amphibious Robertsoni cichlid info?

[crxlsturbo]

Saw this at my lfs and looked up a picture of it. Looks very nice when colors start to pop out. They had these for $7 each at my lfs. You can tell the blue is coming out a little. Seems kind of shy. I have him in a 55 with 2 bandit Cichlids, 1 peacock bass and a ebjd being the king of the tank. How are there aggression? I read that this fish is like a fake firemouth but with blue in him. Has anyone raised one of these before. Any info will help. I'll try and post pics later tonight when I feed him. Thanks

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[JasonsPlecosCichlids]

You mean Astatheros robertsoni?

Had one a long time ago but had to quickly sell off my stock, wish I still had him. He was in my small tank, the 265 and he did well.

 

[crxlsturbo]

You mean Astatheros robertsoni?

Had one a long time ago but had to quickly sell off my stock, wish I still had him. He was in my small tank, the 265 and he did well.

I think that's the name. How big did yours get before you sold it off? How was the coloration on him/her? From the pics I saw on the Internet they look beautiful. Almost ebjd coloration. Here's some pics I took tonight. His blue is starting to come out. Only 2" atm.

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[gamerpond1]

You mean Astatheros robertsoni?

Had one a long time ago but had to quickly sell off my stock, wish I still had him. He was in my small tank, the 265 and he did well.

So let me guess another change in taxonomy except instead of switching robertsoni from amphilophus to thorichthys which it would be more fitting some genius decided to make astatheros and take some of the species in thorichthys and put in with it, I swear if genus's like vieja paratheraps and theraps all look alike act alike and have similar diets keep them in one genus quit making it more complicated than it already is

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[duanes]

The Astatheros clade is similar to Thorichthys being eartheater types, but they are far from being combined.
They do inhabit some of the same waters, but usually different habitat
The changes being made today in taxonomy have more to do with differences in DNA and molecular studies, and reflect the radiations and separation, and evolution of cichlids throughout time, as opposed to simply the physical features, and feeding strategies used in the past.
I had robertsoni and A nourisatti a few years back, and now keep a group of Astatheros rostratum.
Many of the Astatheros are social cichlids, living in shoals (at least until spawning) and can be shy when kept as individuals, so I now keep a group of 15 rostratum together.
A robertsoni can be found as far north as southern Mexico and the Yucatan (in cenotes), many other Astatheros are from further south in Central America down into Panama.
nourisatti

rostratum

 

[wild bill]

I have done some research on these guys and what I found is they are aggressive to each other. They are a great looking fish and I really would like to get some but have never seen them around here. They get quite large and act a bit like a geo in there feeding habits I think another name was blue sand sifter. Nice find and I am jealous.

 

[gamerpond1]

The Astatheros clade is similar to Thorichthys being eartheater types, but they are far from being combined.
They do inhabit some of the same waters, but usually different habitat
The changes being made today in taxonomy have more to do with differences in DNA and molecular studies, and reflect the radiations and separation, and evolution of cichlids throughout time, as opposed to simply the physical features, and feeding strategies used in the past.
I had robertsoni and A nourisatti a few years back, and now keep a group of Astatheros rostratum.
Many of the Astatheros are social cichlids, living in shoals (at least until spawning) and can be shy when kept as individuals, so I now keep a group of 15 rostratum together.
A robertsoni can be found as far north as southern Mexico and the Yucatan (in cenotes), many other Astatheros are from further south in Central America down into Panama.
nourisatti

rostratum

Well I guess im glad their basing taxonomy on dna and molecular structure to make a more distinct classification for fish but one thing I need is a current version of my pocket professional guide to cichlids by David E. Boruchowitz does anyone know of a newer copy coming out

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[crxlsturbo]

The Astatheros clade is similar to Thorichthys being eartheater types, but they are far from being combined.
They do inhabit some of the same waters, but usually different habitat
The changes being made today in taxonomy have more to do with differences in DNA and molecular studies, and reflect the radiations and separation, and evolution of cichlids throughout time, as opposed to simply the physical features, and feeding strategies used in the past.
I had robertsoni and A nourisatti a few years back, and now keep a group of Astatheros rostratum.
Many of the Astatheros are social cichlids, living in shoals (at least until spawning) and can be shy when kept as individuals, so I now keep a group of 15 rostratum together.
A robertsoni can be found as far north as southern Mexico and the Yucatan (in cenotes), many other Astatheros are from further south in Central America down into Panama.
nourisatti

rostratum

Thanks Duanes for the reply. I have noticed they do sift through the rocks like a Geo. What I have also noticed he won't stop chasing my bandit Cichlids around. I might move him over to my earth eater tank since it all sand. Thanks for the info.

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[cichlidfish]

Here is my female.




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[cichlidfish]

Here is my female.

View attachment 1013330


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I'd like to add she is about 7-8 years old, and is 10'' TL measured out of water. From what I read they don't get this big. It is nearly impossible to tell males from females and venting is the only way. She isn't aggressive at all, and can't be kept with aggressive cichlids. I have had luck keeping her with a. rostratus (now) and a firemouth (past). You need to have a large tank for that to work. I recently had to get rid of a male JD in my 150g, because he was beating up my robertsoni.
I wouldn't keep one in a 55g w/ a pbass. The water requirements are different, but the biggest problem will be that the pbass will grow much faster. Robertsonis are very slow growers, will end up as food before you know it (also the others might too). A robertsoni would be good in a 55g for life and IMO totally worth it.