Here's a special pair of managuense that you're going to like. The male is the only sibling I have left of one of my prized possessions...Jumbo. For those who don't know he was a very good looking male managuense that I photographed thousands of times over the years. He passed away in July. The female managuense shown here is a wlld caught female from Honduras. The pair breed regularly. And as a matter of fact the female laid egg just this morning.
The pair shown here will be put into the North Jersey Aquarium Society's special auction to benefit the family the late John J. O'Malley. John was true friend of the hobby and will be missed by friends and family.
John loved big fish and was a class A fish photog. I'm going to update this thread with photos up until the auction. If you are looking for a beautiful pair of fish with a history...and benefit a good cause...see you at the show.
During the initial courting the pair will go through some impressive aquabatics. Here's the male "puffed up" skimming over top of the female. I sat in front of that tank for a good hour hoping some of THIS would go on with in the parameters of the "sweet spot" where I had my lights. More later. For the most part the behavior is predictable and varies at different stages of the breeding process.
Here's a really nice shot of the male. Can I see Jumbo? Honestly, no. I can tell you that the overall body shape of the male reminds me more of Jumbo's father, Butch. Jumbo's mother was a female gold managuense....but the father was from Nicaragua. I remember his body shape being more elongated. This male is still young...about three years old and around 11" (I stink at guestimating the size...but it a nice adult fish). I think he will get thicker and mpre high bodied as he gets older.
I can't tell you why...but this is the only shot I have taken of the fish that does remind me of Jumbo.
Here's the female. One of the things I've noticed with these fish...and predominantly the females is that when they are in a relatively relaxed state their caudal fin takes on this shape. Interesting. She also has a nice set of teeth.
This pair came out of the pond a few months back. One of the things I've noticed about the pond fish is that it generally takes a period of a few weeks to sometimes a month to coax them out of hiding and have them pose for the lens. I took the pair out of the pond while the female was sitting on fry. Snagged the male when he came back looking. They didn't have a problem adjusting.
I've often said that there's nothing cooler than photographing breeding cichlids. They are at their prettiest and most insane and could care less if I'm standing outside the boudoir with a camera.
Check back for updated photos. If you're going to be at the auction...see you there.
The pair shown here will be put into the North Jersey Aquarium Society's special auction to benefit the family the late John J. O'Malley. John was true friend of the hobby and will be missed by friends and family.
John loved big fish and was a class A fish photog. I'm going to update this thread with photos up until the auction. If you are looking for a beautiful pair of fish with a history...and benefit a good cause...see you at the show.
During the initial courting the pair will go through some impressive aquabatics. Here's the male "puffed up" skimming over top of the female. I sat in front of that tank for a good hour hoping some of THIS would go on with in the parameters of the "sweet spot" where I had my lights. More later. For the most part the behavior is predictable and varies at different stages of the breeding process.
Here's a really nice shot of the male. Can I see Jumbo? Honestly, no. I can tell you that the overall body shape of the male reminds me more of Jumbo's father, Butch. Jumbo's mother was a female gold managuense....but the father was from Nicaragua. I remember his body shape being more elongated. This male is still young...about three years old and around 11" (I stink at guestimating the size...but it a nice adult fish). I think he will get thicker and mpre high bodied as he gets older.
I can't tell you why...but this is the only shot I have taken of the fish that does remind me of Jumbo.
Here's the female. One of the things I've noticed with these fish...and predominantly the females is that when they are in a relatively relaxed state their caudal fin takes on this shape. Interesting. She also has a nice set of teeth.
This pair came out of the pond a few months back. One of the things I've noticed about the pond fish is that it generally takes a period of a few weeks to sometimes a month to coax them out of hiding and have them pose for the lens. I took the pair out of the pond while the female was sitting on fry. Snagged the male when he came back looking. They didn't have a problem adjusting.
I've often said that there's nothing cooler than photographing breeding cichlids. They are at their prettiest and most insane and could care less if I'm standing outside the boudoir with a camera.
Check back for updated photos. If you're going to be at the auction...see you there.
