Goliad, Texas 77963
Fax 361.645.2258
Email goliadfish@goliadfarms.com
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Goliad Farms, INC. | 8497 FM 622 Goliad, Texas 77963 |
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361.645.2252 Fax 361.645.2258 Email goliadfish@goliadfarms.com |
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Contents
Fish
Cichlids |
Iodotropheus sprengerae Iodotropheus sprengerae is a mbuna cichlid from Lake Malawi in eastern Africa. (Click here for a general discussion of cichlids.) It is also known by the following names: Rusty Cichlid. Our strain is from a commercial source. We acquired the strain in 2003.Size: Males often reach 12.5cm (5 in.). Females are somewhat smaller. Description: Males have purple flanks on a brown background tending toward tan on the ventral area. Their unpaired fins often have an orange tinge. Females are dark brown also tending toward tan on the ventral surface.Environment: This fish tolerates pHs from 6.5 to 8.0 while preferring pHs at near the higher end (basic) of this range. Water hardness is not critical, but it prefers very hard water. Optimum temperature ranges from 20-30°C (68-85°F). Geographic Range: This fish hails from Lake Malawi in eastern Africa.Temperament: This fish is not aggressive for a cichlid, but males can be quarrelsome among themselves. They are active fish, constantly interacting with other fish. It can be kept either in a large single species aquarium or in active community aquaria with fish with similar behavior and requirements. Feeding: Feeding is simple with the fish taking prepared foods as well as live and frozen foods. Periodic feedings of Daphnia or other live foods are helpful in color maintenance, general health and breeding.Spawning: We maintain breeding colonies of this cichlid consisting of a single male with six to twenty females. This cichlid is a maternal mouth brooder. At 30°C (85°F), females carry eggs and fry for about 21 days. Broods are smaller than those of most cichlids, but can be as large as 40 fry for mature females. We do not strip eggs or fry, but allow the females to carry them to natural release. The fry are large and can eat commercial food, Daphnia, brine shrimp nauplii, etc. immediately. The fry are rarely bothered by the adults, but in our system, fry are provided abundant cover just to be sure.
Additional
Information: For more information about this species, click on one of
the following article names: Additional
Photos: For additional photos of this species, click on one of the
following photo locations: Page last modified December 27, 2007. |
