New LFS just opened near me....

[keane]

I know not too exctiting to many of you but this is the first LFS within about a 20 mile radius that I know of that sells them!!

I went in today and the tanks were absolutely spotless and all the fish looked really well.

Anyways they had Tiger Oscars, Blue Acaras, Green Severums and Lumphead cichlids. I fell in love with them all!!

My questions are......

Firstly, what is a lumphead cichlid? There were two of them hiding at the back of the tank so I souldn't really get a decent look at them so can't really give a decent description .

Second, should I wish to acquire any of these cichlids what size tank would I be looking at for each type. I do intend to do some further research obviously but as you guys are so hot on New Worlds I thought I would hit on here first.

cheers

steve

 

[wrs]

well the only cichlid that I know of that is ever called anything with lumphead in the name is a a Cyrtocara moorii. That is an african cichlid though.

Though prehaps it was a flower horn?

as for the other cichlids
Tiger Oscars, 70 gallons. Same for all Oscars, tigars are just a color morph. these get to be about 12 inches. You may be able to keep two in a 75 gallon, but these are really singel wet pet fish.
Blue Acaras, whch are one of the prettiest new worlds IMO, need a 50 gallon miminum. they get around 8 inches or so. They are not as aggressive as some cichlids, though still territorial.
Green Severums, just like the gold, ned a 40 gallon minimum, though a 55 gallon would be best because of theyre size, being 6 inches is still quite big. Some places say a 30 gallon is all they need, yet I dont aggree with that.

also, you can not keep that many together in tanks as they get big. Go with like a 100 gallon tank so you may be able to have a variety.

 

[freddyk]

what size tank would I be looking at for each type

Are you thinking of one, a pair, or stuffing several single specimens together?

For a monogomous pair you're looking at a 55 gallon for the Acara's and Severums, and 100 gallons or more for the Oscars, which should reach 12" min. and can actually grow as large as 16".

The lumphead, if it is what is more commonly known as the blue dolphin, or more accurately known as the Moorii is a slow moving, peaceful hap from lake Malawi, best kept in harems or colonies and not to be mixed with the above new world species. A 75 gallon is good for a trio - males will reach a foot in length, females won't grow as big.

 

[Jason_S]

I agree on the tank sizes given for oscars and blue acaras, but I really think a great tank for a pair of severums would be a 45 breeder. This tank is 36" x 18" x 17(?)...I don't know exactly how tall it is. Granted it's only 3' long but the extra width would really help the sevs out more than the extra foot of length imo. I've seen a very large severum by itself in a 55 and it looked cramped. These guys can grow larger than 6"...the one I saw was closer to 8" or 9" and that's not counting the tail.

As for the lumpheads....I'll bet they were Steatocrannus casuarius aka the Buffalohead, Lionhead, Lumphead, Humphead or any other name indicating they get a hump on their head. LOL These are a West African fish that usually stick to the bottom of the tank. They don't swim too well so they kind of scoot along the bottom. They grow to around 4-6" and from most of what I've read are relatively peaceful.

 

[keane]

Cheers guys .

Are you thinking of one, a pair, or stuffing several single specimens together?

Yep, was thinking about a pair. Not daft enough to think about sticking a load of different types in!

Was leaning more towards the acaras and the sevs because I had a feeling they don't grow as big as the oscars.

thanks again.

steve

 

[loader]

Hi all
New to this forum, but have been keeping cichlids for a number of years now. The lumpheads could also be african blockheads, latin steatocranus casuarius.

 

[sevs]

The lumpheads are probally Steatocranus casuarius, which are a small brown cichlid from the Zaire River. They get about 4.5" and have a very small swim bladder so they are bottom-dwelling. Thought there are a number of fish that they could be we can't be certian until you describe it to us.