Ptychochromis oligacanthus

[fishfarm]

Here's my male NoseyBe I

have lots of fry, They breed pretty easy. I got the "Juba" from Doug Sweet at the Bell

Island Aquarium, They are more silvery without any red . I have several young pairs I need to pull

as they are breeding in a speices tank with a dozen adult fish and the fry don't have a chance.

Ken

[bobrfish]

Beautiful fish

Ptychochromis maybe Convict cichlids of Madagascar per Sonia.

[DJohn13147]

Here's my guy - about

7" TL
<img

src="http://home.earthlink.net/~john_dimeglio/sitebuildercontent/sitebuilderpictures/ptychochromiso

ligacanthus100504.jpg" border="0" class="linked-image" />

[bobrfish]

Hi DJohn,

This

image shows a divider. Is there some breeding going on here? Do you have a group. How do they

get along?

Bob

[DJohn13147]

Hi Bob - no breeding - he

shares a divided 125g with an angry Amphilophus Citrinellum.

My understanding from a

few people is that they are pretty rough on each other - never had more than one though.

[fishfarm]

I have my pair in a 50 gallon

breeder with the same type eggcrate divider. The males are rough on the females, She lays eggs on

the bottom glass right next to the divider and he shoots it in their thru the divider and I get

about 90% hatch rate, he's a stud! http://cichlid.ipbhost.com/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/smile.gif Ken

[BobP]

From my experience with

oligacanthus I have had the most luck keeping them in a large group. I kept 10 in a 6' 120

gallon tank. They all got along great with very little aggression. There would always be a pair

with fry or eggs at any given time. I remember at one time having 3 pairs spawning at once. Things

changed when I traded away all but 2 pairs. The 2 males were fighting all the time and no breeding

would take place. Things have gotten somewhat better with the addition of a few large myersi. But

still no breeding.
I am looking to sell the 2 pairs I have left if anyone is interested.

[bobrfish]

Echo that comment about

keeping Ptychos in group. Have a group of P. grandidieri and they too will all spawn at same time

(at least two if not three pairs). Thought about selling some off but good to hear of your

expierence. Thanks.
Oh yeah, the pairs work as perfect partners when there are other fish in

tank to keep their minds off each other. Later, if fry are wanted a flower pot with eggs or

wigglers is moved to a small 20 gal tank. Both parents are added. Everyone gets along with no

fighting. It is beautiful to watch.

[Willem Heijns]

completely off topic

I'm afraid. but since you mentioned an Amphilophus in a Madagascar tank (of is it a

Ptychochromis in a Central American tank?) I might as well state that with Amphilophus xiloaensis

the record is 5 pairs with fry in one tank at one point in time. Amphilophus is a very tolerant

fish http://cichlid.ipbhost.com/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/tongue.gif

[bobrfish]

According to Sparks,

J.S., 2002. Ptychochromis inornatus: a new cichlid (Teleostei: Cichlidae) from northwestern

Madagascar, with a discussion on intrageneric variation in Ptychochromis.. Copeia 2002(1):120-

130.
Juba is Ptychochromis inornatus and
Nosy Be is Ptychochromis oligacanthus

[Carol]

These are my new

juvies...very difficult to take a pic as they are always on the go.
Any advice or info much

appreciated http://cichlid.ipbhost.com/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/smile.gif

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v143/whispering_rain/oli/3f45d619.jpg



http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v143/whispering_rain/oli/adde8baf.jpg


http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v143/whispering_rain/oli/6454fdb0.jpg


http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v143/whispering_rain/oli/26a8b49a.jpg


http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v143/whispering_rain/oli/149355f0.jpg


http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v143/whispering_rain/oli/99442f2d.jpg


http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v143/whispering_rain/oli/42564aa7.jpg


http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v143/whispering_rain/oli/42e630bc.jpg

[Carol]

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v143/whispering_rain/oli/39aa2e94.jpg


http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v143/whispering_rain/oli/bcce427b.jpg


http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v143/whispering_rain/oli/b40c6439.jpg


http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v143/whispering_rain/oli/a5ab461d.jpg


http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v143/whispering_rain/oli/dbb3119d.jpg


http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v143/whispering_rain/oli/7ea2d6e5.jpg

[bobrfish]

These fish are nice looking.

They look to be larger than juveniles. Do you have a location where they were collected?
Give

them plenty of tank space. Perform frequent large water changes. Feed high quality food. Expect

you will have fry within a year.

[Carol]

They are only approx 2-3 inches

each. I bought them at That Fish Place,and they said they got them from Jeff Rapps (had a pic of

his on the tank too).

I am feeding them a variety from http://www.kensfish.com/hbhpellets.html .