Need Information On Lethrinops sp. "Red Cap" (Itungi)

[tturner8]

Hi, I need information on how to care for or breed Lethrinops sp. "Red Cap" (Itungi). Information on these cichlids are limited. If there are any breeders or owners of this fish please provide me with any information that you may have.

Questions:

1. What is the minimal size tank for adults?
2. What is the minimal size tank for frys?
3. What are the water requirements?
4. What to feed to increase growth and breeding?
5. What is male and female ratio?
6. What other cichlids live well with this species?
7. Should they be in there own tank with no other cichlids?

[color]

From my experience breeding W/C lethrinops albus kande and TR Lethrinops red cap. I had a group of 2 W/Cmales and 4 W/Cfemales. The females ended up killing each other till there where two left. The two males got a long a little chasing but that was it. THey also hide in the sand if being harrassed. I had them in a 55gallon by themselves. Also bred in a 125gallon community with other tangs(neolamps) and I never test my water so I can't tell you where my parameters are.lol.............

You can grow out fry in 20gallons....
Feed them a good flake food or do what I do and mix it all up So they get the best of everything!!!!


Good luck with them!

[fischfan13]

The few that I kept thrived in a four foot aquarium with sand. Sand, IMO, is a must as they are constantly sifting thru the sand for food.
Water quality is ten times more important than their food type. A really good quality flake or sinking pellet would be fine. They seems to absolutely love water changes, so I would do several per week (2 or 3 @ 10% each). I have read that some people will do changes as much as 50% at a shot...and I would bet that the Lethrinops would absolutely thrive with this.
I would just try to keep them at a stable ph and not play chemist...of course like any Malawi 7.6 - 8.2 would be perfect (unless they are Wild Caught).
Most people do the 1m/2f, but I would try and get 2m/3f...I like the extra male just in case the dominant male shows any aggression, this would be thrown off to the other male instead of one of the gals.
As for other cichlids...
NO Mbuna.
Maybe a few Copadichromis or Protomelas.
Lethrinops mainly stay at the bottom of the tank, so if you add a tankmate it should be a fish that they do not have to compete with for food.

[joe_jaskot]

http://www.nycichlidforum.com/post111991.html?hilit=#p111991 Hope this answers your questions.