Satanoperca Acuticeps

[bantamweight1911]

Last november, I purchased 8 very small Satanoperca Acuticeps.

These have been grown on for almost a year, and it has not been easy, but I have now got 7 remaining, at close to adult size.

As the final stage of the process, I have placed 6 of them (leaving one of the likely males in another tank) in a 4x2 18 high tank.

The last 10 days I have been target feeding them, and slowly lowering the pH.

Today for the 1st time I saw the first sign of a pair. The largest fish was being displayed to by the most plump of the fish. Assuming this is a male and a female, he is around 4 1/2 inch, she is around 3 1/2 inch.

Needless to say I am a little excited, at what is really a very early sign, but non the less, I hope to join Lee Newman as a successful breeder of these fish.

[newmanl]

Best of luck with the acuticeps, Richard!

Lee

[Bas Pels]

a few years back, Thomas Wiedner (author of South American Eartheaters, in my eyes better than Band 3) has published an article in the Dutch NVC (cichilid keeper organization) about breeding this species.

As Thomas does not speak Dutch, he obviously wrote the original in German, which you might be able to read. If so, I'd suggest contacting him

[bantamweight1911]

So, things continue to progress.

1 'pair' has become dominant. On occasion they start to show their brood colouration (Reported by Newman as the same as the fright pattern - it is similar but not the same IMO)

The interesting thing, is that the dominant colouration is completely different again. The 'pair' consists of 2 fish of different size. I am assuming the smaller fish to be the female, as Newman reports males being larger than females. (They are not mouthbroodrs, so I would expect that).

The smaller fish (female?) is the most aggresive, and is chasing all but her mate, and 1 other large fish (Male?) into a small corner. They are not pugnacious at this stage.

Below is a picture of a Male? in normal colouration:



The pair are shoing a fairly strong lateral band, lining the lateral spots horizontally.

Female?


Male:


The colour on these guys is great, and the photos dont really show it off well. They look completely different from even slightly different angles. Here is the same male from a different angle:


So, all is going exactly to plan, 12 months of growing on, now in a 350 litre tank, and a pair has formed. They have shown brief displaying, and brood colouration, so it is just a case of keeping the water the same and keeping the food trickling in.

[Sébastien Bochenko]

Great species !

[Piotr Koba]

An old thread, I know, but I see no need to start a new one for my question:
Did anyone breed them so far? (in exception of Lee N. - I know he did) It's so hard to find any quality information/experiences about them nn the Net - so any given info would be nice. And pictures, too

[Bas Pels]

Thomas Wiedner in Germany has bred them too

in fact, I got some of his offspring - but that was in 2002 or 2003, mine don't live anymore

[martinchyla]

Hello, I have 6 S.acuticeps since the beginning of 2010. All fishes have about 8-10 cm TL. They are wild from Rio Tapajos, I purchase them in a very good condition but I was surprised about coloration they developed for the year I have them. They are amazing fishes and by now I don't have any problems with them. Below 2 pictures of my S.acuticeps. Greetings!

[Piotr Koba]

Nice, thanks for the info guys!
Marcin, good luck with them!