Wild Mikrogeophagus altispinosus

[ahud]

I noticed wild M. altispinosus started popping up over the past year or more. Has anyone tried them? They are spendy for my taste, but I am considering buying a group from WetSpot. The TR specimens always looked "off" to me. Especially their mouths.

 

[duanes]

Since no one else has chimed in, I'll toss in my 2 cents.
If you have (or can provide) neutral to slightly acidic water, with a low mineral content it should work well.
I believe a lot of the disfigured fish we see, especially with line bred Rams and other soft water species, is because the type water these and many other species have evolved to live in, is disregarded as trivial.

 

[ryansmith83]

It should also be noted that altispinosus does have a different head/mouth/body shape than ramirezi. Their mouths are more downturned. This is true of wilds too.

 

[papasmurf]

I kept some wild bolivians a few years back...they were massive and chunky (solid 4")...really looked like a different species than the ones you find in stores.