Wild adult A. xiloaensis pictured below. This species is among several other recently described and yet to be described Nicaraguan crator lake cichlids that have been exclusively imported by Tangled Up In Cichlids.
This species does not grow as large as the very similar looking citrinellus and it is less aggressive towards tank mates.
I've found that individiually maintained adults tend to be VERY interactive towards 'out of the glass box' stimuli!
Rumor has it that F1 juveniles are now available from above mentioned source.
Please excuse the 'a mano' photography, but it's so much faster than chasing them around in a tank for a decent photo op!
These F1 A. sagittae are the result of breeding exclusively imported wild adults. In the their native waters of Lago Xiloa, Nicaragua, this species occupies the niche of open water hunter. They are always out and about in the aquarium. As adults, they've shown to be real glass bangers and water splashers!
Importing wild Nicaraguan red devils (A. labiatus) and midas cichlids (A. citrinellus) to reestablish undiluted bloodlines of each species in the trade was paramount.
There are significant differences to be observed between them that have become dissolved in countless generations of non-discriminant captive breeding of the two species.
Maybe I'll organize a new thread soon featuring the many photos I've taken of wild labiatus and citrinellus stock. I don't think I've seen two identical individuals in the wild imports. The colors and patterns are very unique, unlike the washed out, watered down captive stock.
There you will clearly see the noticably elongated facial profile of labiatus with enlarged lips and the significant laterally compressed shape of their body.
In contrast, the citrinellus will exhibit a more stout profile with short face and a heavier, more stocky body.
Below are photos of F1 juveniles from each species. These are just representative samples netted from my grow out tanks.
An example of the A. robertsoni that I have in stock.
Let's here it for plecos. They all suck (on objects in their tank I mean)
Another photo of the extremely rare and rather difficult-to-photograph 'fat lipped pike'.
This species does not grow as large as the very similar looking citrinellus and it is less aggressive towards tank mates.
I've found that individiually maintained adults tend to be VERY interactive towards 'out of the glass box' stimuli!
Rumor has it that F1 juveniles are now available from above mentioned source.
Please excuse the 'a mano' photography, but it's so much faster than chasing them around in a tank for a decent photo op!
These F1 A. sagittae are the result of breeding exclusively imported wild adults. In the their native waters of Lago Xiloa, Nicaragua, this species occupies the niche of open water hunter. They are always out and about in the aquarium. As adults, they've shown to be real glass bangers and water splashers!
Importing wild Nicaraguan red devils (A. labiatus) and midas cichlids (A. citrinellus) to reestablish undiluted bloodlines of each species in the trade was paramount.
There are significant differences to be observed between them that have become dissolved in countless generations of non-discriminant captive breeding of the two species.
Maybe I'll organize a new thread soon featuring the many photos I've taken of wild labiatus and citrinellus stock. I don't think I've seen two identical individuals in the wild imports. The colors and patterns are very unique, unlike the washed out, watered down captive stock.
There you will clearly see the noticably elongated facial profile of labiatus with enlarged lips and the significant laterally compressed shape of their body.
In contrast, the citrinellus will exhibit a more stout profile with short face and a heavier, more stocky body.
Below are photos of F1 juveniles from each species. These are just representative samples netted from my grow out tanks.
An example of the A. robertsoni that I have in stock.
Let's here it for plecos. They all suck (on objects in their tank I mean)
Another photo of the extremely rare and rather difficult-to-photograph 'fat lipped pike'.
