Andinoacara hunt as a pack.

[duanes]

I keep about a dozen Andinoacara in a 180 gal tank., ranging from @ 3"-5" in length.
About once per week they are offered freshwater shrimp from up a stream up in the hills.
These shrimp are at times 5" to 6" long, too much for a lone cichlid to handle at that size.
So they attack en-masse from all sides grabbing legs until it is pulled apart.
.

 

[adamsfishes]

Cool cichlids. Full tank shot?

 

[duanes]

Cool cichlids. Full tank shot?

Because the tank is on the patio, its only lighting is the sun
Beside the Andinoacara, the is a native Pleco, 2 different species of gobies, 2 Roeboides tetras, and 1 vampire shrimp that has avoided capture so far.

Awaous (either banana or transendeanus)

Hypostomus panamensis

Roeboides bouchellei (?)

Eleotris picta, and Tabogano shrimp

 

[MrsE88]

The tank looks amazing

 

[adamsfishes]

Very natural looking. Those little andinos seem quite happy.

 

[cockroach]

I have noticed the rhinogobius I have do something similar. like a pack of wild dogs.
Have yours established a pecking order for who eats what?

 

[duanes]

There is an alpha Andinoacara that often starts the attack, although once the the frenzy starts its all up for grabs, even the Roeboidis tetras join in. The Awaous seem to show up later chasing the cichlids from the last of the spoils.

 

[Toiletcar]

There is an alpha Andinoacara that often starts the attack, although once the the frenzy starts its all up for grabs, even the Roeboidis tetras join in. The Awaous seem to show up later chasing the cichlids from the last of the spoils.

View attachment 1387308

Very interesting behavior. I bet this happens w/ other species too.

My astyanax bimculatus were always very aggressive feeding w/ the cichlids. Sometimes out competing them even taking food right out of their mouths. They are fast.

 

[Toiletcar]

Also Duane astyanax bimculatus should be common in your area. They probably are the most wide spread astyanax species ranging from Costa Rica down through all of South America. Very interesting fish.

 

[duanes]

I have also found Astyanax to be very aggressive, in a video I took in Aktun Ha Cenote, they were constantly biting my ears and neck while I was snorkeling, they got so irritating I started stirring up the substrate to distract them. Video below.
Aktun Ha