When folks on here say conspecific in relation to fish aggression how loosely are you using the term? Do you only use it to define aggression between fish in the same species but different genus (ie amatitlania septemfasciata -7 stripe cichlid vs amatitlania sp -Honduran Red Point? Or do you use it to define aggression between any species of similar size/build (ie amatitlania septemfasciata- 7 stripe cichlid vs thorcthys meeki - firemouth cichlid)? Those may not be the very best examples, but I think it gets my point across. Trying to put together a Central American cichlid tank and really like quite a few fish in the 5-6 inch range and I know most aggression is between conspecifics, I just want a better idea of what that actually means when people say it.
How loosely do you use the term "conspecific"?
- Thread starter heatherbeehappy
- Start date
I believe the definition of "conspecifics" means a member of the same species or species complex
Yeah, I know it does but I'm just curious if everyone uses the term that literally. I've seen some posts that gave me the impression that maybe the fish community uses the term more loosely.
+1
It’s about the same species. That’s how I would use it.
When talking about fish with similar size/build all you can say is fish with similar size/build.
It’s about the same species. That’s how I would use it.
When talking about fish with similar size/build all you can say is fish with similar size/build.
Although conspecific (between same species) and hererospecific (between separate species) is different, there is a similarity.
Although similar shaped fish may tussle, it sometimes comes down to details like mouth shape, due to feeding, and/or breeding site needs.
Whereas as an Amatitlania myrnae might show aggression to an Amatitlania "Honduran Red Point" in the same tank (especially) if space is limited.
It may not bother with one of the genus Thorichthys in a similar space. The mouth shows enough of a different feeding strategy to not provoke competition, or evoke overt aggression , although body shape may be similar. (at least until spawning season)
I find keeping those of the same genus together is often a time bomb, but keeping those of a different genus together may be less troublesome, especially if mouth shape is different.
Though in a tank both these species received pellets, they natural feeding strategies allowed them a kind of detente. (one being primarily vegetarian, the other an omnivore)
But.....putting a Parachromis with a different genus, but similar mouth shape whether a cichlid or not, or even a cichlid from a different continent, could be the death of one or the other.
Although one is from Mexico, and one from Africa, both being predators the chance that they coexist might be iffy.
Although similar shaped fish may tussle, it sometimes comes down to details like mouth shape, due to feeding, and/or breeding site needs.
Whereas as an Amatitlania myrnae might show aggression to an Amatitlania "Honduran Red Point" in the same tank (especially) if space is limited.
It may not bother with one of the genus Thorichthys in a similar space. The mouth shows enough of a different feeding strategy to not provoke competition, or evoke overt aggression , although body shape may be similar. (at least until spawning season)
I find keeping those of the same genus together is often a time bomb, but keeping those of a different genus together may be less troublesome, especially if mouth shape is different.
Though in a tank both these species received pellets, they natural feeding strategies allowed them a kind of detente. (one being primarily vegetarian, the other an omnivore)
But.....putting a Parachromis with a different genus, but similar mouth shape whether a cichlid or not, or even a cichlid from a different continent, could be the death of one or the other.
Although one is from Mexico, and one from Africa, both being predators the chance that they coexist might be iffy.
One other thing I am noticing, is with a few exceptions, you hardly ever find two species of the same new world genus of cichlids together in the same locale in nature.
Species seem to have evolved to fit a certain habitat. (Thorichthys is an exception)
It may be a food source availability, or topographical adaptation, dominance of vegetation, or rocky habitat, turbidity or lack thereof.
The basal ancestor of Amatitlania/Cryptoheros may have originally been the same cichlid, but the nanoluteus of Bocas del Toro on the Caribbean side of Panama are yellow in color, whereas the Cryptoheros cutteri is quite different to the point of even separating into another genus , migrating to northern Central America, is at times white, an adaptation which helped them survive the different local habitat, and over time (perhaps a million or more years, was enough togo so far as to separate them as a species and genus.
All Parachromis may have developed from one basal ancestor, yet P dovii, isolated in the large clear lake lakes allowed them to grow much larger and darker where they can easily spot a mate, than say P motaguensis from more turbid riverine areas, where a mate is harder to see.
Species seem to have evolved to fit a certain habitat. (Thorichthys is an exception)
It may be a food source availability, or topographical adaptation, dominance of vegetation, or rocky habitat, turbidity or lack thereof.
The basal ancestor of Amatitlania/Cryptoheros may have originally been the same cichlid, but the nanoluteus of Bocas del Toro on the Caribbean side of Panama are yellow in color, whereas the Cryptoheros cutteri is quite different to the point of even separating into another genus , migrating to northern Central America, is at times white, an adaptation which helped them survive the different local habitat, and over time (perhaps a million or more years, was enough togo so far as to separate them as a species and genus.
All Parachromis may have developed from one basal ancestor, yet P dovii, isolated in the large clear lake lakes allowed them to grow much larger and darker where they can easily spot a mate, than say P motaguensis from more turbid riverine areas, where a mate is harder to see.