Steatocranus aggression and tank mates

[Nebraska_cichlids]

Hi!

Recently, I have added to the species of rheophilic West Africans that I keep: four Steatocranus species (a fifth to come), Gobiocichla wonderi and Telegramma brichardi. Not surprisingly, the S. casuarius were the first to spawn. I keep the casuarius in a 125G tank, together with one pair of Chromidotilapia guntheri and a few Benitochromis nigrodorsalis. I was caught off guard by the high level of aggression that the casuarius exhibit when protecting their (numerous) fry. Now I'm a little worried about the well-being of their tankmates. My questions: First, how long will this aggression last? Second, which species (rheophilic or not) make good tankmates for casuriaus defending their fry? Third, do you see a problem housing distinct species of Steatocranus together in one large tank?

Thanks,

Janos

 

[tjudy]

I spent a lot of time talking with Anton L. at the OCA on the topic of Steatocranus. He is of the opinion that Steatocranus species (except S. irvinei due to size) are best kept as pairs in medium-size tanks. He says that the mature pair and their offspring will not bother younger fry/juveniles in the tank, and that territorial aggression only tanks place between unrelated/unpaired adults in the tank. He lets his colonies grow like one might keep a colony of Neolamprologus or Julidochromis from Lake Tanganyika.

I use hardy dithers in with the few Steatocranus species I keep. My S. tinanti share a 25 gallon (36"x12"x12") with Bedotia sp. rainbows, my S. sp. 'Square Head' share a 40Br (36"x18"x16") with a diverse community of fish that incloudes Arnoldichthys spilopterus tetras, a few large male Scriptaphyosimion sp. killies, three Pantodon bucholzi, and a couple small (for now) Syn. decorus (that I will remove once they reach about 6").

The latest Steat. I picked up are (possibly sp. Dwarf) all under two inches (I have eight of them) and they live in a standard 20L with a very young Hemisyn. membranaceous (which will move once he is doing well and growing). They are all quarantining together. Eventually I will move the someday-to-be very large catfish and put in some type of west African barb or tetra.

With all the species of Steat. I keep I plan to house them as a group until a pair spawns, then move the others and let the pair populate the tanks like Anton suggests.

 

[Lenny Llambi]

I seem to remember an artilce in TFH where the author kept his S. tinanti (maybe even casuarius) with T. brichardi and a tilapia-type species (?). I don't know this for sure, but it seems like it may have been a 75 gallon, or so. The Steatocranus was the first to breed in his tank as well.