Thoracochromis brauschi questions

[emartin]

I'd like to know general information on keeping these, including diet (would a pure spirulina flake be adequate with weekly feeding of brine or mysis shrimp be fine, or just a good quality pellet (Dainichi Color Supreme) with spirulina, krill, etc in the ingredients?), breeding, tank decor, recommended minimum footprint of a tank for them, and anything else I missed.

I'm considering getting and growing out a group of these later in the Spring and would like as much information as possible, since their appears to be almost no information online about them except for these two articles I found:
http://www.hillcountrycichlidclub.com/articles/t-brauschi.pdf
http://www.hillcountrycichlidclub.com/articles/Thoracochromis%20brauschi.pdf

Thanks,
~Ed

[AlishanAS]

I had a trio of the brauschi circa 2003. They did spawn twice but I did not collect the fry. They were in a 55g tank with the Malawi hap Placidochromis phenochilus. There were no aggression issues.

[emartin]

Any pics?

[AlishanAS]

No pics unless YAP has them somewhere.

[YoungAquaticPhotos]

Sorry Tom no pics of them.

[6stang9]

"Stucture Guy " on cichlidforums.com has had them in the past. Search the word "brauschi" and a bunch of post come up. Hope this helps.

[Mullet]

This is a wonderful fish. They can be a bit nasty at times. There has been an issue with groups being very male heavy. Not great ones, but some of mine. I have a group of 8 coming up now

http://www.laterallinephotography.com/WestAfrica/Albums/Album22/Source/Of.jpg

http://www.laterallinephotography.com/WestAfrica/Albums/Album22/Source/316__51_.jpg

http://www.laterallinephotography.com/WestAfrica/Albums/Album22/Source/316__52_.jpg

[emartin]

From what I hear that happens in hard water, the broods being male heavy. I think Dave Schumacher mentioned on the phone that the reverse happens in soft water, but no one in Texas has soft water.

What can you tell me about them? I definitely want to keep these one day...they certainly appear to be a beautiful fish...

Also, have your Iranocichla bred? And if so, what do you plan on doing with the fry (besides I'm assuming making your own colony or setting someone else up with one...)? I'm personally hoping that fish becomes more widely available in North America over the next decade....same with some Paretroplus species like P. damii...

~Ed

[YoungAquaticPhotos]

That is one great looking fish! Dave as usual great pics!