Nandopsis haitiensis juvie diet options

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I have used various pellets. I make sure to stay to away from the high protein. I've used them in the past and while the fish grew faster I had more health issues.
 
duanes said:

The 1st time I tried haitiensus, Ilost them all, they didn;t eat, and slowly faded, (I believe) because I kept them at too low a water temp, around 80:F.
After reading the article above, I realized in their natural habitat, mid to high 80s was best.
The next group, I raised the water temp to about 88'F, they became ravoness, and did well.

Soon after, they did well, but constantantly tried to kill each other even at only 2", so I sepatated them with egg crate ( I believe there were 6, each with its own compartment) in a 6 ft tank, and they did well.
After I notice a female and male start up cozy up, removed all the rest, and the pair contined a mongmians relationship, spawning in the tank mor about 5 years.
The male hit about 15", female remained a few inches smaller
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Ive seen bloat in Haitiensis blamed on diet many times, but I've always believed that to be a red herring. As I understand, haits are not only found in higher temps, but also mostly, if not exclusively, in pretty fast moving rivers. So ive always believed that maintaining proper temperature, and ensuring a high degree of oxygenation in those higher temps were far more important than diet when it comes to bloat in haitiensis...and the helleri group of thorichtys that are also prone to bloat, though in their case its important to have lower temps, not higher :)
 
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I remember Kevin from TUIC mention that wild caught males show a much more streamline shape and don’t show the large nuchal humps or the taller bodied like captive bred fish display. Like duanes duanes mentioned they prefer warmer water. When I kept them they were kept at 82 and I had more issues with aggression than digestive issues. I remember Andy Woods losing his huge male from a simple aquarium change so like I mentioned earlier I think it’s more stress than diet.

Kevin@TUIC said:
In the wild I’ve moslty observed them picking through the detritus. Seemingly just eating algae/plants and the snails that come along with the algae & plants. I have never yet witnessed a full grown hatiensis in the wild. 6-8" would be large and 12" in the wild would be huge. At least in the rivers I've seen them in. In our aquariums we know that they get gigantic. Since 2019 I've offered this species from Rio Haina, Rio Nigua and I am currently staring at a wild juvenile pair from 2022 trip to Rio Jaguey near Algarrobo (Rio Acapulco). Even a captive strain from unknown provenance. All three from the known rivers are more streamlined with not much of a nuchal hump. The captive strain is taller bodied and develops a large nuchal. Could be from selective breeding or a theory is the lake version is more robustly built than the riverine populations, not unlike Parachromis dovii. The further south the warmer and saltier the water gets. The current fish i have were collected pretty high and north where water is a little cooler and fresh. This species is found in full brackish water that is very, very warm and also in cooler mountain streams. This species seems to enjoy some salinity and warm water. Especially when young. The water in Haina was dirty, as in raw sewage (yuk). I have also witnessed and I know many customers have sent emails asking about that when new fresh water is added to the aquarium the species tends to nose-up and stay at the top like something is wrong. I've seen it thousands of times. My guess is they do not like sudden changes to water conditions that would normally not bother a fish. Not unlike an oscar sulking at the bottom of tank during a water change.
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Jason_S said:
Ive seen bloat in Haitiensis blamed on diet many times, but I've always believed that to be a red herring. As I understand, haits are not only found in higher temps, but also mostly, if not exclusively, in pretty fast moving rivers. So ive always believed that maintaining proper temperature, and ensuring a high degree of oxygenation in those higher temps were far more important than diet when it comes to bloat in haitiensis...and the helleri group of thorichtys that are also prone to bloat, though in their case its important to have lower temps, not higher :)
Click to expand...
Totally understand about the higher temps and needed oxygen. I believe they thrive water with flow and lots of oxygen, besides high temps. But for adults to spawn, they're like most of their inland cousins of CA, they'll nest in calmer waters to raise fry.
 
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Actually, figured why they haven't been rushing for pellets. Yes they'll eat them but at a later pace.
This rock was covered in algae and they've been going to town on it.

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I will say also to add, I do remember Andy Woods saying he used to leave the heaters off his tanks for his Black Nasty pair. He said when it was time to heat the tank up, it triggered spawning from his pair. I believe yes, maybe fry and young ones need higher temps, but as they get older, cooler temps of maybe 78-80 would suffice.
 
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