bolivianbaby

I heard this fish mentioned in another thread, but I didn't want to hijack.

When I google them, I cannot come up with any information.

Does anyone have a profile on these fish?

Toddnbecka

You won't find much info on them, they're very rarely imported. TFH magazine did publish an article about the Austroloheros family last summer, but didn't have any pics of the oblongum.
Males grow to 5" max, females 3". They're almost unbelievably mellow for cichlids (aside from conspecifics) and will mix well with anything too large to eat that won't beat the snot out of them IME. They don't require a heater, coming from a cooler part of SA with winter water temps in the 60's, same as some of the Geophagus from the same region. In the wild they live side-by-side with a species of Geo, but I don't remember which one offhand. They're substrate spawners, but after the eggs hatch the female will move the clump of adhesive wigglers onto live plants in the tank (if available.) The person I got my group from had java moss. My tanks are loaded wth Najas, and that worked quite well too. They are very strong pair-bonding fish, but the fry will disappear several days after they're free-swimming if left with the parents. Apparently they eat them when they start preparing to spawn again.

bolivianbaby

Is 70 degrees close enough? It was your post that started this I've been avoiding geos because of the whole "wintering" thing.

Is there any possible way you could take a picture of yours and post it, please? It may end up being a fish that I have to get later on, but I'd love to see if it's going to end up on my "fishy wish list".

Toddnbecka

I don't know whether the lower winter temps are necessary, just that they don't hurt anything. I started w/7 juvies growing out in the 30L with groups of BN and L-333's. The cichlids matured first, and I had to move 3 to other tanks. The dominant pair kept the other pair banished to the far end of the tank, barely letting them stick their noses out for food, but no real harm done. They spawned 5 times before I moved them to another tank to allow the fry (cichlid and BN) to grow out. They have spawned twice since then, but I haven't bothered saving any more fry since I still have several dozen 1.5-2" juvies to move along. None of my tanks are as low as 70, and I did have a pair of the larger juvies (sold off a while back) spawn in the growout tank.

Big Daddy:


Showing off the blue highlights better:


Little Momma:


Both together:


Wigglers in the Najas:


The Swarm:


Juvies:

Tony G.

those are some beautiful fish Toddnbecka! I think BB is gonna send you a pm soon

bolivianbaby

Thank you! Yep, on my list! Gorgeous fish, by the way. What are their tank size requirements? I'm assuming as NW cichlids, it's the normal omnivore diet? Is live food good for them, bad for them, does it matter? pH the normal 6-8? Lots of plants and hiding places good as a tank set up? What are their compatible tank mates? JD's, cons, other NW cichlids? I'll send you a pm regarding pricing once I know if I can house them properly (Tony, you know me well).

Diggly

Oh wow nice fish!

Filthy enablers you all are I am already trying to find space for 2 more tanks lol.

DRock914

What is the generic name for this fish because I have seen it at my LFS and forgot what they called it. I think it was a brown or red ______.

Gouramiguy17

I like those fish, they are pretty, but most importantly, my mom likes more I feel a tank in my future... Eventually

btate617

[quote=bolivianbaby;715042]Is 70 degrees close enough? It was your post that started this I've been avoiding geos because of the whole "wintering" thing.
QUOTE]

BB don't confuse Geophagus with Gymnogeophagus, totally different.

"Geos" (Geophagus) don't need a cooling period. Gymnogeophagus DO need a cooling period. Even the Gymno's could live at higher temps, say 74*, but they WILL die off before they should if not cooled. Not so with Geophagus species.

Everyone I have spoke to about these fish seem to say the say as toddnbecka, that they are a fairly peaceful species. The way everyone talks I would probably compare them to H. Multispinosa, thats the way they make them sound anyway. I do not have any, yet, but will when I find them in Canada (I am not willing to pay the shipping from the states).

I currently have 2 Australoheros species, and the two I have in my experience are the complete opposite of what people are saying about these guys. My Australoheros cf. Scitulus are down rite evil, they have killed off more fish than I care to mention, including some Centrals that were bigger than they were. I have tried them in a 40 alone and the male beat the snot out of the female, in 55's with other fish the male kills off most of what is around him. The only thing I have found that works with this species is a 6' 90gal.
My Australoheros sp. Red Ceibal are still small, 3" or so, and they are a little aggressive but do not seem near as bad as the others. So there seems to be big differences in the species. But like I said as well as toddnbecka has this species seems to be peaceful.

I have spoken to Felipe Cantera quite a few times, and since he is the main exporter of Australoheros species I tend to believe what he says. He says they don't necessarily need the cool down period but it won't hurt. They won't "fade" away like the Gymno's will without it. But to get the best colors out of these fish he recommends it.


If you can get some I would go for it, or any Australoheros species for that matter.



DRock these guys are not really showing up at LFS, but I guess it is a possibility.


Brian

bolivianbaby

I was hoping you'd see this thread, Brian. So we're looking at a 55g for two, maybe as the only tankmembers?

Yep, PM is on it's way. Thanks everyone!

kacie

Hi BB, I just got a trio of 1/2 inch Oblongum from a hobbiest in Va also. He has them with Keyhole cichlids so they must be peaceful. Mine are active and eat everything. I put them in a 55g with 4 gymnos, tetras and bn pleco. Dedicate an unheated 55g to them and get some Balzani too.
Kacie

btate617

I thought you had some too but couldn't remember for sure....

A 55gal will work BB for sure, like Kacie and others said, with this species of Australoheros, you could do some tank mates just pick a mellow species.

Oh Balzanii should be in everyones tanks......

Brian

bolivianbaby

You guys are killing me Always providing me with new species that whenever I look them up, I HAVE to have them. Brian, you're still grounded for the black nasty's that I don't have a big enough tank for:

Anyone care to make a wager that I'll be after Balzanii after I look them up? Mercy, I'm going to need some contacts for some breeders if you guys keep this up

But please, keep the suggestions coming. I still have empty tanks

btate617

Just to help make ur decision I will post a few pics of mine here in a minute.....

DRock914

[quote=btate617;715626]There was one about a month ago that was about 6". It was a trade in. The LFS labeled it as a color and a name but I forgot what it was. I am positive this was the fish because I have never seen it and my dad didn't know the name, first time he was stumped at a LFS. That was the same day they also had a FW stone fish which is another fish I have never seen before. I'll go check tomorrow to see if it is still there.

kacie

She can get some from toddnbecka right? They have some up on aquabid also.

pepetj

Check the pic of your fish of interest in the following thread of chichlid-forum
http://www.cichlid-forum.com/phpBB/v...40f84453169df2

Astonishing red arc in the tail. Some info on them is also on this thread

Pepetj
Santo Domingo

kacie

Montess is who I got mine from. Check out his posts on his Oblongums too.

Toddnbecka

I have several dozen juvies between 1.5-2" available. They won't be relisted on aquabid for a couple more months after the current auction ends. By that time they'll be pairing off, and likely sell better. If anyone is interested in getting some after the holidays are over (really bad time for shipping USPS now) shoot me a PM.

bolivianbaby

You mean me? Yes, I'll be getting them after the holidays. All I need now is to find balzanii to have in the tank with them and I'll have a very happy stocking list.

You got your balzanii from Montess? Is he listed on aquabid or how can I get ahold of him?

Feel free to PM me if you have contact information for Montess or anyone else who has balzanii.

kacie

No I got Oblongum from him not Balzani. Good luck finding them. Did you try Tangled up in cichlids?

bolivianbaby

I'm getting the oblongum from ToddnBecka after the holidays. I'll try tangled up cichlids for the balzanii. Thank you so much

acolli51

What is the minimum temp Australoheros oblongum can be kept? Also, Toddnbecka, I posted a visitor message for you about those turquoise severum and your fish.

Toddnbecka

I'm not certain of the minimum temp, (for all I know they may be hardy enough to keep outdoors in a pond over the winter like Koi) but I wouldn't recommend lower than the mid-to-upper 50's. They don't require the winter cooldown like the Geo's (actually Gymnogeophagus) from that region, but it is helpful for triggering spawning. I'll dig around and see if the TFH article mentioned anything useful concerning temps.

acolli51

Oh sorry, I meant to ask the maximum temp they could take... basically I want to know if they would do ok between 75-78 or if they need to be lower.

Toddnbecka

IME they're fine at that temp range. That's what I grew my group of juvies out in, and then had 5 sucessive spawns before the breeding pair were moved to another tank.

btate617

I now have a female you can have for cheap........lol

kacie

Oh Brian is she okay?

btate617

She has had better days......

check out the Nandopsis Haitiensis thread.


Brian