tuba and company

[Willem Heijns]

The Red Devlis have taken the part once played by the flaveolus group. Their frequent spawnings are both stimulating and inhibiting the other cichlids like Tomocichla tuba. Whenever labiatus is getting ready to spawn, the tuba pair starts courting too (in their own rather unsuccessful way). But as labiatus proceeds (if I let them) they dominate the tank so nothing further happens.

The other day I added a new, rather big piece of bogwood. This is quite confusing the fish, because it has changed current territorial borders. They will need another week to get settled again. Maybe then tuba will get its chance....

[Piotr Koba]

Fingers crossed Willem

[Willem Heijns]

New hope for tuba.
The female Chuco microphthalmus has been harrassing all fish, but especially Tomocichla tuba for quite a while. But the other day I did not see her anywhere. I stopped and watched the tank for some time and then I found her. She was hiding behind a piece of bogwood. Assuming she was ill, I decided to observe her for a couple of days more and then maybe take her out.
But it turned out she wasn't ill at all. At feeding time she came out looking good, but was immediately chased back into her hiding place........ by the younger tuba!

This adolescent guy (or girl?) is much more agressive than his (or her?) mother. If it should turn out that it is a she, she will stand a much better chance against the big male. Fingers crossed indeed....

[Willem Heijns]

I did a major change today. I believe that both Tomocichlia tuba and Astatheros rostratus don't spawn because of the pressure coming from the other fish (Red Devils, Chuco microphthalmus) So I removed all but one pair of the Red Devils, keeping only the pair with real fleshy lips:



I also took out the Chuco microphthalmus female. So the tank now contains:
one pair Tomocichla tuba (and a subadult young)
one pair Astatheros rostratus
one pair Amphilophus labiatus
two males Archocentrus centrarchus.

Eight cichlids in a 400g. I'm kinda curious as to what is going to happen next....

Stay tuned.

[Willem Heijns]

Well, the fishes didn't disappoint me. Within the day both tuba and rostratus started courting. Tomocichla tuba, being the bigger fish, soon gotthe upper hand and more or less disrupted courtship in rostratus.

The tuba male is still very dominant though. He will court his female vigorously and then chase her away with just as much vigour. But she keeps coming back. What an awful way to become a mother.....

[Willem Heijns]

Well, it didn't work out. Courting has seized and peace has returned to the tank. But hopefully not for long. I have just added a group of four Paraneetroplus gibbiceps to the company and these should be able to initiate new action. Let's just hope it will be the deisred action. I'll keep you posted.

[Rick Thibert]

I am still hopeful that your tuba will one day spawn................... Such lovely fish have to be secured in captive populations.

[Willem Heijns]

The juvenile tuba turned out to be a female. She is now about as big as her mother and starting to show interest in daddy. But he is (still?) faithful and courts his wife ever vigorously. But every time she is chased away, the daughter comes in and takes over. I wonder how long it will take the male to decide to make the change and if the daughter will be up to his aggression.

[Norcal_Cichlid]

I had a nice size bonded pair a few years back that I donated to Steinhart Aquarium. Even in a 5000g tank which for quite a while was all there's still no spawns. Good luck with yours!

[Willem Heijns]

Two months ago I moved the tuba trio and a pair of rostratus to a 600g tank. They had (and still have) the tank to themselves. But apart from the usual pattern of courting and chasing, nothing happened. This more or less ruins my theory of them needing peace and quiet.

So I have decided to add some more fish to this tank. I am thinking about a group of 5 Petenia splendida (8-10"). Would that work?

[Bas Pels]

@ moving rostratus - mine did not react very well last time - that was in may 2009 (I got them in April 2005, so they were 4 years of age) In fact, it took them a full month to settle

further, I got the idea in these last 5 years they need both quiet and their own. I got a group of 9 in a 2800 l (I think 700 US gallon) tank - but a pair of Parachromis loissellei (actually very relaxed for P loissellei, mostly they ignore each other) might be the reason why I see a lot of sourting, but no eggs

You got only a pair, and I'm afraid a pair migh not be enough. Did you ever try to fool them - by putting longimanus or robertsoni into their tank?

[Willem Heijns]

That is probably not such a bad idea. I have this group of 6 Astatheros robertsoni subadults from the Río Dante, Honduras. They might just fit in and do the job. Also gives them a chance to grow a bit faster.

[Rick Thibert]

Willem,

Do you have any regular breeders of something small perhaps in our collection?? SOmething you could add to the tuba and rostratum that would act purely as a pheremone injection to the tank.............???

[Michael Kwist]

Willem,

Do you have any pictures from your robertsoni ''Rio dante''? I'm curious how they look like

[Willem Heijns]

A week or so ago I added the robertsoni group. Petenia were already in there. So now I have:
Tomocichla tuba (one male, two females) 12"
Petenia splendida (group of five, unsexed) 10"
Astatheros robertsoni (group of six, unsexed) 3-4"
Astatheros rostratus (one male, one female) 7"

The rostratus male is ruling the tank, even harrassing Petenia. We'll see if these will eventually be able to resist the pressure.

Here's a first ugly pic of robertsoni:

[Bas Pels]

Any fish beaten up by a rostratus should feel complimented

That the rostratus took the trouble

[Michael Kwist]

Nice robertsoni! also for a ugly picture i can see that they are nice fish

The combination looks ok for me, I hope that your rostratum and Tuba will breed in this combination.

[Willem Heijns]

Just seconds ago I took a look in the tank and guess what: tuba is spawning! Only this afternoon the female was chased yet again from the territory and her daughter appeared to have taken over, but now she's back and laying eggs. Fingers crossed (all of you)....

[Daniel Smith]

congrats willem patience paying off in the end!

[Rick Thibert]

My fingers are firmly crossed (and my toes too)!!

Let's hope you can raise some fry! I'd buy some for certain! A dream fish of mine! ;p


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