Astatheros Rostratus

[Alex Odesit]

Thanks guys.
Marko, seems it will be much easy to distribute their youngs comparing to Convicts

[Marko Lenac]

Thanks guys.
Marko, seems it will be much easy to distribute their youngs comparing to Convicts

btw they grove for a long time but they are perfectly formed fish! way to go!

[Alex Odesit]

Thanks guys.
Marko, seems it will be much easy to distribute their youngs comparing to Convicts

btw they grove for a long time but they are perfectly formed fish! way to go!

Yes, I noticed that A.Rostratus take long time to grow to the size they are now and reach maturity if comparing to most mid sized CA cichlids.
If you look at the beginning of this topic I've started in January 2009 when I got them at approximately 1" size. This is how much time it took for them to be like they are now, over 3 years!
But I do keep them in 72 74 F most of the time and feed not more then 5-6 times a week and very lightly. Most probably it makes big difference for the fish maturity time frame as well tank size, etc etc
BTW Marko, how long it takes for your fry to reach 2-3 cm?
Alex

[Marko Lenac]

4 months

[Bas Pels]

I had similar, slow, growth

Incredible, as I've bred the most relates species - robertsoni and longimanus quite a lot and these show more normal growth- reaching the 3 cm mark in ~3 months

[Alex Odesit]

I had similar, slow, growth

Incredible, as I've bred the most relates species - robertsoni and longimanus quite a lot and these show more normal growth- reaching the 3 cm mark in ~3 months

Bas, what about maturity time for robertsoni and longimanus? At what age/size they start breeding?

[Bas Pels]

@ longimanus, according to my notes, I got a group of 6, 4-5 cm bodylength (SL, not TL) on 31 january 2004. On 22 february that year, so withing 3 weeks I had swimming fry

@ robertsoni, I got hem later that year, but these fishes were already older, and 4 months after aquiring them they bred - but this is a number without any meaning. currently I keep offspring from these, but I did not take good notes - I have not a clue when they were born. I cannot present you, therefore, with any hard number

[Alex Odesit]

that's good enough numbers on longimanus showing they start breeding at much smaller size and younger age.

[b144lvx4]

Finalize my wanted list with arriving 5 A.Rostratus juvenile, they all around an inch, hopefully long life to go.

[b144lvx4]

Yes, I noticed that A.Rostratus take long time to grow to the size they are now and reach maturity if comparing to most mid sized CA cichlids.

[Alex Odesit]

Second attempt.
Same male different female...beats me
Very few wrigglers compare to initial amount of eggs.
I'll sell some Rostratus fry and get a new camera, so I can take better pictures
Alex

[Bas Pels]

I never believed all cichlids mate for life

[Alex Odesit]

Want to share latest pictures. These guys are simply beautiful in my opinion.
Alex

[Lee Nuttall]

Indeed, very beautiful Alex.

Definitely on my to keep list at some point.

[Paulo José Alves]

Alex

What I like to see in your aquariums is that you are not a "fanatic", you also have other fish with the cichlids that are not cichlids! I do the same.

[Alex Odesit]

Thanks guys.
Lee, I can only imagine how A.Rostratus will look in your large tank. You are the master of the beautiful tank setups:) And the photos... guess how they would look on the pictures taken with your pro camera.
The fish is so beautiful, especially when the sunlight hit on their body. The tank in my home office and I caught myself from time to time freezing watching these guys playing, can't take my eyes away. Very active and intelligent fish, always on the move.
Paulo, thanks for the "notice". You absolutely right. I do love all kind of fish and always try to add some non cichlids species into the cichlid primary tanks. I also have 2 separate smaller tanks that has no cichlids at all.
Take care,
Alex

[Alex Odesit]

It's been awhile. One of the dominate male, close to 7".
Alex

[Marko Lenac]

I just wanted to post my observation. I have 3 different groups of rostratus in my tanks. I noticed that while I am netting them or some of their tank mates they tend to jump like crazy. As I keep dozen of declared riverine cichlids I never saw such a distinct behavior in them (Theraps, Paraneetroplus, etc.) but the rostratus jump like asian carps. As they belong to different sources I would not explain it like the asian carp explanation.

[Alex Odesit]

I agree with you Marco. They hate intervention to their aquariums. I always try to do the smoothest moves as possible during the water changes , I also never move them from the current tank, they been there from the beginning for last few years.
But from another side, during normal days, me and family being outside of the tank, they (Rostratus) actually opposite, always in front, interacting with each other, even breeding in regular basis very close to the front of the tank, next to us.
Of course until some one make sudden move, then they jumps like crazy, as you mention Marco in your observations. Easy to spook fish. But beautiful non for less
Alex

[Alex Odesit]

I took some recent pictures of my one of the favorite CA. They are in my home office and I can't take my eyes away when they playing under the sunshine
Alex
p.s. I just realize that it is my post #1000! A. Rostratus is a deserving fish to post for such milestone!