Dicrossus maculatus

[rasmusW]

Hi all!

I’m currently rethinking one of my 155 liter tanks and I’m 97% stock on these for it.
So here’s a few questions, that I couldn’t seem to find answered in any of the other theads.

Would a trio work for this size tank (120x36x36cm)?
I will probably have to buy a few more just to be safe.

I couldn’t find any catch reports, but would it be possible to find them in Rio juruena or is that too far south?
Here I’m thinking of possible tankmates..

Thanks in advance.

-r

 

[anewbie]

I have my doubts; to be honest i had 6 (5m 1f) in my discus aquairum (approx 82-83) so a bit on the warm side. At first it looks like they would do well but as time has gone on they have become more aggressive with each other (though quite lovely when displaying to each other). I've had a few die (including the one i think was a female) and at least one frequently hides now in the grass so i rarely see it - the aquairum is 72 inch x 24 inches so substantially larger - also they aren't small fishes and they are relatively active at least they are in my aquarium. The diet i'm finding them is not great because they go after the left over freeze dried blackworms the discus eat even though i offer them healthier food - the rams have done a *lot* better. I did not notice any bloat or signs of bloat on the 2 that i did find dead but they were dead non-the-less and i have seen one hide in fright ever time another male notices it which is a bad sign of aggression.

Given their size and potential for aggression i would consider a smaller fish - your aquarium is a tiny bit smaller than my 40 and i'm not sure i would keep more than 2 in the 40 breeder - on the one hand they spectacular fishes and i was thinking about putting 2 in a 29 or 40 but on the other hand i really have a bad feeling when i fail wc fishes (i seem to care less about domestics); so i would be unsure. I do have a 65 (48x16 inches 120cm x 40) with some domestic i've been thinking about cleaning out and using for something but that probably won't be till next spring - anyways my 2 ct.

 

[MacZ]

Would a trio work for this size tank (120x36x36cm)?
I will probably have to buy a few more just to be safe.

1m, 2-3f, yes.

I would not dare having more males in such a tank.

I couldn’t find any catch reports, but would it be possible to find them in Rio juruena or is that too far south?

I would assume populations living that far upstream, yes.

 

[Mike Wise]

There are no reports of D. maculatus occurring far upstream of the Rio Tapajos due to hydrologic barriers (rapids) for small fish. They do occur in other smaller river systems near the main channel of the Amazon.

 

[rasmusW]

Thanks a lot for your replies.
Sorry, this whole up/down stream got me confused.
This might be a stupid question…
Is upstream like north if you are looking at a flat map or is based on where it connects to the main river, here the amazon?
And upstream is where its closest to the “root/main river”…

And in final, is this a yes to that they could occur in juruena?
I’m asking because I would love to have h. Myrmex as dither for them (-though they are still rather pricey).
They occur in the juruena/maues-tapajos drainage as far as i have read.

-r

 

[MacZ]

There are no reports of D. maculatus occurring far upstream of the Rio Tapajos due to hydrologic barriers (rapids) for small fish.

You're right! I always mix up Tapajós and Xingu. The latter having the dams, I know, but those are too new geologically and would have just separated populations.

 

[MacZ]

Is upstream like north if you are looking at a flat map or is based on where it connects to the main river, here the amazon?

Upstream is towards the source. In case of the southern tributaries to the Amazon, that means south.

And in final, is this a yes to that they could occur in juruena?

Nope.

 

[rasmusW]

Thanks sir! Its always a pleasure.

-r

 

[anewbie]

Out of curiosity what is the significance of juruena

 

[rasmusW]

Out of curiosity what is the significance of juruena

It was just because of where the potential dither fish comes from and the fact that (as far as i know) Rio juruena, is considered part of the Tapajós drainage.

-r

 

[Mike Wise]

As MacZ wrote, upstream indicates from where the water flows. Water flow from high to low, so upstream is the high end of a water course. It has no north/south coordinates. Another little understood term you might see is "left bank/right bank". To determine which bank is which, imagine you are standing by a river and looking downstream. The left bank is on your left hand side. The right bank is on your right. Again these have no north/south coordinates.

 

[rasmusW]

Thanks Mike! For clarifing it more.
It all makes perfect sense. I guess I have never really thought of it.

-r

 

[anewbie]

fyi: I've seen no interaction between the d. maculatus and adult rams i have in the 180; not sure if they occur together in the wild but though i would mention it.

 

[rasmusW]

Thanks for the input.
I wouldn’t dare adding two cichlid species in a relative small tank as this.
They are found on opposite side of the amazon river.

-r

 

[anewbie]

Thanks for the input.
I wouldn’t dare adding two cichlid species in a relative small tank as this.
They are found on opposite side of the amazon river.

-r

so one is on the east bank and the other the west bank

 

[MacZ]

To determine which bank is which, imagine you are standing by a river and looking downstream. The left bank is on your left hand side. The right bank is on your right. Again these have no north/south coordinates.

Exactly! Greetings from the right side of the River Rhine! (The eastern bank)

 

[MacZ]

so one is on the east bank and the other the west bank

The amazon flows west to east for the most part. so... one on the north, one on the south bank.

 

[anewbie]

The amazon flows west to east for the most part. so... one on the north, one on the south bank.

It flows side ways and not up/down ? Dang for some reason i always pictured it flowing through columbia, brazil, peru .... but never actually really paid attention to maps. Oh well gravity is useless.

I see looking at a map - it is all the little streams that get pulled south by gravity !

 

[rasmusW]

For some reason i feel a bit of mockery… hehehe -all good. I don’t mind asking “dumb” questions..

Well, back on track. I hope to find some maculatus for sale soon. Last time, the wholesale had them for a Long time, but sold out just before i was placing a order…

-r

 

[anewbie]

For some reason i feel a bit of mockery… hehehe -all good. I don’t mind asking “dumb” questions..

Well, back on track. I hope to find some maculatus for sale soon. Last time, the wholesale had them for a Long time, but sold out just before i was placing a order…

-r

If you are in usa aquaticclarity currently has some; jeff indicated his were female heavy ( was looking for a female but decided to skip since the 180 isn't really suitable for breeding and these deserve a dedciated 40 which they will get when my current occupants age out in a couple of years; yea i plan things up to 5 years in advance).

I will say in terms of look they are actually stunning in person but in behavior i haven't really noticed much in unique behavior beyond males haveing a pretty intricate dance when faced off.

(i might short cut and make a 65 free next year).