Tanganyikan Fish Discussion

[FrontosaurusRex]

So I was watching the Planet Earth series last night, specifically the one about Lake Tanganyika and I was shocked to see something very cool. I have watched this video a hundred times but only recently discovered some cool stuff about the Tretocephalus. It showed that Frontosas allow the Tretocephalus to live amongst the "herd" in order to feed off of them. The video showed that a Frontosa will actually eat the scales of the Tretocephalus without doing the fish any harm. It stated that the scales will just grow right back. I have kept a Tret along side my Fronts for a long time now and never noticed them doing that....until tonight. I was looking at my tank for a while tonight, trying to rethink my aquascape when I witnessed one of my Fronts "stalking" the Tret. Then, just like the video showed, he took a small chunk out of the Tret's side. There was no blood or further violence and the Tret didnt even seem to be bothered. Has anyone else noticed this? Can this type of feeding harm the Tret?

Also, I noticed today that my Calvus and my Compressicep have started pairing up and were doing some weird "dance" with each other. Could they be about to breed? Before I knew the difference between a Calvus and a Compressicep, I bought what I was told was a female Calvus (but its actually a female Comp.) and a male Calvus but they were too little to do any breeding. They are both adults now and seem to like each other. Can they actually mate?

[newb]

side note...I meant to tell you that Xtreme had these "neolamprologus sexfasciatus" in the other day when i was there. they are a little more yellow and have 6 bars instead of 5 like the Tret. could be a cool color addition

[gotticgs]

if you are talking about Jewls of the rift Rex it is not a Tret that eats the scales it is a Plecodus straeleni and they look like fronts so they can sneak up on them and take a chunk out of a front

I have only seen them for sale one on aquabid

ple-straeleni-magara01-400%20copy.jpg

[FrontosaurusRex]

it was Jewls of the Rift and I stand corrected. Thanks for giving me the right info. I could have sworn it was a Tret. Maybe my front was just teaching him a lesson. LOL. On a side note, I'm kind of getting sick of the same old generic Tanganyikans I find in stores. I was wondering, when I upgrade my Front tank, I wanted to use my 125g as a "sophisticated" looking Tang tank. I really liked Tim's tank that he has in his living room. (I havent been over there in a while so I dont remember exactly what was in it). I know I really like the Benthochromis Trecati but I was wondering what else will go with them. I also know I want some Shellies (havent decided on exact species yet either) Any suggestions as to what I should keep? The more rare and harder to find, the better.

[Darbex]

I dont remember and maybe Tim can chime in but I think when I was researching whether to go with Discus or Benthos that Benthos will need a tank bigger than 125G to be optimal they grow up to 10" and is recommended to have at least a shoal of 6+ which I would believe a 180+ is probably a better tank for them. Oh Tim where art thou

[Zulaab]

Bentho's like the Fronts are deep water fish, they have the big eyes because the hunt in the deep. Darbex is correct, an even small colony needs at least a 6x2 tank (ie 180/215 etc)
They grow large, but many in the industry will tell you a Bentho is one of the most if not the most beautiful of the tangs for the living size etc...
They are for sure unique and not many people I have come across even has any. Tim keeps his in a 7ft 210 (or 240).

[Darbex]

Yeah I really wanted Benthos because they are awesome and some of the recommended companion fish are pretty cool looking. But in the end I just didnt want a tank that was long enough for them.

[TaTeR ToT]

rhett, i would do a large colony, like 20 paracyprichromis nigripinnis, 10 Lamprologus Speciousus aka Black Occelatus, and 10-12 Xenotilapia Flavipinnis.

would be a tight tank.

[FrontosaurusRex]

rhett, i would do a large colony, like 20 paracyprichromis nigripinnis, 10 Lamprologus Speciousus aka Black Occelatus, and 10-12 Xenotilapia Flavipinnis.

would be a tight tank.

Thanks for the tip, I will definately do some research and check each one of them out. I have been in love with Benthos for a long time now but the money is never there. I'm gonna have to sell Nicole or the baby...lol

[J-WS6]

side note...I meant to tell you that Xtreme had these "neolamprologus sexfasciatus" in the other day when i was there. they are a little more yellow and have 6 bars instead of 5 like the Tret. could be a cool color addition

For the record, there is actually two variants of the Neolamprologus Sexfasciatus. There's the 'gold' variant in which you described and then there's the blue variant. The blue species is pretty close to a tretacephalus.

Sexfasciatus 'Gold'

sexfasciatus1.jpg

Sexfasciatus 'Blue'

neo_sexfas_zam.jpg

Tretocephalus

Neolamprologus_tretocephalus_1.jpg

Notice the difference in scale and proportion on the head/body, also the sexfasciatus has 6 stripes where as the tret has 5, commonly called the 'five bar cichlid'.

Very cool fish.

[armthehomeless]

i I really liked Tim's tank that he has in his living room. (I havent been over there in a while so I dont remember exactly what was in it). I know I really like the Benthochromis Trecati but I was wondering what else will go with them. I also know I want some Shellies (havent decided on exact species yet either) Any suggestions as to what I should keep? The more rare and harder to find, the better.

Benthochromis tricoti are a very beautiful and peaceful fish; they can easily get stressed out with hyper tankmates (like tropheus). They need room to swim. I feel that my seven foot is too small to keep my group of eleven happy. I'd love to give mine a bigger home - if not with me, then with someone that has a 10ft+ tank. I've kept them with Ectodus Descampsii, Cyprichromis leptosoma, Paracyprichromis nigripinnis, and Lamprologus callipterus, Telematochromis temporalis and Opthalmotilapia ventralis. Of the aforementioned fish, I found the Op. ventralis and Telematochromis temporalis to be too dominating. The Paracyps and the Ectodus have been great tankmates. Keep in mind that Benthochromis make pits in the sand - therefore I'd recommend lots of open space.

I'd stay away from housing Benthos with occies or similarly aggressive shell dwellers. If you are going to put a shellie in the same tank, I'd recommend Lamp. callipterus or Altolamprologus sp. "Compressiceps Shell". I've done the former with some degree of success.

rhett, i would do a large colony, like 20 paracyprichromis nigripinnis, 10 Lamprologus Speciousus aka Black Occelatus, and 10-12 Xenotilapia Flavipinnis.
would be a tight tank.

That sounds nice...

I'd give the xenos the entire bottom and Cyp. micros for the top. Just a couple rocks and sand - nothing else.

[armthehomeless]

Plecodus straeleni ... and they look like fronts so they can sneak up on them and take a chunk out of a front

I have only seen them for sale one on aquabid

[/I][ATTACH=CONFIG]1917[/ATTACH]

I've seen them on the Old World list from time to time.

[FrontosaurusRex]

I think I'm gonna have to stick with the Benthos. I have always wanted them but I've never had the cash. I have no idea what all those fish you listed look like so i guess I'm doing a butt ton of research tonight. Thanks for all the cool suggestions. Tim, have you had any luck breeding the Benthos yet?

[armthehomeless]

Yes and no.

Produce fry that have lasted longer than a week? No... I'm getting better though.

[FrontosaurusRex]

Well, let me know when you get some that you can sell and I'll figure out a way to rob a bank or sell my body...lol