Ctenochromis Horei

[fischfan13]

A few weeks ago I received a nice group of juvenile Ctenochromis Horei from Wayne. I presently have them in a 40g long, but in a few weeks they will be transferred over to a 125g. The dominant is gorgeous...I mean spectacular!
I have read that some people who have kept these have had multiple deaths because of an over aggressive dominant male.
Any tips?

[Afreakin]

Great fish but highly conspecific aggression.

Limit the # of males and have some dither fish in the tank as well as a few bullies such as neolamps.

I have had a pair for some time now.

[color]

I keep hearing more about this fish? Def let us know future outcomes...Very Intrested.

Those males look like they need lepidiolamprologus or telematchromis as tankmates or like afreakin suggest neolamps for those big bullies.

Good luck!

[fischfan13]

I was going to put a fully grown Sexfasciatus in there along with some small Juli Ornatus that they are in with in the 40g.

[Afreakin]

The only thing that may happen is that breeding activity may be slow.

[fischfan13]

Would a group of small Brichardi help out?
My worry would be that the Brichardi would ultimately take over the tank.

[Afreakin]

Would a group of small Brichardi help out?
My worry would be that the Brichardi would ultimately take over the tank.

I would worry also.

I have one in with my pair and they go head to head a group would be questionable

[fischfan13]

Ok, so Brichardi will go into the 30g!

Whatcha feeding your Horei, Rob?

[Afreakin]

NLS, Extreme flake and Crumble and Cyclopeez 2x a week.

They eat like pigs.

[Aquaman]

I had gotten several wilds from a guy in Florida and for whatever reason, they kind of withered away.

I did separate a male in his own tank and he is doing great. It was too bad, they were starting to spawn. So now I need two or three females.

Scott:)

[fischfan13]

I haven't put my group into the 125g as of yet, but there are two males stepping forward in the 40 long. Both are showing nice colors. Has anyone here had a colony where two males co-existed without killing each other?

[wayne]

Bill, I have a group of 50 with cyps in a 75g, and another group of 20 in with tropheus and clown loaches in 125g. They are about the same size as yours. As far I have not seen any aggression issues.

[Artie]

Wayne, Save me two females. I'm down to one male !!:asthanos: :-(

[AMBUSHPREDATOR]

Who couldn't use two or three females ????:1devil:

[fischfan13]

I have a holding female...
I HAVE A HOLDING FEMALE!!!!!!:dance:

[emartin]

I have a holding female...
I HAVE A HOLDING FEMALE!!!!!!:dance:
pics of the males and holding female?

[fischfan13]

pics of the males and holding female?

They're camera shy...:shy:

Actually once I get Chad (cwnaturescapes) over here he will take pics.
The females is not even 2".

[Afreakin]

I just moved my pair to a 29 at work. I did a water change and the next day I came in and watched them breed in a little pit made by the male. Very cool to see. The female drops 3 - 4 eggs at a time and quickly picks them up. It was a great morning.

[AMBUSHPREDATOR]

Bring on the multipunctatus.

[bovsbaitboxes]

I have a group of 8 about 1 1/2 to 2 inches putting them in a bigger tank (to grow out) and then adding my group of multi cats hope this works John

[fischfan13]

Bring on the multipunctatus.

Well, since DJRansome has my original clan (Plus a few with a trade from Misterted) I will have to buy a group.
I will probably do this when we have our Atlantis Trip...uh oh, did I let the cat out of the bag.:dopey:

[fischfan13]

C Horei were placed in the 125g tonight.
Interesting observations...

Dominant male chases the sub-dominant around quite a bit. He stops the chasing if the entire group is swimming together.
Sub-Dominant male was looking nice until he met up with my Blue Sexfasciatus, who is MUCH larger than he.
The neatest thing is watching the group sift thru the sand for snails.

They are also being housed with a group of Juli Ornatus.

[Afreakin]

"Looking for snails"

That is interesting.

[fischfan13]

MTS that came with the sand from Imperialfish.

[Afreakin]

Like my Great Grandmother said "Better you than me" Bill.

[fischfan13]

Rob, the snails are gone...now we know what we can buy Artie.

OK, so I need the help of the Tang people...
125g
6 C Horei juvies
7 J Ornatus juvies
1 N Sexfasciatus "Blue" adult

What would you add next?

[fischfan13]

Any ideas?
Opinions?

Cyps?

There is a lot of room in that 125g.

[wayne]

Bill, I'm keeping 40 C. Horei (same size as yours) with trophs in one 125g tank. It has been three months and I've obseved no obvious issues. They completely ignore each other.
In the mixed tang 125g, I do have 15 kitumba cyps along with 6 full grown Horei and various neolamps. However, as Horei don't both other fish except their own - similar to tropheus, I am not sure cyps is a good choice tank mate because of differences in behavior.

[AMBUSHPREDATOR]

Cyps males are incredibly tough once they get to about 3.5" and have observed them diving straight down on 8" fronts and other much larger fish. It's the females which never really get agressive and seem to stay fragile. I guess you can't take the lake out of the fish because in the lake males would have defend a territory , and the females would stay in huge shoals safe in number's. I have however bred them in such a tank with success, it just takes alittle more attention to the fem's condition for success.

[fischfan13]

Some Horei pics...

Young male in breeding dress
http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y216/Fischfan13/100_0057.jpg
Male and female
http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y216/Fischfan13/100e0072.jpg
Female with a mouthful of eggs
http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y216/Fischfan13/100_0065.jpg

[AlishanAS]

Bill - time to join NJAS and start on those BAP points!

[YoungAquaticPhotos]

Congrats Bill!

[fischfan13]

The holding female seems to be horrified all of the time. She has taken up in the rockwork that the dominant male Juli Ornatus resides. I have decided to let her be, as I am worried if I pull her that, and then she comes back, she will be horribly bullied by the dominant Horei male.

[Afreakin]

The holding female seems to be horrified all of the time. She has taken up in the rockwork that the dominant male Juli Ornatus resides. I have decided to let her be, as I am worried if I pull her that, and then she comes back, she will be horribly bullied by the dominant Horei male.


Put her in a breeder box. I sold my pair with the female holding and she still had the fry when I gave them to the person that bought them.

[AMBUSHPREDATOR]

I hate when I get a group of young fish and have to wait two week's for a spawn. How did you bear it Bill !:mad:

[fischfan13]

Actually this was her second spawn...the first she spit out during the move from the 40g to the 125g.

[AMBUSHPREDATOR]

:shocked::1devil::shocked:

[fischfan13]

Still looking for ideas for tankmates...

125g
6 C Horei (juvies)
7 J Ornatus (juvies)
1 N Sexfasciatus (fully grown)

Future:
Syno Multipunctatus

What else?

I am getting a few absolutely stunning N Brichardi "Red Spot" in two weeks, but I want to place them into their own tank.
I have thought about Erets but as of right now every fish inhabits the bottom.
Cyps seems to be the obvious choice.
Any ideas?

[Longstocking]

When I was breeding/keeping these guys this is what I found worked ok:

Limnotilapia dardenni
Tropheus
Peacocks
Gobies
Synodontis multipuctatus
Petrochromis
Simochromis


Basically... anything that is a mouth brooder that isn't a feather fin or sand sifter worked. Now... I would think some feather fins might even work out with them... I didn't try it though as I don't really like to put anything with feather fins other than Paracyprichromis.

If this was my tank.... I think I'd do a bunch of Tropheus.

[fischfan13]

If this was my tank.... I think I'd do a bunch of Tropheus.

Sarah, would you do the Tropheus with the Horei, Juli's and the single Sexfaciatus in it?

[Longstocking]

6 foot tank right?

If so, yes. Should work out fine.

[fischfan13]

Hmmmm, something new to think about.
Thanks.

[Longstocking]

Your welcome. Probably one of the most under rated fish from Lake tang. The markings on the males are outstanding ! Neat fish that doesn't bother other fish. Has a reputation for being overly aggressive..... I found this claim not to be true.

[fischfan13]

Bill, I have a group of 50 with cyps in a 75g, and another group of 20 in with tropheus and clown loaches in 125g. They are about the same size as yours. As far I have not seen any aggression issues.

Wayne, I just tried Cyps...and the dominant Horei had an expensive breakfast.
:disgust:

[wayne]

Ouch! Sorry to hear Bill.

Perhaps my Cyps grew up with the Horei... Horei are the Mbuna in tangs. But in IME:erm: they don't seem to bother other tangs as long as sizes are compatible.

[misterted]

Very nice looking fish. Makes me think.
Oh-no, stop it Ted, get it out of your head.

[fischfan13]

<little voice speaking to Ted>

Horei and Syno Multipunctatus...
Horei and Multipunctatus...

[misterted]

<Little Voice inside Ted's head responding>
Where would you keep them? Where would you keep them?
You only have one tank now.

Back to normal conversation:
Fisch, I like my title- Krazy265GallonKeeper.....Thanks.

[fischfan13]

Today is day 33 of the female holding. I left her in the tank (I am not looking to collect fry) and her throat is huge. She is being left alone (surprise) by the male because of an unorthodox move that I made...
I had a group of 6 juvenile Fossochromis Rostratus growing out in a 40g long, and they were starting to add some size. I added them into the 125g and they swim in a school...with the Horei!!!
I am waiting to go to Atlantis to add some Tropheus (Fossie's might come out then) and some Syno Multi's.

[YoungAquaticPhotos]

Strip her Bill and give me some fry! :colrface:

[AlishanAS]

Bill - Day 33? - strip her before she spits into the tank and the rest of the fish have a nice breakfast.

These could be you first NJAS BAP points when you grow them out!

[Artie]

33 days?????????? & her mouth is bulging................ I bet the fry have fry in their mouths !!!!!!!!!:bandit::bandit::bandit:

[bovsbaitboxes]

Bill strip her I will grow them out looking for some more of them let me know John

[fischfan13]

Mother has been pulled, but not stripped.

[fischfan13]

I just read an interesting article about the holding time for some species, including C Horei. Seems that predators add time to holding periods.

http://behav.zoology.unibe.ch/sysuif/uploads/files/esh/pdf_online/taborskym/Taborsky_AnimBehav2004.pdf

[bovsbaitboxes]

how the hell did you read that I see a big blur:grhair:

[AlishanAS]

how the hell did you read that I see a big blur:grhair:

Put on your reading glasses John! lol

[bovsbaitboxes]

oh I forgot to take off the beer goggles:smilewinkgrin:

[Afreakin]

Don't forget that Horei females let their fry out to eat and then suck them back in when danger comes. That isn't the case with all mouth brooders.

[fischfan13]

Thanks Rob.
She was really easy to scoop out of the 125g. My thinking was that if I stripped her and set her back into the 125g she would be harassed immediately by the dominant male.

[Afreakin]

Bill, from my experience if you have a fish that battles with the male Horei the female will stay by those other fish to avoid being harrassed. This was the case with my pair anyway. :bandit:

[AlishanAS]

Strip that female Bill. We need some well fed juveniles for the 04-04 auction! :)

[fischfan13]

Nine fry swimming and eating and looking good.
Another female is now holding, but the female who I stripped of her fry is now in another tank, as one of the males beat her badly.

[Spooky_Fish]

We need some well fed juveniles for the 04-04 auction! :)
lol, that's already taken care of. I have 10+ tanks with Horei juvies 1" to 1-1/2". Many of the males are already coloring up. I'm going to bring a few bags to all the auctions I go to...and I plan to go to pretty much every auction. Expect some nice bags of Horei to be donated at Thursdays benefit auction!

Wayne was kind enough to donate his Horei to me. I got his breeders in a 650gal indoor pond and 100+ juvies that were already nice size when he gave them to me. Wayne ROCKS, thanks again Wayne!

[fischfan13]

Very nice, Spooky.
Very generous indeed.

[Artie]

I have Horeii in 2 different tanks thanks to Wayne. In my 65 the group seems to be doing well. In my 20 long I awoke to 4 dead one's. Looked like 2 males & 2 femaLES. i COULDN'T REALLY TELL BUT 2 FISH HAD THEIR STOMACHS RIPPED OUT !!!!!!!!!!! I used to be good about keeping fish alive for a very long time. Good thing I have generous friends !!!!!!!!!!:colrface:

[joe_jaskot]

The last time Artie recommended a c. horei (cheap horei) ....well that's another story. Let's get back to the fish.

[Artie]

[QUOTE=joe_jaskot;7005]The last time Artie recommended a c. horei (cheap horei) ....well that's another story. Let's get back to the fish.[/QUOTE

:love::love::love: I still might bother you to pick up those females if you don't mind !!!!!!!!!!!!! let me know if it's a real pain &( and if it's not) whether the norwalk auction or 28th at atlantis is better. Thank you my dear !!!!!!!!!

[Spooky_Fish]

Very nice, Spooky.
Very generous indeed.
The generosity of this community has been overwhelming!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
About 25% of all my fish are donations.
Seems every time someone shows up to tour the place they show up with buckets of fish for me. A couple folks that have not been here yet sent fish up when people local to them were visiting me.
It's really overwhelming to receive so much, especially when none of the fish were even asked for. We really have a wonderful community, and the absolute best mascot!!! (Artie)
I need to start a thread about this, just been procrastinating until I have good pictures of all the species...I don't want anyone to feel dissed.

I still might bother you to pick up those females if you don't mind
Are you asking Joe here?
I got plenty of horei if you want some Artie.

[bovsbaitboxes]

Spooky how about a list of what your keeping when you get a chance see ya at the auction John

[Artie]

Thanks Mike. Two more dead this am but i'm probably just staying with one male in each tank. At least that's what the LAW OF SURVIVAL OF THE FITTEST seems to mean !!!!!!!!!!:erm::erm::erm:

[fischfan13]

Very interesting things have developed over the past week with the Horei.
In the 125g there have been six of the Horei...3m/3f. Originally the dominant male chased all of the other Horei. The majority of the abuse was laid down on the "#2" Horei male. He rarely ever even paid attention to the "#3" male. With the female just giving up her fry last week she was brought back into the tank and received a bit of a beating...and what I witnessed was that she was getting it from the "#3" male. I had to pull her out to save her. Now the "#3" male is beating up the larger "#2" male. Thru all of this the dominant male does not even bother the "#3".
Now I would like opinions...
Of the 9 fry that I have growing out I was thinking about keeping, and growing out, three of them, and once they are larger placing them in with the sub-adults. (The other six are being grown out for the auction)
Any other ideas?

[AlishanAS]

Submit 6 young to NJAS and get started with BAP Bill.
You have a long way to go to catch up.....LOL

[YoungAquaticPhotos]

Yes Bill then I can bid on them and win!

[fischfan13]

Really frustrating last two days with the Horei.
On one hand the fry are growing nicely, on the other hand I had to pull one of the males from the 125g...he was beaten.
There are now 4 (2m/2f) in the 125g and 2 (1m/1f) recovering from their beatings in a 40g.

[fischfan13]

OK, so I pull the female after her beating. I pull one of the males after his beating. I place them in a 40 long that is heavy with rockwork and give them a really nice water change and add some salt to the tank. I get home today, put the light on and the male has beaten the female to death.

[YoungAquaticPhotos]

Bill you might as well give them to me for my 265. If they still get beat up in there then there is no hope for them! I feel your pain!

[fischfan13]

The dominant male is absolutely beautiful and there is a female holding, but I am very frustrated by these fish.
It's almost a love hate relationship.

[Afreakin]

You should put them with other Neolamps that will keep them in line. Forgive me if I missed that you already do that in prior posts, I'm getting old. LOL

I think it would help keep the males from running the tank mad.

[fiupntballr]

I am so excited I stumbled onto this thread. My name is Emilio and I live down in NC. I have been looking to get some Ctenochromis horei for about a year now with zero luck. I have had the pleasure of keeping these guys and breeding them successfully in the past and its kind of surprising to hear some of your guys experience. I was able to purchase 4 1m/3f from an importer in Gainesville, FL around 1996 which I kept in a 30 gallon aquarium that I had with a pair of mustax as tank mates. I didnt know much about them at the time and figured by their size the 30 gallon would be ok. In typical tang fashion the male and mustax would go at it constantly but other than that the horei females were fry producing machines. A matter of fact they were my first mouthbrooders that I saw spawn in front of me. When I ended up moving out a year later I gave them to a friend of mine that kept many cichlids. Its kind of weird to hear all the trouble they are causing in these massive tanks. Sometimes a bit of naivety goes a long way in fish keeping. I would be most grateful if you guys could point me in the right direction in acquiring another group of these guys.

[fischfan13]

I know of two people who have them.
Sarah (Longstocking) and Mike (spooky_fish).
Mike is in NY and Sarah is in Md.

[Longstocking]

I don't have them any more..

But I think Matt (dogofwar) does. He is in MD.

[fiupntballr]

Great I will send out some message!!:becky::becky::becky: