Anyone got large a. stalsbergi?

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Mythic Figment said:
I was considering purchasing some stalsbergi from Rapps earlier this week and spoke with Alf Stalsberg about his opinion on their growth and behavior. A noteworthy source for sure. Anyways, he said stalsbergi tend to hit 7-8", but not much more and the ones that hit 10" are power fed through most of their lives.

Andinoacara rivulatus (gold/white saums) have been bred on farms for large size and bright colors. The ones that come from Asia are often juiced up on hormones for growth and color. The saums tend to get 8-10" with a few 12" out there.


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There are many hormoned fish in Asia, but I am not aware that they need to hormone GT which are naturally colorful and don't need enhancement. What Asian fish farms do is to selectively breed GT to develop bigger hump, stronger orange saum, and higher body form. My avatar GT is an Asian import, which maxed out at 10". Long body wild type GT may hit 11 inch, but I am doulbtful they can exceed 12 inch.

My first GT was a Stalsbergi, which was imported before the red saum. I recall that my Stalsbergi is not as big as red saum. Soon Stalsbergi dissappeared in the market and replaced by the more colorful red saum. Only recently that Stalsbergi is re imported because folks want rarer species, but I don't think they can displace the popularity of regular GT.


Here is a pic of Stalsbergi from an old TPH magazine. Not only that the scale pattern between the two species is very different, but also the sickle shaped dorsal fin of Stalsbergi is unique.

wsaum.jpg
 
BuffaloPolypteridae said:
What would be considered power-fed? I don't want to do this but my lil guy has gone from being the size of a quarter to that in a couple months and was told they're supposed to grow slower. I feed once daily w/ a one day break in the week, alternating between pellet (hikari cichlid gold, carni) and live black worms. There's also a huge pothos in the tank, when I tested this morning I'm still in the light yellow range of the api kit, 2-5 ppms nitrate, 0 trites 0 ammo.

Did Alf have anything significant to say about behavior? What made you not want them? Or are you still deciding? It took me a while too lol to figure out which cichlid to go w/ my bichirs. First I was thinking festae, then he ran out, so then I was gonna go w/ some s. Mapiritensis then discovered these guys.. I love that pale green on the cheeks

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You aren't power feeding.

Most of the info Alf gave me was the same info I had read. He believes (and I agree) that many pairs don't work and the species gets a bad rep because people only buy a male and female to force a pairing. Pairs he has seen and kept that had a strong pair bond with little aggression were raised as a group of 6+ individuals and allowed to pair more naturally. The species can be rough on each other regardless though. They pair early too. Females as small as 2" and males as small as 3".

I decided against them due to space. They are still a species I intend to keep, but will need to get more tanks first.


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tiger15 said:
There are many hormoned fish in Asia, but I am not aware that they need to hormone GT which are naturally colorful and don't need enhancement. What Asian fish farms do is to selectively breed GT to develop bigger hump, stronger orange saum, and higher body form. My avatar GT is an Asian import, which maxed out at 10". Long body wild type GT may hit 11 inch, but I am doulbtful they can exceed 12 inch.

My first GT was a Stalsbergi, which was imported before the red saum. I recall that my Stalsbergi is not as big as red saum. Soon Stalsbergi dissappeared in the market and replaced by the more colorful red saum. Only recently that Stalsbergi is re imported because folks want rarer species, but I don't think they can displace the popularity of regular GT.


Here is a pic of Stalsbergi from an old TPH magazine. Not only that the scale pattern between the two species is very different, but also the sickle shaped dorsal fin of Stalsbergi is unique.
Click to expand...

Young Asian gold saums are hormoned to enhance color so that they sell faster. Eventually the enhancement fades as they grow and adults all look similar. But there is no evidence to show what, if any, effects take place in the fish later on in life, such as shortened life or mutations/cancers.


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TheGinge5 said:
Great Terror in you avatar. Like all the orange he has. How old is he and what do you feed him if you dont mind me asking?
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I have had him close to two years now. I have fed him every food under the sun but Omega One Super Color is his staple. Frozen food on the weekends.


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^ yeah even if they are selectively bred I bet they get hormones too, another reason why I prefer stalsbergi to saums. Plus the ones I've seen in person have weird body proportions compared to most of my other cichlids.. made me think they were short body or sick lol. There are some on here that look great though. I only have 1 and was not intending on breeding ever so that's good. My plan is to have my smaller fish stay in my 70 and move the larger ones like the brasiliensis to my build w/ my dats bichirs pbass etc.

I'm hoping my red wolf comms well w/ my stalsbergi, festae and severum lol. Its a long tank so they might be able to, if not Id like to get this guy a 40 breeder, leave the 70 to the cichlids.. trying to think of other fish compatible w/ such a setup.. would be an interesting tank if it works out lol


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