Info on chirax gibbosus “glass headstander”

[Dsoars]

Came across these guys at my lfs about a month ago and did what little research I could as these are apparently pretty rare. I went back a week ago to see they were still there. Decided to try my luck and brought all 5 of them home. Does anybody have info besides the few threads that already exist? Its about as close to owning a payara as I’ll ever get lol so far they’re eating like pigs

 

[duanes]

These look very similar to the Glass Headstander /Vampire Tetra from Panama I kept, from the genus Roeboides.


Mine were wild caught at not quite 2" near the town of San Martin. (they were probably 1 yr old) pH in the river was 8.2.
Over the next 4 years they maxed out at about 4", and aged out at that time.
They were housed with cichlids the last 4 years in a 180 gal heavily planted tank.
cichlids they were caught with, Andinoacara coerleopunctatus.

They are scale eaters, and would occasionally tank bites out of the cichlids, but because I fed them fairly well, little damage was done.

 

[Dsoars]

These look very similar to the Glass Headstander /Vampire Tetra from Panama I kept, from the genus Roeboides.
View attachment 1514264
View attachment 1514265

It might be the same fish they look similar, I have no idea. Any tips or experiences with them you could share?

 

[Dsoars]

These look very similar to the Glass Headstander /Vampire Tetra from Panama I kept, from the genus Roeboides.
View attachment 1514264
View attachment 1514265
Mine were wild caught at not quite 2" near the town of San Martin. (they were probably 1 yr old) pH in the river was 8.2.
Over the next 4 years they maxed out at about 4", and aged out at that time.
They were housed with cichlids the last 4 years in a 180 gal heavily planted tank.
cichlids they were caught with, Andinoacara coerleopunctatus.
View attachment 1514266
They are scale eaters, and would occasionally tank bites out of the cichlids, but because I fed them fairly well, little damage was done.

Did not see the bottom part lol that’s interesting. Any other fish you’ve had luck keeping them with? Or would consider trying

 

[duanes]

Did not see the bottom part lol that’s interesting. Any other fish you’ve had luck keeping them with? Or would consider trying

Beside the cichlids, the only others are the Panamanian Pleco, Ancistrus chagresi, and 2 gobys, Awaous banana, and an Eleotris species.


Non-fish kept in the tank have been macrobrancium shrimp.

Because I am an anal biotope adherent, I only keep species together, that are found together in nature, that come from the same country, and the same water parameters.
All the fish and shrimp, were caught together the same day, except the Eleotris (and it was caught not far away).
Beside pellets, (because there are no Pet (Aquarium) Stores within easy access, here) I also occasionally feed fresh meat trimmed from ocean fish caught in the area.
Panamanian Tank - YouTubehttps://www.youtube.com › watch

 

[phreeflow]

That’s a nice looking fish…

 

[Dsoars]

Beside the cichlids, the only others are the Panamanian Pleco, Ancistrus chagresi, and 2 gobys, Awaous banana, and an Eleotris species.
View attachment 1514272
View attachment 1514273View attachment 1514274
Non-fish kept in the tank have been macrobrancium shrimp.
View attachment 1514275
Because I am an anal biotope adherent, I only keep species together, that are found together in nature, that come from the same country, and the same water parameters.
All the fish and shrimp, were caught together the same day, except the Eleotris (and it was caught not far away).
Beside pellets, (because there are no Pet (Aquarium) Stores within easy access, here) I also occasionally feed fresh meat trimmed from ocean fish caught in the area.
Panamanian Tank - YouTubehttps://www.youtube.com › watch

That’s very cool and I like the strict bio tope idea for a tank I might try that someday. The sleeper goby looks awesome. How were the glass headstanders with the gobys?

 

[duanes]

Because I don't get fish from LFSs, I either try to catch them myself, or buy from local fishermen, IDing can be a little complicated.
So I carry a field guide, that has a somewhat of a Taxonomic key, that shows the locations where each species is found, and how to tell them apart.



I expected the goby to eat the tetras at some point, but it never did.

Although some of the Nomenclature in the book above is outdated, the gist has been invaluable to me.