Dwarf Cichlids ... South American or African??

Ok ... since we are al least 3 people looking for dwarf cichlids. @Slojo @llewellynkearney . I have a question for all. Which dwarf's would you like to see more in the trade. I am sure if we can get a good response we might get some sponser or some other way to getting the fish imported. With this said.... Lets name them by South American or African (Anywhere execpt the great lakes) ...

I for one LOVE African westies not just P. Pulchers. (PS. there is tonnes that the trade do not let use know of and they are very nice.) I know @Rob have some and someone in Bloemfontein.

So what do you want???

 

ok i have some P. Pulchers, but looking for apistogrammas(spelling). i have a young pair of apisto cackotuis(spelling) but want more as i am in the process of setting up a breeding setup just for dwarf cichlids to try and get them more availible

 

oh sorry and i have 3 bolivian rams

 

I am looking for South American dwarfs,but either offspring from a pair that has raised their fry in someones tank.That is why i said no sponsors as the imported fish cannot takecare of their fry,or it is difficult to get a pair to raise their fry.I am loking for a breeding pair of kribs as well since they have always been one of my favs although they are not from S America.

Sent from my GT-I9500 using Tapatalk now Free

 

@Slojo unfortunately i can only help you with a male krib raised by his dad.

 

Thanx but Bloem is a bit too far to drive for one krib.

 

I have my eye on african dwarfs as this has been lost to the world...

 

From time to time these Pelvicachromis roloffi does surface in the trade as Kribs.

 

@Slojo ... PLEASE if you see these guys anywhere ... phone me ... PM .... anything .. get hold of me and tell me where I can get them.

 

@ROEKSTE -Ditto

 

Hi guys! I love Apistogrammas these are one of the large groups of dwarf south american cichlids, I Just got back from the Rio Tigre and got to see and collect these fish in there natural habitat which was amazing. I have quiet a few years experience with this genus both doing research and keeping them, if any one needs advice on tank set up care and breading. A. cacutoides is a good hardy species and a good bigger species. if you can get hold of A. borelli or A. agassizii you will not be disappointed. there colours are stunning! there are 30+ different described species with many "morphs". Another group of dwarf cichlids are the Mikrogeophagus genus(Microgeophagus is also used but, taxonomically it was used after mikrogeophagus was used in a description so I use this spelling). It is also a small genus.most of the fish we see are Mikrogeophagus ramrezi (Bolivian Rams and some of thier colour morphs) and some times M. altispinosa. Rams are said to be easy fish to keep but They are Not for Beginners, this fish demands the best water quality and fairly high temperatures which most other fish can not handle.

Other South American Dwarf speies are in the genus Laetcara, Apistogrammoides, Taenicara, Crenicara, Dicrossus and Nannacara to mention a few. Dwarf cichlid taxonomy is constantly in flux and depends who you speak to as some taxonomist will recognize one group as dwarf cichlids and not others. African dwarf cichlids are mainly Pelvicachromis (pulcher,roloffi,subocellatus,taenitus) and Nanochromis(parilus,transvestitus) all though there are other genera as well. One species which I think should be called a dwarf african cichlid is Psuedocrenilabrus philander (Egyptian mouthbrooder) as I have collected many specimens from rivers in Zimbabwe and they do not grow very large (this is just my opinion not scientific fact).

Anyway keeping Apistos and other dwarfs is very rewarding. They are easy to spawn and show a range of behavior and color changes depending on there mood which can change in an instant.

I have access to a few of the more difficult to obtain strains of Apisto if any one is interested let me know and I will send you a list of what I have, some of the fish are F1 generation, and if I can i maybe able to give away freebies!

 

Ps if anyone wants to see the natural habitat of these fish i have some pics, I can post them if you guys want

 

Hi please do post some of those pics would love that.

 

Howzit @ApistoYasi - please note that Egyptian Mouthbrooders are on the blacklist for the country as a potential invasive species.
Take care with them if you're keeping them and especially if you're breeding them.

That said, please do post pictures of their natural habitat - could be interesting.

 

pm sent

 

@ApistoYasi - please update your location. Thank you for the info. As for the African Dwarfs there is some more species aswell that is not really known to the world. I will update tonight when I am home on the genus i am ref to. Do you have some Apisto's?? Please add some pic's.

 

@ApistoYasi

Yipppeee! Someone with Apistos! They are really very hard little fish to track down. With ROEKSTE on this one, please post some photos!

 

the genera i mentioned were the more common of the dwarfs there are others which i didn't mention, @jack only think mouth brooders should be counted as dwarfs never said any one should keep them or that i'm am keeping them at the moment:huh:. I have seen them(mouth brooders) in the Zambezi system in Zimbabwe. The natural habitat i mention are for most of the Dwarf South Americans :bigsmile:

 

Lol this might seem like a dumb question but do you guys want pictures of live fish or the stuff i use for systematics? The ones for systematics give a better idea of what the look like and thier colours, as we do not store them in formalin any more which used to remove most of the colour. I can post both were I have them if that will help?

 

did you ever come across these on your travels?