Physical description: A high-backed fish with strong lateral compression. The mouth is very large and appears to be hinged. The coloration varies greatly as multiple geographical color morphs are known. The most common variation beige body to light brown body color with about ten vertical stripes. These stripes may be obvious or barely visible. The first one runs from the forehead, though the back part of the eye, and down to the lower part of the gill cover. The last is usually located on the base of the caudal fin. Depending on the morph small copper-colored spots may or may not cover the rear part of the body. The fins are usually gold and the eye is dark. Often a short stripe from the eye the upper lip is present. Size/Length: To 6" (15 cm) Similar species: Pearly Compressiceps ( A. calvus). These two species can be distinguished by A. compressiceps's greater arched back and shorter body. The spot markings and eye stripes are more distinct on A. calvus . Habitat: Eastern Africa; found in crevices of rocky areas in Lake Tanganyika S: bottom, middle Aquarium: 48" (122 cm) or 55 gallons (209 L). The tank should have large open swimming areas. Use rock structures to create hiding caves and crevices. Water chemistry: pH 7.2-9.0 (8.0), 7-18 dH (12), 75-82°F (24-28°C). Social behavior: A timid and peaceful fish that will lose some of its shyness when combined with lively Lake Tanganyika Cichlids. Somewhat territorial towards fish that enter its territory. Do not combine with small fish, under 3" (8 cm), as they will likely be mistaken for food and consumed. This species will not harm plants. Suggested companions: Lake Tanganyika cichlids, Synodontis, Aulonocara, Lamprichthys, Afromastacembelus FOOD: Live; small fish, earthworms, large aquatic insects, Mysis shrimp, and other large crustaceans; possibly chopped meat. Sexual differences: Males may be slightly larger. Breeding techniques: Use water with a pH from 7.2-7.5, a water hardness from 8-12 dH, and a temperature from 77-82°F (25-28°C). The breeding tank should include a number of cave structures. As many as 300 eggs are laid in a cave. The female guards the eggs while the male defends the territory. The young are difficult to rear and need a regimes of small water changes biweekly to prosper. Start feeding with Artemia. The young are slow-growing. Breeding potential: 9. Breeding is very difficult and only accomplished rarely. Remarks: Nearly all the fish available to the hobby are wild-caught. This helps explain the high price that often accompanies this fish. The body shape is a result of a feeding specialization for feeding on small fish, aquatic insects, and crustaceans that inhabit small crevices in rocky areas. Make frequent water changes. Difficulty of care: 6. A difficult fish to care for as its diet must include live foods and it is highly sensitive to water pollutants. Recent articles about fish Overfishing may hurt Amazon forest trees (2/5/2008) Overfishing is reducing the effectiveness of seed dispersal by fish in the Brazilian Pantanal, reports Nature. The research suggests that fishing practices can affect forest health. Scientists find fish that literally lives in trees (10/17/2007) Scientists have found a fish that literally lives in trees, according to research published in The American Naturalist and highlighted in New Scientist Magazine. Piranhas originated when Amazon was flooded by seawater (12/4/2007) South America's piranha family of fish -- notorious as eaters of flesh -- can be traced back to a single ancestor which dispersed when the Amazon was flooded by seawater some five million years ago, report researchers from the Institut de Recherche Pour le Developpement (IRD). Today piranhas are exclusively freshwater fish found from the Orinoco River basin in Venezuela to the Parana in Argentina. |
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Copyright Rhett Butler 1994-2009 The copy for fish.mongabay.com was written in 1994-1995. Therefore some information such as scientific names may be out of date. For this, I apologize. Feel free to send corrections to me. |
