Pointers and recommendations too keep Uruguayan cichlids??

[MatteoTheEnder22]

So Ive been looking around the forum and I found threads that mention there are cichlids from Uruguay (mostly threads involving duanes ) and I’ll like too know about the different species of them and really just some general first hand experience. Also my dad is no help he is Uruguayan but he says that all fish are the same ?. duanes Can you help please because from what I read your pretty much the go to source for these types of cichlids.

 

[Kolton13]

U thought you couldn’t have any fish? I understand you want to learn as us all. But curious.

 

[duanes]

Because Uruguay is located toward the southern end of South America, as opposed to being strickly tropical, it is more temperate.
This means the fish species have evolved to live in changing seasons. There is an actual winter there, it snows, gets cold, sort of like a winter in the state of Georgia.
So the Uruguayan cichlids and other fish have evolved to experience a cool down. How drastic this cool down needs to be, might be determinant on whether they are from northern or southern part of Uruguay, and example might be Gymnogeophagus balzani, that come from more northern areas, and doesn't need quite the cool down that other more southern Gymnos appreciate.
Before i became aware of the season there, and when I tried to keep them at constant tropical temps, they didn't do so well, ( being prone to certain fungus diseases).
Once I realized the reality and gave them cool downs they did much better, colors brightened, and certain maladies ceased to be a problem.
I found keeping a tank at room temp (without a heater )worked well.

Below Australoheros fry.

Gymnogeophagus quilero below

Beside cichlids, there are tetras from that area (ex Buenos Aires tetras, and cool water piranha types) Plecos, and more.
There are other MFK members with plenty of experience, and that have traveled to Uruguay to collect fish, Ken Davis, and Matt Quinn to name a couple, and
I suggest you visit aqvaterra on FB for more info

 

[duanes]

I sometimes get the impression aquariststs think of South America in only tropical terms.
Compare
The distance from Miami florida to Toronto Canada, is about 1500miles.
The distance from the capital of Uruguay (Montevideo) to Manaus Brazil is over 3000 miles.

 

[robmcd]

I have kept austoloheros sp. red Cuaro, and crenicichla minuano before and they were awesome fish! I had half of them indoors in an unheated tank, and half of them outside in a 60 gallon plastic ''pond'' that ranged from the high 80's in the summer, to 40F in the winter (when I would add a 300W heater). I found them to be fairly mellow and super hardy fish. If I could find more locally I would definitely keep them again.