New Fish (Hypsophrys Nicaraguensis & Cichlasoma Amazonarum)

[Rachel.Cody]

There isnt much info on either species online and im looking for some info from people who have kept these fish. I have the Nicaraguensis in my 75g with 2 3"geophagus surinamensis, 1 2" Indo Dat and 1 6" Motoro Stingray (Growout Tank). I just picked it up last night, was active then but has been hiding all morning. Beautiful color, I've never saw them before so I had to get one. If they do better in groups my LFS has 2 more.

The Amazonarum are both about 4" (Male and female pair, had fry at the lfs) Theyre in a 29g lightly planted tank with 5 bloodfin tetras, 4" Chocolate pleco and 2" clown pleco. These seem to very very shy. Once again I just got these last night too so i understand theyre still settling in. They are dark bodied with orangish fins, theyre bottom fins (forget what theyre called) have a very pretty blue color on them. They mainly sit on the bottom all day but ate a little this morning.

Any info on either of these fish would help a ton. Temperament, how active, etc.. Thanks!

 

[duanes]

H nicaraguense is a great fish to keep, not overly a aggressive and quite beautiful. Below is a male, they have spots on the posterior of the unpaired fins (dorsal and anal)

Females are devoid if spots and sport an orange belly when mature, below the same male with2 females in the foreground.

They start spawning at 4", and are quite prolific, my pair would spawn every 6 weeks or so. They are the only Central American cichlid to lay non-adhessive eggs, and in alkaline waters of Lake Nicaragua, usually spawn in caves, mine like PVC caps and pipe to spawn in. They are usually great parents.

Not rapid growers mine went from about 1" to 5" for they male in year, slightly smler for the female. They top off around 10" for males.
There are some different races that are more green, some more yellow.
They also are found in Costa Rica on the Atlantic versant in the Rio Matina, where they are known as Mojara amarillo. They are known to tolerate temps from 23'C up to 36'C, and as young eat insects but as adults switch to to mainly detritus, seeds and leaves.

I usually let the parents stay with fry, until they start cleaning a new stop to spawn, then I put the pair in another tank, its usually easier to catch them, thn 40 or 50 fry.

 

[Rachel.Cody]

Awesome, thanks! Mine is definitely a male then. They had another male and a female at the lfs, I may have to swing by and snatch up the female.

 

[Rachel.Cody]

Bump