Astatheros Rostratus

[Alex Odesit]

What would be your educated guess on Bocourti or Pearsi making good tankmates with Rostratus?

I have 2 Pearsei, just over 2 years old. Largest around 12" (30cm) in my 210 gal (around 800 liters) with different caliber cichlids and non cichlid species.
This is the first time I own Pearsei, when I did my initial research before buying them as juvenile, most information I found is they are very peaceful fish. And it was true for almost 2 years, when even much smaller Thor Meeki flaring to them and my large trio Heros Efasciatus chase larger Pearsei very often.Until they (Pearsei) start mature. Today everything change and they in charge of 210 gal tank, dominate even 9.5" male N.Tetracanthus.
Still, Pearsei are not nasty fish, and leave alone much smaller Thor Meeki and most my tank inhabitans, who probobly is not seeing as a treat a compitition for food and territoty.
So, to answer your question about Pearsei making good tankmate with Rostratus, I am not sure, I wouldn't risk in the long ran, it may go both way, since A.Rostratus medium size cichlid and may be seeing as a treat and they wouldn't be able to hold their own against much bigger and powerful fish like Pearsei.
As for Bocourti I didn't keep this fish yet, so no help here.
Here you may be interesting, my Pearsei thread, I start couple years ago, fish development, thoughts, etc..
viewtopic.php?f=4&t=2541

HTH
Alex

[Alex Odesit]

Alex:

I would estimate the largest male at 20 cm, 8 inches, thus

some old pictures:


Bas

Bas,very very nice, healthy looking fish, thanks for sharing!
Once again, looking at Rostratus adult, I am glad I finally have these guys.
What about feeding, what kind and how often?
btw, what they origin from? Riverline?

[Bas Pels]

I feed them once a day, Sera vipagran or Sera discusgran. Both being granules which sink quite fast.

The tank (290 * 80 footprint) further contains some 3 Cryptoheros spetemfasciatus, 2 Hypsophrys nicaraguensae and 1 Herotilapia multispinosa on the cichlid frond. Non-cichlids: Poecilia salvatoris, a lot, over 40, and some 10 xiphophorus alvarezi

I have no clue about their origin, I once received, on a saturday, a phonecall from a friend, having seen them at Tillmann. You can imagine, I could not wait untill Monday to get them. (who talked about blue mondays? ) but, as their bodys are quite slender, I think they are riverine

[Alex Odesit]

I feed them once a day, Sera vipagran or Sera discusgran. Both being granules which sink quite fast.

The tank (290 * 80 footprint) further contains some 3 Cryptoheros spetemfasciatus, 2 Hypsophrys nicaraguensae and 1 Herotilapia multispinosa on the cichlid frond. Non-cichlids: Poecilia salvatoris, a lot, over 40, and some 10 xiphophorus alvarezi

I have no clue about their origin, I once received, on a saturday, a phonecall from a friend, having seen them at Tillmann. You can imagine, I could not wait untill Monday to get them. (who talked about blue mondays? ) but, as their bodys are quite slender, I think they are riverine

I like your approach comes to only few, not overly aggressive cichlids even for the very large tank with livebearers.
This way fish have enough space to feel comfortable and show it's best.
And Poecilia salvatoris, yummy! Such a nice colorful addition.

[Bas Pels]

Thanks

The stuped thing is, the rostratus mostly ignore the Poecilia - I never see them chasing one

[stomper160]

My experience with robertsoni is quite different - I find them quite peacefull - but I keep them in groupes - of 6 or more. I also may just be lucky, I don't know. I do know, however, many books say they are agressive, but don't point to any traceble experience.
The average size of my robertsoni is 15 cm - not measuring the tailfin

My rostratum are larger, and I thnik a peacefull. However, my first robertsoni often swam in pairs (as the lovebirds (agapornis parrots) do) while rostratum only pair up to breed

The first breeding attempt was after 2 years, I think. It could also be I had them 1,5 years, and they were 2.

So you would advise trying to keep the Robertsoni in much larger groups of 6 or more. Everything I've read says they are very aggressive to their own kind. I'm assuming the Rostratus should also be keep in groups as well.

[Alex Odesit]

It is a first time I keep A.Rostratus, but they are very happy in group of 5 as for now. They are small yet, and I dunno how they would behave when get older, but Bas keeping Rostratus awhile, I would consider his experience with them.

[Alex Odesit]

Slow growers, but they do gain some size&color. Great fish, too bad not too many around.

[Ash]

isn't the genus Amphilophus???, or is Astatheros the new name???

[Bas Pels]

Depends on who you ask.

Although the longimanus group (of which rostratum is part) has long been considered as one of the thre groupes within Amphilophus, the other being the alfari and the citrinellus group, and a few species not easily considered part of any group, the genus Amphilophus has also been considered to be restricted to citrinellus and their closest relatives - thus the citrinellus group

This would expell the alfari group, the lonigmanus group, macracantus and, if one consideres the citrinellum group very precisely trimaculatus and lyonsi

Macracantus is type species of the genus Astatheros. That is, if amacracanthus is in any genus, this genus will have to be called Astatheros, unless another species, with an older genus attached, is in the same genus (for instance, Amphilophus is older, and citrinallum is its type species. That is why macracantus used to be in Amphiliophus, ansd Astatheros used to be invalid).

So, restricting Amphilophus to the citrinelum group would leave the longimanus group, the alfari group without a name. Than, bingo, a DNA researcher had usable results: alfari and longimaus could be grouped with macracanthus, resulting in naming them all Astatheros

Other resarchers have other results, and further, macracanthus is quite out of the ordinary for Astatheros. Therfore, in the end, Astatheros will have to be restricted to macracantus, and perhaps a few other species, and the longimanus group will get its own genus - with or without the alfari group

[Alex Odesit]

Interesting write up Bas.
BTW, how do you distignuish their gender?
I noticed some of them darker then other, but thats about it as for now.
Alex

[Bas Pels]

I try to look at the right moment - the one who lays eggs is the female

That is smug way to say I have not the faintest idea. Still somehow I'm certain I have at least 3 of both, the rest being uncertain. Actually, I'm now having a break during the decorating of their new (4 meters) tank.

It wil be populated around the rostratum, but I'll include a pair of Parachromis loissellei from nicaragua as well

[Ash]

Actually, I'm now having a break during the decorating of their new (4 meters) tank.

now that's a tank post some pics of it Bas

[Alex Odesit]

I try to look at the right moment - the one who lays eggs is the female

That is smug way to say I have not the faintest idea. Still somehow I'm certain I have at least 3 of both, the rest being uncertain. Actually, I'm now having a break during the decorating of their new (4 meters) tank.

It wil be populated around the rostratum, but I'll include a pair of Parachromis loissellei from nicaragua as well

4m will be great tank, plenty swimming and hiding place as well. I am sure you gonna include some livebearers man Any plans for tetra's?
A.Rostratum seems very peaceful fish, I hope your P.Loisellei wont give them hard time. Mine was nasty and chase larger Rocio all over 2 meter tank. Of course your set up is twice bigger, but still a chance.
Best of luck, keep us posted. Pictures will be nice.
Alex

[Bas Pels]

I got the loisellei on June 3, 2007. They have been in a 130 * 60 cm tank since, but I almost never see them.

If I compare them with other varieties, they are much more shy. I wojnder whther they will eat my Poecilia salvatoris I'll include in the tank. My guess is 50 %.

As you stated, Alex, a bigger tank makes fish queiter, but if they don't like each other, they will seekeach other out. U had 2 pairs of fridrichshalli in it, in 2005, I think, the males were 20 cm. Well, every now and then they did seek eah other out. Nice, as they bioth were at their most beatifull and by attacking each other, they refrained from hurting other fish. But in the long run I decided to take one pair out (and later I decided to change the whole setting)

If I had central american tetras I would first breed them, and then include them in the tank. Some 50 would make a nice school, but i don't have any. Nobody in Europe has them, or those who do keep - understandably, quiet

I collected tetras in Uruguay, and the tatra were quite sensitive. I think the same might go for central american tetras - I don't know.

I don't post many pictures, as some of you might have noticed. Therefore I will not promise to post pictures, for fear of breaking auch promise

[Alex Odesit]

Updated pictures, have group of 5 with largest around 4". Slow growing guys.

[Bas Pels]

I never saw a rostratus with reddish on their side, looking very nice

Where did you get them? I might be getting some 10 in a few weeks from the USA, apart from the group I already have.

This group has been moved - as predicted - to the 4 meters tank. They did not like being moved, but today I saw again display behaviour between male and female

My fingers are crossed, again

[Alex Odesit]

I never saw a rostratus with reddish on their side, looking very nice

Where did you get them? I might be getting some 10 in a few weeks from the USA, apart from the group I already have.

This group has been moved - as predicted - to the 4 meters tank. They did not like being moved, but today I saw again display behaviour between male and female

My fingers are crossed, again

Bas, you are absolutely right, that’s flash screw up the color a bit , they don't have reddish on sides. More olive brownish with some pearl, can't describe, really distinctive colour these Rostratus have, beautiful intelligent interesting fish.
Mine are Jeff R's fish.
4 meters tank... One of the luckiest Rostratus in captivity I would guess
Good luck with getting 10 new ones, where they originated, also Jeff?

[Bas Pels]

They would come from Dan C

That is, if all goes well - and iwill only be well when they are swimming in their tank, under 20 Priapella intermedia

[Alex Odesit]

like I said above Bas, they would be lucky Rostratus as well their dithers. Keep us posted.
Alex