Skittish spilurus (former chetumalensis)

[Hybridfish7]

I currently have a group of the sarstun spilurus, and I will say, they are probably the most... difficult fish I've had to deal with. Not in the sense that it's hard to maintain them, it's just... I don't know what to do with them. I've had 3 groups of them at this point. All of them have been extremely skittish and I've never had any breeding activity.

First group of 3, ended up with two females and a male, pair formed, so I put them in a tub outside, only for them to get killed by a cold flash in the middle of May. Remaining female got bloat.

Second group was a little growout group of 5. They were doing fine, until that weird super ich came out of nowhere and hit like a train. I saw the little dots forming, dosed malachite... Next day everything was covered in ich and dying.

Anyway this current group is four of the near full grown ones from Kevin at TUIC. They've been doing fine, eating, no bloat, colored up, but they always hide. I see them maybe 10 seconds a day at most. They come out for food, and they aren't scared of me anymore, but that's about it. Never any fighting, no chasing, etc. Tried raising the temp, they don't come out any more than before. And then one turns up dead. Any tips?

 

[newworld]

Chetumalensis r spilurus now?

 

[duanes]

Do you have dithers in the tank?
In their natural habitat, they are normally surrounded by shoals of tetras, and live bearers, they watch for security.
If they are F0 or F1 they may still instinctually need that type security blanket to feel comfortable.

 

[newworld]

I have 2 pairs in mixed tanks they are always out, like Duane said dithers…..

 

[Kevin@TUIC]

Chetumalensis r spilurus now?

well, not 'officially'. It has always been thought that they are likely the same fish and are probably a junior synonym of Cryptoheros spilurus . Rio Hondo(chetumalensis type locality) extends way south with numerous tributaries and well into the territory of the know spilurus zone. Geographically speaking they are very close to each other. We see and think this for the nanolutea and altoflava as well. For now, they are still separate until officially announced.

 

[Kevin@TUIC]

I currently have a group of the sarstun spilurus, and I will say, they are probably the most... difficult fish I've had to deal with. Not in the sense that it's hard to maintain them, it's just... I don't know what to do with them. I've had 3 groups of them at this point. All of them have been extremely skittish and I've never had any breeding activity.

First group of 3, ended up with two females and a male, pair formed, so I put them in a tub outside, only for them to get killed by a cold flash in the middle of May. Remaining female got bloat.

Second group was a little growout group of 5. They were doing fine, until that weird super ich came out of nowhere and hit like a train. I saw the little dots forming, dosed malachite... Next day everything was covered in ich and dying.

Anyway this current group is four of the near full grown ones from Kevin at TUIC. They've been doing fine, eating, no bloat, colored up, but they always hide. I see them maybe 10 seconds a day at most. They come out for food, and they aren't scared of me anymore, but that's about it. Never any fighting, no chasing, etc. Tried raising the temp, they don't come out any more than before. And then one turns up dead. Any tips?

This is a instinctively cave dwelling species. They are doing what they do. part of the reasoning for them being 'rare' isnt so much because there arent any. it is because when they could have been collected they are extremely good at.. well... hiding. its what they do.

 

[newworld]

well, not 'officially'. It has always been thought that they are likely the same fish and are probably a junior synonym of Cryptoheros spilurus . Rio Hondo(chetumalensis type locality) extends way south with numerous tributaries and well into the territory of the know spilurus zone. Geographically speaking they are very close to each other. We see and think this for the nanolutea and altoflava as well. For now, they are still separate until officially announced.

got it I’ve heard that for a while …maybe it will be like the melanurus /Synspilum thing?

 

[Kevin@TUIC]

got it I’ve heard that for a while …maybe it will be like the melanurus /Synspilum thing?

yep. pretty much

 

[Hybridfish7]

Do you have dithers in the tank?
In their natural habitat, they are normally surrounded by shoals of tetras, and live bearers, they watch for security.
If they are F0 or F1 they may still instinctually need that type security blanket to feel comfortable.

I have 7 xiphophorus birchmanni and some crossocheilus with them.

This is a instinctively cave dwelling species. They are doing what they do. part of the reasoning for them being 'rare' isnt so much because there arent any. it is because when they could have been collected they are extremely good at.. well... hiding. its what they do.

Gotcha, makes more sense now, thanks Kevin. I am noticing them out a bit more a week after raising the temp, the dominant male has almost as much red as that one picture on google now (this one)

The smaller female goes around in what I assume is either stress coloration or a sort of half mast breeding dress, and what I assume is the dominant female has a flat red body. Hoping they start breeding soon.

 

[Hybridfish7]

Finally was able to get pictures of mine.