Each time Rapps has A. multispinosus they sell rather quickly. Have any of your purchased or seen wild fish in the flesh? From pictures on his website, the wild fish look very different from domestic fish. I don't really see anyone ever offering F1 fry. I'm curious if wild fish are less willing to spawn or if it simply comes down to low demand?
Wild Archocentrus multispinosus
- Thread starter ahud
- Start date
They are also known as Rainbow cichlids right? Its funny my PetSmart has a ton they can't get rid of
Aaron - I have two from Rapps' initial import several years ago. Sadly, I don't think they are opposite genders, as I have never seen any breeding behavior out of them. Overall, my pair isn't that different looks wise then most of the tank raised ones I've seen/kept. They are pretty reclusive and timid, only coming out from their hiding spots at feeding time.
I have been tempted the last couple of times I've seen them, but I only have so much space and I can only keep so many timid, mostly brown fish. 
I've been curious as to whether or not anyone here has purchased them, too. If you have, please show us some pictures of how the fish look after they've settled in and colored up a bit.
I've been curious as to whether or not anyone here has purchased them, too. If you have, please show us some pictures of how the fish look after they've settled in and colored up a bit.Jon, I think you are the only person I know that has had some. Maybe people don't post them because they are a common fish? Sad that you don't have opposite sexes. I bet you would be overrun with fry if you did.
Does anyone know where the two color races originate from? There is an orange race and a yellow race. I'm guessing the orange are an aquarium strain. The convicts claim to fame is their willingness to spawn, IME the rainbow prove just as willing. I love little brown fish! My water comes out of the tap extremely soft and the pH drops to around 6-6.5 once it gasses off. Rainbows are one of the few centrals that I don't have trouble with if I get slack on buffering.
Does anyone know where the two color races originate from? There is an orange race and a yellow race. I'm guessing the orange are an aquarium strain. The convicts claim to fame is their willingness to spawn, IME the rainbow prove just as willing. I love little brown fish! My water comes out of the tap extremely soft and the pH drops to around 6-6.5 once it gasses off. Rainbows are one of the few centrals that I don't have trouble with if I get slack on buffering.
I picked up some half inch multispinossa fry from another local club member about a year ago, and in spring moved 9 to a kiddy pool where this May, they started spawning, and have been throughout the summer.
I believe the others would eat the spawns in the fry stage in the pool, so I've not yet pulled any youngsters.
But I got rid of 7 the other day, and dropped 2 in a fairly bare 20 gal, where overnight they spawned.
As Jon said, they are very skittish, especially without plant cover.
From what I understand, they normally move out into flooded fields to spawn after the rains in Costa Rica, and raise their young in water filled terrestrial plant cover.
I believe the others would eat the spawns in the fry stage in the pool, so I've not yet pulled any youngsters.
But I got rid of 7 the other day, and dropped 2 in a fairly bare 20 gal, where overnight they spawned.
As Jon said, they are very skittish, especially without plant cover.
From what I understand, they normally move out into flooded fields to spawn after the rains in Costa Rica, and raise their young in water filled terrestrial plant cover.
I have had 6 different groups over the years and I spent a ton of time watching them. If I could only keep one cichlid for life, it would rainbows. In my experience, they are almost like C. nanoluteus in that they don't compete well with other fish. And do well in groups more so than isolated pairs. In a large enough tank, groups are really interesting and fuss a lot without actually hurting each other. I think you are right regarding their reproductive strategy. Which would explain why they have so much trouble competing.
You have nice looking fish Duane. I wish I could find some like that in my area. What I typically see are deformed in one way or another. Which is the main reason I am seeking out some information on wild caught fish.
You have nice looking fish Duane. I wish I could find some like that in my area. What I typically see are deformed in one way or another. Which is the main reason I am seeking out some information on wild caught fish.
I'd love to be able to find the really bright orange ones. I know they probably aren't 'natural' (it must be a line bred strain?) but they always look so nice in pictures. Mine were your typical rainbows; brown until spawning, then the males turned bright yellow and black.
I kept mine in a group of about 8 and they did well together and with other fish. Even during spawning they didn't hurt other fish, only chased them away. They're great additions to the fish room.
I kept mine in a group of about 8 and they did well together and with other fish. Even during spawning they didn't hurt other fish, only chased them away. They're great additions to the fish room.