Paretroplus maculatus

[bobrfish]

ACA Photo Gallery - 01 /

PH0018
A young male Paretroplus maculatus collected from Lak Ravelobe. Photo by Paul V.

Loiselle.
The Cichlids of Madagascar: Going... Going... Gone? By Paul Loiselle, BB, 161, April

1994.

[Apexpredator]

I just received a group of

8 P Maculatus F1's and even at 2.5 inches they are very nice. It has proven difficult to find

quality information on this species so my first attempt at keeping these cichlids will be mostly

trial and error.

If anybody has some info or tips on general care I would appreciate

it.

[bobrfish]

My group was moved to 180

gal at about three inches. In addition a group of Ptychromides katria and Ptycohromis grandidieri

were also placed with Paretroplus maculates. The idea was to keep conspecific aggression level

down. During last 2.5 years, there has been little aggression between Paretroplus. Ptychochromis

reached adulthood first and have bred numerous times. This led to conspecific aggression amonst

that group but Paretroplus were serene throughout. Did lose one of the Paretroplus group late

Summer of 04 but was also rewarded with two spawns this fall. With second spawn some fry were

salvaged and was able to grow seven individuals to one inch. Those were taken to our local

aquarium club and another mad fish lover is growing them out.
At 1" size they were fine

in 2.5 gal tank. Next would have been a ten gal tank followed by 20-40 gal, then 75 gal finally to

180 gal. IMO that fish need to find food and they will find it easier in a smaller tank as they

grow. Next, these fish do well with frequent water changes. Unless a trip or work prevent me, my

fish recieve a 80% water change once a week. In ten gal tanks were large quantities of food are

feed, it may be 95% water change every 2-3 days.
These fish prefer a temperature of 80 plus

degrees. At times the temp has been 90 degrees for a few hours and the fish are not bothered. The

fish are less active in 70's and have not spawned at that temp either.
Foods used are

microworms from wiggler until large enough for BBS. Once growing well on BBS add crushed flakes

etc. My plan is to keep them on BBS until about 2" or even longer. In past other Paretroplus

species raisied here died when BBS was weaned off. Not sure it was lack of BBS or what but not

taking chances these days. At 3" or so, they can be placed on

pellets/flakes/crawls/shrimps/mussels/fish etc. Many authorties rec spirulina and my fish get

spirulina at least once a week.
The tanks have gravel in bottom as Paretroplus love to sift

through this looking for food. There are also large rocks and numerous flower pots lying on sides.

Fish will spawn on rock sides or inside pots. They will clear floor of gravel and change

coloration during spawning.
Temp in my tanks varies from 78-86 during year but is sometimes

altered for a few hours post water changes. pH is 8.2 and GH is 22 degrees. It is my

understanding that this fish also do well at pH of 7.5 and lower alkalinity levels.

Best

of luck.

[Shark_Lover]

I never knew that cichlids

were in Madagascar!! http://cichlid.ipbhost.com/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/ohmy.gif

Btw- that's a cool fish.

[Apexpredator]

Thanks for the info. My

group is doing very well and they are eating like pigs.

[Apexpredator]

Bob, I thought I would add

that I have experimented housing them with a variety of tanganyikan cichlids and they do quite

well. By nature, the Maculatus appear to be a very curious fish and are quick to investigate any

newcomers but after that they pretty much ignore them. As they grow, their color is beginning to

come through. I am looking forward to seeing them full grown. All in all, I am very satisfied

with them thus far.

[bobrfish]

Hi Apex,

My P.

maculates are kept near a window. It shows the beautiful shades of green in the fish that are not

normally there.
Their cousins, P. menarambo have been kept with various Tanganikans. When the

featherfins spawn, the mad fish are pushed up against sides of tank. The featherfin is one tenth

the body mass if that yet featherfin is ferocious. Now they share the tank with N. tetracephalous

and they basically ignore each other.
Paretroplus grow slow but they are magnificent fish.

[Apexpredator]

Just thought I would give

an update. The maculatus still eat like pigs but males are clearly growing at a faster rate than

the females. Unfortunately they have begun to show quite a bit of conspecific aggression. I have

them in a 150 gallon tank and they are still beating each other up pretty bad.

The

larger males are very nice looking but quite mean spirited. Has this been your experience as well

Bob?

[bobrfish]

No Apex it has not.

Occasionally a couple of males will go at it. In last three years, I lost one fish and I do not

think it was due to fighting but stress of some sort. Also, I suspect there are three pairs in

this tank. The males are not overly large compared to females. I do believe they pair bond but it

is a very loose bond. My observation to support this belief is that at breeding time, the same two

fish breed together although when not breeding no special attention is given to mate.

Are you keeping other fish the P. maculates? Sonia and Dave told me they absoulutely believe

other fish must be kept with Paretroplus. Currently, I have Ptychochromis oligacanthus with my

Paretroplus macultes. With P. maculates, also a group of Ptchochrmides katria. With P. menarambo

it is Ptychromis grandidieri and Neolamprologus tretocephalus. The P. grandideri will definitely

go after the the P. menarambo and I watch this tank closely each day.

[Apexpredator]

Thanks for the info. I

have them mixed with a large variety of tanganyikan cichlids.

They pretty much ignore

the other fish but the larger maculatus are really beating on the smaller ones. Fins are shredded,

etc. Strange that you have not seen this type of behavior. I have only lost one to conspecific

aggression thus far and I am keeping a close eye on the rest of the group.

[bobrfish]

Mine are in a 180 gal tank and

there are other Mad fish in there such as P. oligacanthus or P. grandidieri.

I suspect

but have no way of knowing that you have one very dominant male. I had this problem with another

group of Paretropleus and would have to pull the male(s) and allow females to recover. However,

that was before I began keeping the other mad fish in tank to serve as a buffer for the aggression.

Also subsequent fish were moved to much larger tank 75 gal to 180 gal.

[Apexpredator]

I moved some more fish

into the tank and that seems to be working well. Fins dont look as damaged. I will keep an eye on

the situation. Thanks for the advice.