Teaser: What Better?

[JK47]

Fascinating, I just read up on it. The article I saw on practical fish keeping said that some cichla and crenicichla species will do the same thing. I am inspired by this set up, I would love to have a tank of rays and eartheaters, what a diverse mix!

I find it really fascinating as well. If you think about it, it makes a lot of sense. cichla are aggressive fish and you see people stock them with rays all the time. Good stuff.

awesome man, glad to see that your back to having some eartheaters they are beautiful! get them to breed I want some fry!

It never felt right without them! I'll be very aggressive about getting fry out to the hobby this time around.

What are these leucostica or jurupari? What's the difference? I'm picking up a group tomorrow around 2" labeled as jurupari

The differences can be difficult to ID between jurupari, leuco's and maps but here is a rough outline of what to look for on non-spotted Satanoperca.

S. jurupari - there will not be spotting on the muzzle. On the top of the muzzle (forehead) there will be bars that connect.
S. leucosticta - The muzzle region will have medium to large spotting that varies amongst collection points (multiple sp. variants) but there will always be spotting that runs the flanks of the fish. If there is a line of spotting directly underneath the dorsal, it's an S. leucosticta.
S. mapiritensis - If you've kept them you can spot one map out of 200 leuco's in seconds. They have smaller more tightly packed muzzle spotting that once well cared for and non stressed is an emerald green color. Lastly there will be no spotting running the flanks under the dorsal fin.

Gorgeous rays and maps!!! Too bad rays are illegal in California cuz this is a setup I've dreamt about for a long time! Can't wait to see updates!!

Thanks Armand! I have been dreaming about rays for a long time too. Nothing I have ever kept compares (expect my maps so I got those too!)

Funny thing is, there's probably more rays in CA than all of the NW.

When it comes to rays, there are some of the nicest rays around in Cali. I 100% agree. WHen it's illegal and expensive people take better care of them though. I could care less if someone is keeping an illegal species myself.

Thier bellies are looking pretty good in those pics J ... I remember how skinny most Satanoperca were when we first got them in the store from wild caught. The deworming meds still give me nightmares.

Thanks Chris. They are fattening up nicely. The spotting still has not left but is getting better slowly. I'll get pics up tonight. I am heading to Seattle Saturday to pick up 3 more F0 maps. I hope those come in better shape than these did.

 

[Cichlidfever]

Wow!! Those Sting Rays are nice What other cichlids can you keep them with? What is the minimum size tank you should keep them in? I know they get huge, will it come a time when you have to get rid of them, because of their large size? Your back ground is gorgeous too ... Also the Earth eaters are nice to I am in love with the whole setup, wow!!

 

[David R]

This hobby needs some F1 fry!

It sure does! My 5 leucos (imported presumably from some big asian fish farm, where 95% of our fish come from) have f'd up looking mouths that make them look like they're doing teh 'duckface' pose. Other than that they're nice fish, but the duckface continually irks me and I'm thinking of selling them...

 

[darth pike]

Heading up here? From a personal person type or a LFS? I guess it wouldn't really be called a LFS considering the drive but you know what I mean.

 

[ewok]

damn what an awesome concept
good luck on this and keep us posted!

 

[jweav]

Man that is going to be an awesome combination Look forward to seeing everyone together.

 

[JK47]

Wow!! Those Sting Rays are nice What other cichlids can you keep them with? What is the minimum size tank you should keep them in? I know they get huge, will it come a time when you have to get rid of them, because of their large size? Your back ground is gorgeous too ... Also the Earth eaters are nice to I am in love with the whole setup, wow!!

Thank you for the kind words! The rays will outgrow this tank. The plan is to move them to a larger 8x4 setup and have this 6x3 tank as a growout for ray pups and the S. mapiritensis school. I want the 8x4 setup because I want to add a trio of black diamond (P14) rays as well but that's lots of $$$$ I don't have down the road. The maps will keep this tank cycled at all times and is going to be a perfect tank for them in with rays pups. Lots to come next year

It sure does! My 5 leucos (imported presumably from some big asian fish farm, where 95% of our fish come from) have f'd up looking mouths that make them look like they're doing teh 'duckface' pose. Other than that they're nice fish, but the duckface continually irks me and I'm thinking of selling them...

Thanks David! I agree on the leucos. Most people would rather have them over maps just because of color but considering this is a rare species, F0, beautiful in it's own right they are perfect for me for a breeding project. I would highly recommend you sell the leucos and pick up a school of maps if you have any availability on them.

damn what an awesome concept
good luck on this and keep us posted!

Thanks and will do! (see below for update)

Man that is going to be an awesome combination Look forward to seeing everyone together.

Thanks bro!

Heading up here? From a personal person type or a LFS? I guess it wouldn't really be called a LFS considering the drive but you know what I mean.

Yeah I was up there yesterday and picked them up and an LFS there. 3 hour drive for maps is WELL worth it I have 7 F0 maps now!!! (just need 3 more for the perfect school) Check it out!


This poor little guy is the worst of them. They are all already eating 2mm NLS and I'm glad because this one is REALLY skinny. Treating for internals right now, upped the drip system on this tank to 50% WC per day, salting the tank daily and it's at 88 degrees.






The rest are fairly close in size and fatter than the smallest one above. The one on the below right is the new one and the above left is one of the adults I already have.









This is a sad sight for maps but I will have these guys looking top notch very soon. I can't describe how happy it makes me to have the opportunity to do right by these fish and be the one to care for them!

 

[JK47]

^ you guys think I'm nuts for buying a bunch of sick, skinny, diseased train wreck fish huh? Be honest it's cool lol..

 

[darth pike]

If they weren't Satanoperca, then I'd say sure. But it used to be the only way one got the spotted species decades ago. So I don't think you are nuts. But then, I'm a little nuts myself.

Ever think of adding a planting saucer with sand in it to the Q tank? Might help with the stress and that way the rest of the tank stays clean.

 

[JK47]

If they weren't Satanoperca, then I'd say sure. But it used to be the only way one got the spotted species decades ago. So I don't think you are nuts. But then, I'm a little nuts myself.

Ever think of adding a planting saucer with sand in it to the Q tank? Might help with the stress and that way the rest of the tank stays clean.

Agreed 100% and glad I'm not nuts. I wish more of us appreciated the non-spotted species. I have not thought about keeping any sand in the tank. A QT tank for me is bare bottom so I tend to stick with it. I know the black spot disease can't reporoduce but I wont risk it considering what I invested in the future tankmates you know?