Dicrossus sp. "tapajos"

[finzz]

Hello all; I just found this site as I was looking for information on this species and I'm very glad I did. Great site!

I've been seeing D. "tapajos" available from time to time lately, though pretty high in price. I don't know anyone that's bred the species and wonder if anyone here has the experience. Before I spend the money on the fish I'd like to know a little about what I'm up against. I've had very good luck with D. filamentosus and maculatus.

Thanks in advance
Don

 

[Tom C]

I kept them some years ago. At that time they also where imported under the name Dicrossus sp. "Itaituba".

They bred in soft, peat filtered water with a pH around 5 or a little bit lower.

Here you see a female with 85 eggs on an oak leaf:

A very smart place to deposit the eggs; after I several times disturbed her by approaching very close with my camera, she pulled the leaf with all the eggs further back in the tank, and out of sight for me.

This species seems to have a very strong "biological clock"; in my tank the wild fish only spawned the second week of May every year. When the offspring grew up, they spawned the second week of May and the second week of October!
Others have had similar experiences.

It's a very nice fish, and easy to breed if you provide them with the kind of water they need.

Good luck!

 

[finzz]

Thanks for the advice, Tom. Armed with that information I think I'll give them a try.