The Krib
Apistogramma/Dwarf Cichlids
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The Krib
Apistogramma/Dwarf Cichlids
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Dicrossus maculatusContents:
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Photo by Erik Olson
Photos by Ken Laidlaw
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Phillip J Ryti wrote: > On Mon, 25 Aug 1997 "Ed Pon" writes: > In the August 97 issue of TFH magazine, on page 20, in the Interesting > > Imports column, it is stated that "Regular imports have only begun in > the past year." This in reference to Dicrossus Maculatus. Has > anybody really seen any of these fish? In the past year, I know of two > > dealers that have brought in Dicrossus Maculatus only to be > disappointed by > the fish actually turning out to be the more commonly available D. > filamentosa. I haven't been doing much shopping in the past couple > months and am wondering if the true maculatus has finally turned up. > > Ed, > Contact Randy Carey via this list. > He had a spawn of these fish. > They are true maculatus. > http://www.spacestar.net/users/carey/fishroom/ > carey-at-spacestar.net > +MAA- Thanks Phillip. I got my wild-caught maculatus from Oliver, one of the authors of that TFH article. I discuss my current situation on my web page (go to "fishlist" page then click on "announcements"). In short, I recognized about four spawns with my first colony, but the females always ate the eggs. Then I found my only male (of ten fish) had jumped. I picked up six more adults from a friend who also imported from Oliver. He had 1 male and 5 females and got a few viable spawns. He sold all of his forty-some fry at the ACA and I bought his adults. Recently, I spotted another spawn, but again the eggs were eaten. I will pull the eggs next time I see some. I use my web site to announce fish that will be for sale, so if you are interested, check my site every so often. --Randy Carey (see URL above) +MAA- +MAA- +MAA- +MAA- ------------------------------------------------------------------------- This is the apistogramma mailing list, apisto-at-majordomo.pobox.com. For instructions on how to subscribe or unsubscribe or get help, email apisto-request-at-majordomo.pobox.com.
Steven Hutchins wrote: > Side question, does anybody out there have any experience > spawning maculatus? I know there was debate for a while on whether they > were cave or open spawners and I have this area in my tank that looks like > something is making a pit in the gravel beneath an overhanging rock. Any > ideas? Just wondering. > > STeve D. maculatus spawns on rocks, broad leafs, etc. I've seen five or six spawns, but the females always eat the eggs. I can tell a female has eggs because her ventrals get a bright yellow-orange. I think I'm going to finally get a batch. Yesterday a new female spawned on the submersible heater in a community tank. I unpluged that heater and added another. The spawn occurred in a 40 gallon community tank (with very soft water, lots of Java Fern, no extracts, and a pH at 4.4!). My importer shipped the last batch to me in a pH in the 5's. Unlike the others before, this female (with help from the male) are diligently guarding the eggs. If she's eaten any, I can't tell. I'm pulling the eggs tomorrow since I don't want to lose any in the gravel. --Randy ------------------------------------------------------------------------- This is the apistogramma mailing list, apisto-at-majordomo.pobox.com. For instructions on how to subscribe or unsubscribe or get help, email apisto-request-at-majordomo.pobox.com. Search http://altavista.digital.com for "Apistogramma Mailing List Archives"!
A while back someone asked me about the water parameters of the spawning success I've had with Dicrossus maculatus. At that time I couldn't find an entry in my log. I've recently had more spawnings and would like to share some info. I currently have 3 females each leading very young fry. A few weeks ago another female was leading fry (of which I "harvested" a good number). All successes have some common threads: * low to very low pH (low 5's to 3.6) * aged water, significant nitrates (how do you think the pH got that low) * presence of other fish (tetras) but few enough for the female to successfully keep them at bay. (I've seen eggs in a tank without other fish, but never any hatches.) * smallest tank was a 20 high, largest a 40 breeder. * eggs always on a flat surface * fry can't take bbs for a few days (perhaps this is why the successes have come in aged water) * only 1 male with at least 2 females (however, I've just removed an injured female because there was not enough territory for 4 females in a 20) * pre-spawn diet included live black worms and bbs. The first successes came in tanks with undergravel filters, but in the most recent success I have just found 2 females each guarding a "cloud" in a bare bottomed 20 high. I was shocked to read the pH at 3.6 and even to find fry. That 20 was meant as a holding tank while I worked with three other maculatus set-ups. I figured they wouldn't spawn if it was that crowded. My importer has found heavy female ratios once and heavy male ratios later. To combat the possiblity of skewed sexes, I am shifting the pH from the low side to mid-upper 6's throughout the first month of life. This apparently worked for Romer on Apisto's. --Randy http://www.spacestar.net/users/carey/fishroom/ ------------------------------------------------------------------------- This is the apistogramma mailing list, apisto-at-majordomo.pobox.com. For instructions on how to subscribe or unsubscribe or get help, email apisto-request-at-majordomo.pobox.com. Search http://altavista.digital.com for "Apistogramma Mailing List Archives"!
Doug, The best way to tell them apart is by the shape of the checkerboard patches. Dicrossus filamentosus has patches that are wider and less deep, while D. maculatus has spots that are about the same width & height (the front ones being deeper & narrower). Price is also a good indicator. D. filamentosus is usually relatively inexpensive because they are wild caught fish, while most D. maculatus are domestics and cost much more. Besides, D. maculatus are rarely listed simply as checkerboards. Without seeing them, I'd bet they're D. filamentosus. Mike Wise Doug Brown wrote: > Is there any way to tell Dicrossus filamentosus from maculatus when they > are young (3 cm or so)? I got what I'm assuming are some filamentosus ($4 > ea at The Fish Place) since they were called "checkerboards" but they don't > seem to look any different than the young maculatus photos I've seen. > > -Doug Brown > debrown@kodak.com > > ------------------------------------------------------------------------- > This is the apistogramma mailing list, apisto@majordomo.pobox.com. > For instructions on how to subscribe or unsubscribe or get help, > email apisto-request@majordomo.pobox.com. > Search http://altavista.digital.com for "Apistogramma Mailing List Archives"! ------------------------------------------------------------------------- This is the apistogramma mailing list, apisto@majordomo.pobox.com. For instructions on how to subscribe or unsubscribe or get help, email apisto-request@majordomo.pobox.com. Search http://altavista.digital.com for "Apistogramma Mailing List Archives"!
All, I was delighted to find on getting home last night that my D. maculata had spawned. The eggs were on the outside of a small clay pot next to a plant. pH~5, temp 82f. The eggs are still there this morning and and I would like some advice on the tank mates. The tank is 18x10x10 and also in there are the male who is hiding away and a pair of Aphysemion bivittatum who don't seem to be a threat at present. Should I move any/all the other fish? Thanks, Ken.
All of my spawns of D. maculatus occurred only when a few tetra species were
tankmates. I never removed the tetras (which are faster than the killifish you
mention) and I never recognized any losses. The female D. maculatus performs one
of the finest jobs in protecting and moving the fry. If the male helps, it is on
the perimeter of the female's territory, for she does not allow the male to get
very close even if he seems interested in helping.
I wrote a rather detailed article on the spawning of D. maculatus based upon
multiple spawns:
http://www.characin.com/carey/articles/98/d_maculatus.html
So my suggestion is leave well enough alone, until/if you sense that the other
tankmates need to be moved (for their own sake, or for the sake of the fry).
--Randy
Ken Laidlaw wrote:
> All,
> I was delighted to find on getting home last night that my
> D. maculata had spawned. The eggs were on the outside of a
> small clay pot next to a plant. pH~5, temp 82f.
> The eggs are still there this morning and and I would like
> some advice on the tank mates.
>
> The tank is 18x10x10 and also in there are the male who is
> hiding away and a pair of Aphysemion bivittatum
> who don't seem to be a threat at present. Should I move
> any/all the other fish?
>
> Thanks,
> Ken.
>
> -------------------------------------------------------------------------
> This is the apistogramma mailing list, apisto@majordomo.pobox.com.
> For instructions on how to subscribe or unsubscribe or get help,
> email apisto-request@majordomo.pobox.com.
> Search http://altavista.digital.com for "Apistogramma Mailing List Archives"!
John, I've had excellent luck with three females and one male (no dithers) in a fifteen gallon tank. It's an odd shape, probably about the same surface area as a twenty long. The females protect the eggs and young so well that I eventually stopped pulling out any adults or young until they absolutely needed more space. The water was straight rain water, problably close enough to RO in most respects. I filled the bottom of the tank with oak leaves, and that's usually where they laid the eggs. Just make sure there's plenty of cover and do LOTS of water changes. Hope this was some help Take Care Don -----Original Message----- From: John Wubbolt <BigJohnW@webtv.net> To: Apisto@admin.listbox.com <Apisto@admin.listbox.com> Date: Saturday, July 17, 1999 6:04 AM Subject: Dicrossus Maculatus I was looking for peoples opinions on what they thought was the best size tank to use for breeding Dicrossus Maculatus. I presently have them in a 20 gallon long and thought that this might not be big enough for them to feel really comfortable to spawn in. Also what do most people feel is optimum water conditons for spawning purposes regards to pH, temperature and water hardness? I have a beautiful pair and wanted to give them the best conditions I can in order to get them to spawn. Any information would be muchly appreciated. Does anyone have any suggestions for the perfect dither fish? I thought about using some cardinal tetras? Also what about Corys? Thanks John Wubbolt
I want to thank all who gave me advice on my F1 pair of Dicrossus Maculatus. I'm a happy camper today. This morning while doing my normal walk through check everyone out for good or bad things, I came upon an unusual thing. While quickly looking into the Maculatus tank I saw both male and female, but the female had lost her row of spots. They were now a sort of solid black line, fearing something bad at first, this is my first time keeping these guys, I noticed that the female was really wailing away on the male. She was beating on him badly, I was confused at first and then upon closer examination I found a nice sized clutch of eggs in a corner of the tank. I feared for the males well being and removed him to safer confines. I don't know if the eggs are good or not yet, but I have my first spawn of Maculatus!! I was so happy I just had to tell someone, sorry for rambling on here. I'll keep everyone updated on the spawn. John W
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This page was last updated 26 December 1999 | ||