Altolamprolgis Calvus

[BIG FISH]

I am thinking of starting an Altolamprologis tank. is their anything i should know abou them before i start. I've done a ton of online care searches.
What I'm looking for now is any personal experieces. Ie, food likes and dislike, scaping sugestions as far as scape type and scape materials, i have a 15g aio with a coast to coast overflow fully established that i just need to throw rock in and thin some plants.
Any experiences great or small with altolamps, post them here please:)

[ptran]

How many do you plan to keep? I'm thinking 15 gallon tank may be too small for them.

[Danimal]

I agree with ptran, they may do fine in the beginning but I had two get territorial almost overnight. One chased the other right out of the tank, literally. I had a crispy Calvus next day on my floor. They aren't the cheapest fish either. I originally had three in a 55g and I think my remaining one systematically killed/harassed the other two. One thing about Calvus is that other fish leave them alone once they feel those exposed scales when the Calvus turn sideways while being harassed.


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[BIG FISH]

I have a 45g AIO they will be moved to in the few years it takes the juvie's to grow out...
From what I've read they take sometime to mature. I really want one of each of the Yellow, Chaitika White, and Congo Inkfin Black.
I am not concerned with breeding these....just giving them a long happy life.
I would put them in the 45g now, but it needs a stand, new lighting wired in, and the acrylic buffed before I set it back up.
I have no idea when that all will happen.

[Danimal]

You should be fine. These prehistoric-looking beauties take their sweet time to get large.


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[ptran]

I bought a black calvus at less than 1" from LFS 3 years ago. He grows painfully slow, but finally he is now at 4".

[BIG FISH]

WOW! 3 years to get half to two thrids grown!
I am very excited about this.
I am going rock shopping today i want plenty of caves and smaller territories.
Do they appriciate or need flow like some of the rift lake cichlids? Right now I have a coast to coast over flow back of tank sump setup, with two nano tuners return pumps pushing ~200gph between the both of them. Is this sufficient?

[ptran]

White holey rocks and aragonite sand would be best IMO, since their white color contrast with the comp/calvus. Also provide pH buffer for the water. They love good flow but not too much.

[BIG FISH]

I just bought like 15lbs. of lace rock for the tank and have flourite black sand already.
I like the look of it, need to comppletly scape, replant and take pics.

[ptran]

Post some pics when you are done.

[Danimal]

They love crevices. So even large rocks close to each other gives them enough security. Have fun!!!


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[BIG FISH]

does anyone know a good lfs to buy calvus? I know fIsh gallery is probably the best place to go for them and its probably what ill end up doing.
As far as temp goes, my tank has a stable temp, I believe from the pumps of 82.3 f. is this too high for them?

[ptran]

I recommend ADG for good price and stock.

[ptran]

Optimum temp from 78-80F, but 83 won't bother them that much.

[BIG FISH]

thanks ptran and everyone else who chimed in. I am going to take pics and upload tonight, waiting for the tank to clear after the rescape.
i just bought a biocube 29g i may end up setting it up for them sooner than later.