Anyone able to ID this bigbox mis-label?

[RyanM]

I wish my lfs sold such nice fish..and for $3! My lfs' idea of cichlids is a pair of convicts, hybrid mbuna, and maybe a bb ram.

These were at a Pet Supplies plus that usually has nothing interesting. None of the employees working today knew why they even had these and didn't know what to sell them as lol.

 

[cichlidfish]

Never heard of the Chuco micropthalamus before, but looking at those pictures I am almost certain thats what they are, mostly because of the mouth which is a pretty unique shape.

Score! How big do these guys get?

Not sure, Duane would know. I do know they are a larger CA and fairly aggressive.

 

[cichlidfish]

Never heard of the Chuco micropthalamus before, but looking at those pictures I am almost certain thats what they are, mostly because of the mouth which is a pretty unique shape.

Score! How big do these guys get?

Not sure, Duane would know. I do know they are a larger CA but not as big as some CAs. They are pretty rare.

 

[Stanzzzz7]

Not sure, Duane would know. I do know they are a larger CA but not as big as some CAs. They are pretty rare.

They get to 12 inches +
Veija type size.
If that's what they are you don't see them often so you got a result there.

 

[RyanM]

They get to 12 inches +
Veija type size.
If that's what they are you don't see them often so you got a result there.

How do you think they fall on the aggression scale compared to other large CAs?

 

[Stanzzzz7]

How do you think they fall on the aggression scale compared to other large CAs?

I've heard mixed reports about aggression. Some say peaceful some say aggressive.
I know they like cool fast flowing water.
Fish kept too warm in still water may show more aggression than those kept in the right conditions.

 

[RyanM]

I've heard mixed reports about aggression. Some say peaceful some say aggressive.
I know they like cool fast flowing water.
Fish kept too warm in still water may show more aggression than those kept in the right conditions.

Good info thanks! I usually keep my CA tanks in the 74-75 range anyways.

 

[cichlidfish]

They get to 12 inches +
Veija type size.
If that's what they are you don't see them often so you got a result there.

I've been wanting godmani for a long time now.

 

[duanes]

If they are micropthalmus, you are lucky indeed.
They probably hit an average of around 10", and are a rheophillic fish, so a lot of current is preferred (high oxygen content).
I kept mine with dissimilar shaped cichlids, and live bearers in a 6ft tank, and aggression was minimal.
The older they get, the more beautiful they become.



The shape of the mouth is very distinctive.
I have also kept one of the other Chucos, 2 variants of intermedia.

above a small spot variant, below a naked face location variant

 

[RyanM]

They are extremely active, constantly moving, almost like they are shoaling. Very interesting and somewhat unusual behavior for cichlids.