petstore lists as my local petstore even has a large sexable pair in the store. There's a definite male in there as he's got the lyretail.

There are wild D. filamentosa for sale on aquabid right now.

 

[Lisachromis]

Just thought I'd post a reply and show a pic I took today of what I suspect will be a male. The finnage seems to be changing.

 

[Konigwolf]

I'd agree, you can just start to see the formation of the lyrette that will become his filaments. I have a male thats just a little furthur along than yours which I picked up for $30 with a female, another pet/fish store here in brisbane has D. maculatus for $80 ea fully grown, but they look great . I was talking to the manager, he said the only reason he got them in is because they are so damn rare.

Andrew