Hi Ewok, Altum are enigmatic fish, sadly, most appear to be dead within a month of import. however, I have seen some importations that have acclimatised with low mortality and grown on well. IMHO the fish that survive import and acclimatisation are no more difficult than other extreme softwater fish. I have kept them for some years (currently have thirteen and I am no great shakes as a fish keeper) with more success than failure. My experience leads me to believe that they are happier in water that has a good dose of plant extracts (humins, saponins etc) such as you get when conditioning with peat. Although these fish will always be susceptible to problems if not given adequate water conditions, the major problem is getting them through initiall acclimatisation. They appear to have little in the way of an immune system that can cope with the pathogens they encounter in our systems. As dirtyblacksocks says they need to be in sufficient numbers to spread the aggression (I have had them kill each other) and even after they are established, they do not like changes in water conditions (such as transportation). But they are one cracking fish! Yes they do need a large tall tank (I promise you they get to 18 inches tall if you can give them good conditions) There are a few tank breds about sporadically especially in Europe, they do not usually make any more money than wildcaughts!. There are often established fish sold by aquarists that have gotten fed up with wating for them to breed (it just doesn't seem to happen) these fish are allmost certainly the best bet whatever the price (I think the cheapest dead fish are the most expensive) I have bought established fish for less than the price of new imports, these fish have such a reputation that people are reluctant to risk them. Few people get to see the adult fish, if you can get Altum going in a large tank they are well worth it, a truly magnificent Cichlid.
