Korbia xinguensis question

[bkfamus]

Thanks for the suggestion of Londontown Tropicals, I called them and confirmed they have some K. xinguensis available. I am planning on getting four of them this weekend and will remove fish down the line as needed.

Nice! Definitely worth the trip.. Londontowne is my favorite LFS.. Just bought two schools of tetras there last weekend.. Every time I go there I come home with multiple bags of fish..

Enjoy the K. xinguensis.. great looking and tempered cichlids... I would have kept mine, but I thought they'd do better in a tank with less traffic from other cichlids.. same with the Geo mirabilllis.. Couldn't decide which to keep so i rehomed both and moved my Geo pyrocephalus to that 125 to share w/ some dantums, tetras, plecos and cories..

 

[AutumnEffect]

Duanes, that is very helpful. Thanks. Hopefully he perks up after the new additions. The guy at the store said they have several in the 3.5"+ size range and some around 2.5". My fish is 4 - 4.5". Should I try to get all four in the larger size? Or does it not matter?

Do you know if the Uruguayan Cichlasomas (Bella Union, Ruta 44, etc) are considered shoaling? Based on my sample size of one, my Ruta 44 does not appear to want friends and is out and about basically all day - picking things off the sand, rearranging his oak leaves, and half heartedly chasing the black skirts. I also don't know the sex, maybe that makes a difference.

I appreciate all the info you guys have given me.

 

[AutumnEffect]

Nice! Definitely worth the trip.. Londontowne is my favorite LFS.. Just bought two schools of tetras there last weekend.. Every time I go there I come home with multiple bags of fish..

Enjoy the K. xinguensis.. great looking and tempered cichlids... I would have kept mine, but I thought they'd do better in a tank with less traffic from other cichlids.. same with the Geo mirabilllis.. Couldn't decide which to keep so i rehomed both and moved my Geo pyrocephalus to that 125 to share w/ some dantums, tetras, plecos and cories..

They should be happy here then, It will be just them and the rasboras who don't bother anyone. It is dimly lit with plenty of hiding places in the shadows in case they feel like they need a break. Here's a slightly older picture of it when I still had some Buenos Aires tetras in there and hadn't switched to pool filter sand.

 

[AutumnEffect]

Just got home with four K. xinguensis from Londontowne Tropicals. Man, that place has a great selection. Thanks so much for the recommendation.

 

[phreeflow]

Just got home with four K. xinguensis from Londontowne Tropicals. Man, that place has a great selection. Thanks so much for the recommendation.

Pics

 

[bkfamus]

Just got home with four K. xinguensis from Londontowne Tropicals. Man, that place has a great selection. Thanks so much for the recommendation.

Nice.. No prob.. Good luck with the group..

 

[duanes]

By location Rt 44 do you mean Australoheros, or Cichlasoma dimerus?

Australoheros Left above, .........Cichlasoma Right

Cichlasoma were fairly tolerant of each other, akthough not really shoalers for me, and
Australohers I have kept did not seem to be shoalers at all, especially in tanks of only 6ft,, for me only 1 compatible pair would work. Once mature they'd pair up, and spawn. (even in ponds, they only shoaled as juvies).

 

[AutumnEffect]

By location Rt 44 do you mean Australoheros, or Cichlasoma dimerus?
View attachment 1535397
Australoheros Left above, .........Cichlasoma Right

Cichlasoma were fairly tolerant of each other, akthough not really shoalers for me, and
Australohers I have kept did not seem to be shoalers at all, especially in tanks of only 6ft,, for me only 1 compatible pair would work. Once mature they'd pair up, and spawn. (even in ponds, they only shoaled as juvies).

Dimerus - I got mine from Ken (fishfarmusa) who just lists them as Cichlasoma sp "Ruta 44" I believe. Perhaps if I had started with a group of them, it would have been better. I only got one, who is now full grown. Maybe it's just this particular fish but I have been unable to find any tankmates for him that I also like. He eats everything that fits in his mouth, which is apparently much bigger than I originally thought, and was NOT happy with the addition of the other cichlid. He didn't eat the black skirts, but I don't like the way they bicker amongst themselves. I don't find it relaxing to watch. I've removed them and it's just him again.

After having the new K. xinguensis for a day, I am now doubting my original ID that started this whole thing. The first fish was less than thrilled with the new additions even though they are half the size of him and chased them relentless, searching for them when they hid, biting at their sides/fins. I was suprised by this, as the fish did nothing when it was in with the Ruta 44 even when being antagonzied and was not interacting with the larger cichlids at the fish store. Watching them all in the same tank, I am not sure they are the same species. The first fish has a much rounder body shape than the four K. xinguensis I just got. The K. xinguensis I just got all have a sleeker body shape, very similar to my Ruta 44.

The four smaller K. xinguensis I just got have not shown any interest in my rasboras, which is great, as they are definitely small enough to be edible. That has been my goal this entire time - a larger cichlid (one or more) that won't eat the rasboras and will be out and about in the tank during the day. These rasbora will be a decent size (2 - 2.5") but very minnow shaped. The first fish is now back in my community 40 gallon and still shows no interest in the dwarf corys, cardinals or black phantom tetra. He could defintely eat the corys and the cardinals if he wanted. He did chase the Bolivian ram a couple times this time, half heartly, but still. I may have to remove him again if he continues chasing the ram. He still won't eat anything really. I don't know what he wants. lol

edit - I just removed him from the 40 community. He killed a dwarf cory but didn't eat it and I may be missing a cardinal. I will take a head count in the morning.

 

[duanes]

Because I'm anal about being biotope conscious, I would not put a temperate water cichlid from southern S America, like the dimmerus, with a tropical Amazonian species like Krobia.
they come from such different climatic zones, and in such a small tank as a 40.
I know some people do and get away with it.
I also don't combine fish from different continents, just a personal bugaboo.
I have also got Uruguayan fish from Ken

 

[Hybridfish7]

Because I'm anal about being biotope conscious, I would not put a temperate water cichlid from southern S America, like the dimmerus, with a tropical Amazonian species like Krobia.
they come from such different climatic zones, and in such a small tank as a 40.
I know some people do and get away with it.
I also don't combine fish from different continents, just a personal bugaboo.
I have also got Uruguayan fish from Ken

Summer temperatures for the dimerus in the wild can get well into the high 80s, and while they're fine without it, they do tend to appreciate winters. Almost all fish benefit from winters. However I think the issue would come more from two acara species sharing a 40.