Etroplus canarensis: Canara Pearlspot Update

[notho2000]

My ten young Etroplus canarensis (Canara Pearl Spots) were obtained last August. They were just about 3/4" (2 cm) TL at the time and I believe around three or four months of age. Here they are just after I got them.

And here's what they're like now,about 3 1/2".

They are real characters, the way they school around in a tight bunch. Dietarily speaking, they are avid vegetarians. Here they are seen in a bit of a frenzy, fighting over a few peas that have been dropped into the tank They take on an interesting pattern and coloration when they get excited. According to Jose Gonzales (ciclasoman), the breeder of this rare cichlid, they are getting close to sexual maturity ...Here's hoping! Their tank mates are eight young Herichthys bartoni, three Theraps wesseli, and a single Cichlasoma dimerus. They have all grown up together which, in part accounts for their high degree of compatibility. Here's a video of the action.
[video=youtube_share;gQCCDPtRJXE]http://youtu.be/gQCCDPtRJXE[/video]

 

[ryansmith83]

I love these guys. I've been thinking about pulling the trigger on a group but I wasn't sure if I could mix them with my more peaceful SA stuff. Their water requirements are similar but I didn't know how they fared with other cichlids.

How long have you had them? I read somewhere that it took 2 years for sexual maturity but that seems like a long time for such a small fish. They certainly are cute little things.

 

[notho2000]

I love these guys. I've been thinking about pulling the trigger on a group but I wasn't sure if I could mix them with my more peaceful SA stuff. Their water requirements are similar but I didn't know how they fared with other cichlids.

How long have you had them? I read somewhere that it took 2 years for sexual maturity but that seems like a long time for such a small fish. They certainly are cute little things.

I got them last August from Jose Gonzales (ciclasoman) in San Antonio. They are presently about 16 months of age. Jose says that they should be sexually mature at around 18 months to two years. I have had good success mixing them with some smaller H. bartoni and T. wesseli but Jose has told me that the canarensis can stress easily and this can be a deterrent to them breeding with the wrong tank mates. I'll most likely remove the other cichlids at some point in the near future.

 

[ciclasoman]

Greetings:
The older canarensis have begun breeding behavior as we start to have warmer temperatures. Here's a little clip of two separate tanks- the first tank contains fish that are the siblings of your fish Jim. The second tank has the parents and a few older offspring.
Saludos
http://m.youtube.com/watch?feature=youtu.be&v=CecQKDujMcM

 

[notho2000]

Very impressive collection and great videos. When your canarensis are breeding or getting ready to do so, do they change pattern or color from their usual? Mine have darkened and dark bands appear across the top of the head. Is this a stress pattern or an indication of impending breeding (or at least sexual maturity)?

Usual color and pattern


Darkened color and pattern

 

[LS2012]

Gorgeous pearlspots Jim & Jose!

Sent from my Nexus 10 using MonsterAquariaNetwork App

 

[darth pike]

I hope that isn't a stress pattern, because it's so pretty.

 

[ciclasoman]

Very impressive collection and great videos. When your canarensis are breeding or getting ready to do so, do they change pattern or color from their usual? Mine have darkened and dark bands appear across the top of the head. Is this a stress pattern or an indication of impending breeding (or at least sexual maturity)?
View attachment 997201
Usual color and pattern

View attachment 997200
Darkened color and pattern

Jim:
I have seen the same pattern when my fish were stressed, once following a large volume water change and another under the pressure from other fish. However, I have also seen that pattern in a breeding pair. The picture below is poor but you may be able to catch a glimpse of a spawn on a log.
Let's hope for sexual maturation!!

 

[duanes]

I've not seen that darkened pattern in mine yet, but my first thought seeing yours, Jim was spawning color.
Mine still always look like this.

 

[notho2000]

Thanks Laurie and Chris. They are really striking. Jose and Duane, I hope you're both right on the spawning comment. It might just be time to move out the bartoni and wesseli and see what happens. I'll keep an update going.