ASTOTHEROS

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C

cage623

Jack Dempsey
MFK Member
Nov 30, 2011
127
0
31
Iowa
I have been trying to work out what I want to put in my new 125 and have found a few different species of Astotheros that look interesting. The problem is that I can't find much information about any of them. I know they are much less aggressive and they are more of a medium sized cichlid.

I have found sites that sell the following species:

A. rhytisma
A. robertsoni
A. nourisoutti
A. altifrons

I was wondering if any body had personal experience or knowledge about any of these fish? What tankmates worked? What size tank? I found one post that made is sound like they do better in groups and another that said they are really only aggressive to their own species. So I am confused and any info on them would be awesome!

-Cage
 
My experience is only with A. robertsoni. I started out with four juveniles. They did great until I had to move them out of my community tank at about 5". At that point the dominant male tried to kill the other male. I moved him out and after about two weeks the dominant male tried to kill (and almost succeeded) the larger female. After I moved her out the pair seemed to get along well for a few months. One day after a gravel vacuuming the male started picking on his mate and I decided to get rid of the pair and the lone female. The one male I kept is a big wimp and gets pushed around by much smaller fish. I like him a lot and he really is a beautiful fish, but unless there are a whole lot of other fish to spread out aggression they really don't do well in groups (in my experience).
 
I've had almost identical experience as above with Robertsoni. Great peaceful solo fish though. I've raised and had good luck with groups of Altifrons and Rhytisma to adulthood. All tries with Nourisatti have ended up with the dominant fish, ether male or female, killing off the others.
 
I had a nourisatti that grew to about eight inches when I sold her. She never bothered another fish in the tank but was being bullied by my argentia. I am currently growing out altifrons, robertsoni, rostratus and longimanos. All are between 3-5" and don't seem to be causing any issue. They are housed in an 8ft 135 with other cichilids including chocolate, cryptoheros, krobia, thoricthys, and other similar type (aggression wise) cichlids.
 
I'm currently keeping 3 robertsoni at about 4.5" each. They dont get along at all but there's plenty of room in the 300 for each to have their own space. Also growing out 7 nourissati currently at 1.5"
 
I have a 8" female robertsoni and a 3.5" rostratus ( don't know the sex) and they are together in my 150g (see sig for stock). I haven't had any problems so far but I am worried that will change. My robertsoni is only aggressive towards my jd.
 
In my 125 do you think I could, or would be better off, keeping one of a couple of these species or better luck with a small group of one species? I was thinking of going with maybe three or four total.

Also what do you think of tankmates? I am interested in lyonsi which I hear are less aggressive. I would also love a Vieja hartwegi but I guess that is a bigger question mark with the aggression from vieja but again I here they are less aggressive then other vieja. Opinions and experiences would be great.

If I did the above tank I would try to get the Astotheros a little larger (around like 5") and the other tankmates a little smaller (like 3" or smaller).

-Cage
 
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