Gouken
Fish Fanatic
Ive decided to start a journal of my fish so that others in the future would find helpful if they intend on keeping and breeding these fish.
Some basic info on them.
Scientific Name: Haplochromis sp. "Thick Skin"
Common Name(s): Hap sp. 44, Hap sp. ''Red Tail'', Obliquidens
Geo. Origin: North and eastern shorelines of Lake Victoria
Habitat: Shallow sandy habitat near shore
Diet: Carnivore
Gender Differences: Dimorphic
Breeding: Maternal Mouthbrooder
Temperament: Aggressive
Conspecific Temperament: Aggressive
Maximum Size: 5"
Temperature: 78-82°F
pH: 7.2-8.6
Water Hardness: Hard
This species is considered by many experts to be considered extinct in the wild, due to the addition of Nile Perch into their native habitat.
Since I have gotten them I have watched them change from being lightly colored to establishing a hierarchy between the males as well as the females.
The Males from what I have observed so far is that there is one dominant male that will not allow the other to color up and he will continuously show his best colors. When the sub dominant male does color up the dominate male is quick to make him stop showing his colors. He will not allow him to attempt to spawn with any of the females in the tank. And some of the females will chase him off.
The females form the same type of dominance but in a different way. From what I have observed so far is that there are 3 dominant females who choose a territory and aggressively defend it from any intruders. They usually end up showing off their colors as well. When they defend their territory from another female the fights can get pretty serious as I would say that can end up in the females locking lips. Once the dominant male sees this he is quick to get between them and chase them to their territories. I guess in some way he likes to keep the peace some what. He has not showed interest in the less dominant females as of yet, maybe they are not mature enough for breeding yet I'm not sure.
Breeding from what i have seen is very interesting the males will color up brightly and "dance" around a female to get her attention, if she accepts they will both dance around each other and will then start to mate. The female will lay an egg one at a time and put it in her mouth while the male will lay on his side and she will nip at hit genitalia causing him to release sperm. Once she has them federalized she will keep them in her mouth and care for them for about 2 weeks before she spits out the fry. I currently have two females that are carrying right now and will add more information on them as time goes by. From what I have observed so far is that they will not eat any food what so ever. It is a good thing to move them to separate tanks during this time so that they are not to stressed out.
More to come later.
Some basic info on them.
Scientific Name: Haplochromis sp. "Thick Skin"
Common Name(s): Hap sp. 44, Hap sp. ''Red Tail'', Obliquidens
Geo. Origin: North and eastern shorelines of Lake Victoria
Habitat: Shallow sandy habitat near shore
Diet: Carnivore
Gender Differences: Dimorphic
Breeding: Maternal Mouthbrooder
Temperament: Aggressive
Conspecific Temperament: Aggressive
Maximum Size: 5"
Temperature: 78-82°F
pH: 7.2-8.6
Water Hardness: Hard
This species is considered by many experts to be considered extinct in the wild, due to the addition of Nile Perch into their native habitat.
Since I have gotten them I have watched them change from being lightly colored to establishing a hierarchy between the males as well as the females.
The Males from what I have observed so far is that there is one dominant male that will not allow the other to color up and he will continuously show his best colors. When the sub dominant male does color up the dominate male is quick to make him stop showing his colors. He will not allow him to attempt to spawn with any of the females in the tank. And some of the females will chase him off.
The females form the same type of dominance but in a different way. From what I have observed so far is that there are 3 dominant females who choose a territory and aggressively defend it from any intruders. They usually end up showing off their colors as well. When they defend their territory from another female the fights can get pretty serious as I would say that can end up in the females locking lips. Once the dominant male sees this he is quick to get between them and chase them to their territories. I guess in some way he likes to keep the peace some what. He has not showed interest in the less dominant females as of yet, maybe they are not mature enough for breeding yet I'm not sure.
Breeding from what i have seen is very interesting the males will color up brightly and "dance" around a female to get her attention, if she accepts they will both dance around each other and will then start to mate. The female will lay an egg one at a time and put it in her mouth while the male will lay on his side and she will nip at hit genitalia causing him to release sperm. Once she has them federalized she will keep them in her mouth and care for them for about 2 weeks before she spits out the fry. I currently have two females that are carrying right now and will add more information on them as time goes by. From what I have observed so far is that they will not eat any food what so ever. It is a good thing to move them to separate tanks during this time so that they are not to stressed out.
More to come later.
" they spotted me
