Crenicara Punctulatum

[Neil]

Has anybody ever had this checkerboard cichlid? There is some large adults for a reasonable price at the best LFS in town and it looks like there is a pair thinking about breeding in their tank. I have never worked with this fish and don't know much about it, except that it is about the only species to change sex in the cichlid world. Anyone? Neil

 

[Cichlids1]

I have never kept the punctulatum, although I wouldn't mind having a pair. As for the sex change, I have heard of a few speices doing that. I have personnally seen it in Dicrossus filamentosa. Had a group of 5, 1 male and 4 females. Male decided the carpet looked better than his tank and out he went. 3 months later, I've got eggs again and the dominant female is showing male traits. Trailers on the fins, more reds and blues, etc. Now, if I could just get some eggs to hatch. That would serve 2 purposes. 1st, it would make me happy (Mucho points in BAP for filamentosa). 2nd, she has produced fry in the past. If I could get a viable spawn that would mean that she actually did change sex from female to male. If you get the punctulatum, put me on the "wants fry" list

 

[Neil]

Cichlids1,
I went back to get them and they were gone - all 8 of them. Wow, I am hoping that they get some more! I really wanted to get some pics of them too. I will let you know if I see them again. Neil