How to tell Retroculus Xinguensis from Lapidifer at 2"?

  • We are currently upgrading MFK. thanks! -neo
Latimeria said:
I had a small group of Retroculus xinguensis back around '97, gave them away when they got to 5" or so to someone with a much larger aquarium. IMO they are one of those fish that doesn't benefit from overfull stomachs, in the wild they'd be feeding for most of the daylight hours so mean gut fullness at any particular time might not be that high. I fed them with regular, small meals and they seemed to do extremely well on this, and growth rates were very good (one individual arrived with Camallanus which appeared to knock it back a fair bit). They'd eat anything but struggled with big chunks, would just bounce around like a dog with a hot piece of food. Still wish I'd kept them, lovely fish. Ideal candidates for a Panta Rhei circulation pump. Prior to this, I have had a single unknown Retroculus that came in to a large local retailer as a sample before they'd even appeared in any English language hobby publications, it arrived absolutely hanging with white spot (Ich) so I talked them into letting me try to treat it, but it didn't make it past 24 hours. This may have been a septentrionalis, or could have been a "something else". Was deeper bodied than lapidifer or xinguensis.
Click to expand...

Thanks for the info, what were the growth rates that you got? And what were you feeding?


Sent from my iPod touch using MonsterAquariaNetwork app
 
I threw in some NLS Grow (thanks JK47!) last night and all Retros ate it! From what I see, they like the pellets really small. Time for me to get some 1mm Thera A!

Sent from my HTC One S using MonsterAquariaNetwork App
 
CrimsonFog said:
I threw in some NLS Grow (thanks JK47!) last night and all Retros ate it! From what I see, they like the pellets really small. Time for me to get some 1mm Thera A!

Sent from my HTC One S using MonsterAquariaNetwork App
Click to expand...

Nice! Maybe they really do prefer smaller and softer pellets. Have you tried soaking any other size pellet before feeding to soften it up?

Sent from Samsung 4G Microwave
 
JK47 said:
Nice! Maybe they really do prefer smaller and softer pellets. Have you tried soaking any other size pellet before feeding to soften it up?

Sent from Samsung 4G Microwave
Click to expand...

No, but that's something I should be doing anyways for this tank. Any suggestions? Garlic? Shrimp juice?

Techincally, since I just got then, I should be soaking them in Epsom Salt.

Sent from my HTC One S using MonsterAquariaNetwork App
 
CrimsonFog said:
No, but that's something I should be doing anyways for this tank. Any suggestions? Garlic? Shrimp juice?

Techincally, since I just got then, I should be soaking them in Epsom Salt.

Sent from my HTC One S using MonsterAquariaNetwork App
Click to expand...

Yeah I would go with epsom as well (I am right now). After that just try water to soften them up a little before they go in the tank. You shouldnt have to add garlic or anything.

Sent from Samsung 4G Microwave
 
JK47 said:
Yeah I would go with epsom as well (I am right now). After that just try water to soften them up a little before they go in the tank. You shouldnt have to add garlic or anything.

Sent from Samsung 4G Microwave
Click to expand...

I'm too lazy to look - do you remember the formula off the top of your head?
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
MonsterFishKeepers.com
Top Bottom