African non rift lake community

[duanes]

A 55 gal including
from Lake Barumbi mbo
6 Saratherodon linnelli

some Stomatepia pindu

the above fish came via dogofwar
From Lake Natron a pair of Alcolapia alcalicus
female

male, upper fish

and hanging out in the floating plants 2 mouthbrooding betta species from Borneo
Betta edithae

and Betta albimarginata

male above, female below

 

[darth pike]

You keep wild bettas? Awesomesauce.

 

[duanes]

Although I'm a bit of a 1 trick pony, because most of my tanks have only cichlids,
I'm fascinated by wild mouthbrooding bettas.

I find it interesting that they can easily coexist with much larger cichlids, and find their propensity for lying motionless at the surface where cichlids tend to avoid, and able to hit jet speed bursts to grab prey compelling.

 

[darth pike]

Oh I agree. I'm a closet labyrinth fan. I remember the huge Betta bellica I had way back in the day, able to handle the midsized cichlids they were with. I've yet to try the mouthbrooders though, they are on the list. Someday.

 

[ewok]

very interesting tank and fish.
i've never seen/heard of Alcolapia alcalicus. they seem very prehistoric in a way

 

[duanes]

Alcolapia are a Tilapine group of cichlids from Lake Natron, a shallow lake that is more saline in parts, and toxic than the ocean, and can reach temps to almost 100'F, The cichlids live near the periphery areas where streams enter, keeping the water slightly cooler and less toxic. They are small mouthbrooders, only reaching about 5", and almost manic in constant movement.
My group started spawning at just over 1" in nearly 90'F water temps.



After my male died, I traded the rest but found what appeared to be 2 fry, both females in a sump, now that the temps are warming, one has become/or was masquerading as male and they just began spawning last week.


they seem to work well with other Tilapine ancestry Barumbi mbo cichlids such as Stomatepia pindu and Saratherodon linnelli.

The pindu have sensory pits that appear as white dots on the gill cover, and along the lateral line.

 

[ewok]

that's pretty cool
good luck with these fish
they seem really hard to come by and it's kind of too bad because we should be trying to conserve these types of fish more!

 

[duanes]

Yes, all 3 species of cichlids are on the C.A.R.E.S list.