Thoracochromis Brauschi

[QuarterMiler]

Anyone keeping them? I've got a group of 6, and it looks like I've got at least 4m/2f as of right now. I started with one male for sure, and it seem a new one colors up every 2 weeks! I'm growing them out a bit in a 33 long with some yellow labs, but with 4 males, there is starting to be some squabbling. I'm considering moving them to a 75 with a group of 12 WC Elongatus. My thinking is to move them all in the hopes the Elongatus will help keep them more occupied. Or should I move 1 male and the 2 suspected females? Thoughts?

[twong727]

Anyone keeping them? I've got a group of 6, and it looks like I've got at least 4m/2f as of right now. I started with one male for sure, and it seem a new one colors up every 2 weeks! I'm growing them out a bit in a 33 long with some yellow labs, but with 4 males, there is starting to be some squabbling. I'm considering moving them to a 75 with a group of 12 WC Elongatus. My thinking is to move them all in the hopes the Elongatus will help keep them more occupied. Or should I move 1 male and the 2 suspected females? Thoughts?

I google some images of this fish and they are such a beauty! I wonder where you got them, just curious...

[dogofwar]

I have what I think are 2M and 2F...from Dave's Rare Fish.

In my experience, only one male will color up at a time. They're pretty rough on each other, especially males (I moved my bigger male to another tank, where he's beaten on some grow-out Central Americans).

I wouldn't try to keep them with mbuna (if those are the elongatus to which you refer). Hemichromis elongatus would also be a bad idea.

Matt

I google some images of this fish and they are such a beauty! I wonder where you got them, just curious...

[QuarterMiler]

I got mine from Dave as well. Initially, only the largest was colored up. But now there are at least 2 if not 3 colored up, with a 4th showing hints of it also. There is some lip locking going on, along with what seems to be positioning for territory. I've read in a few places(and spoke to Dave about it also when I bought), that they can be kept with mbuna. I'm sure they'd have to be of the more boisterous variety, though. That was my thinking with the Elongatus. I'm just not sure if I should split them up or keep them together. I also have a 125, but that already has 5 species and a group of synos. Not sure if a 6th is a good idea.

[leffler817]

Hopefully Matt can get them to breed and produce some females! I have 7, from Dave also, and it seems like I have 5m maybe more. :( I was hoping to get a better split but whatever. Keep mine with a bunch of Tangs. They don't seem to bother anyone even my shellies! There are always 3 with lots of color. I've heard you can keep them with Vics as they have similar aggression levels. Greg Steeves successfully kept a group with Cyps in a 55gal. You can google his article about that experiment. Its a hot fish!

[QuarterMiler]

What size tank are you keeping yours in leffler? With 5 males, it's hard to believe there aren't some big battles on the horizon!

[leffler817]

I got them in an 80 with lots of rocks and hiding spaces. Three of them are bigger, around 3" +/-. Two of them have gone at it a few times but no one has been beaten up yet. The other 4 are 2" or less. They really haven't displayed colors the way the others have, so I'm not 100% sure of their sex. I'm expecting the battles and have extra tanks ready but nothing yet.

[QuarterMiler]

Mine are all about 2"+. I've moved 2 of the males to a 75 with the Elongatus, so I can see how the remaining 4 get along. Hopefully those are 2m/2f but I'm not 100% convinced of that yet. I still might move them all to make them more comfortable, being the 75 is roomier, has much more rock, and has a sand bottom. The 33 long is bare bottomed. The Elongatus seem like they can hold their own, so I'm hoping they can handle the Brauschi.

[dogofwar]

I'd worry more about the brauchi than the elongatus...

I wonder if the abundance of males is caused by spawning water conditions...or purchaser before us pre-selecting...

Matt

Mine are all about 2"+. I've moved 2 of the males to a 75 with the Elongatus, so I can see how the remaining 4 get along. Hopefully those are 2m/2f but I'm not 100% convinced of that yet. I still might move them all to make them more comfortable, being the 75 is roomier, has much more rock, and has a sand bottom. The 33 long is bare bottomed. The Elongatus seem like they can hold their own, so I'm hoping they can handle the Brauschi.

[Heyguy74]

Nice looking fish.

[QuarterMiler]

I'd worry more about the brauchi than the elongatus...

I wonder if the abundance of males is caused by spawning water conditions...or purchaser before us pre-selecting...

Matt

Are you saying the Brauschi would be aggressive towards the Elongatus? Or worry about the Brauschi being bullied?

I've read about harder water creating male heavy groups of offspring. As far as someone else pre-selecting, I'd say no because when I got mine, there really was only one definate male(which I requested). The others didn't show even a hint of male coloring until later, and I'm really hoping I didn't get all males!

[leffler817]

I think Matt is saying the Brauschi will get picked on(?). In my tank the don't pick on anyone but themselves. I have several Brevis in there that can't get the Brauschi's attention. There are larger trophs and comps that ignore them too.

I heard the same thing about water chemistry leading to more males or females. I know of us three and a CCA member who ordered Brauschi from Dave's in June. Idk if anyone selected all the females. I know, I got the last 7 from the batch, and I too hope they are not all males!

[QuarterMiler]

I can always move them back if that's the case. I'll wait to get clarification from Matt. I'm afraid to give them their own tank though because of what I've read about their aggression towards each other. I originally tried to get some during the group buy here, but I had to wait until last minute and they were gone. I think you got the last group because Dave said I missed by a day! I got mine a few weeks later.

Interestingly enough, there seemed to be a coup last night amongst the Elongatus. The #2(out of 3 males) who was usually barely colored, apparently decided he wanted to be #1. He is fully colored now, and the formerly dominant one was behind the heater with some tattered fins. I've moved him to a different tank to recover. I can't imagine that 2 Brauschi would have caused this change, but stranger things have happened I guess.

[leffler817]

That's Funny! I can't imagine the Brauschi doing that either. lol.

When I first got my Brauschi I split them up based on size into two tanks. As the smaller ones got bigger, I added them together. I was going to order more from Dave to bring to ACA but those were smaller and none were showing any color either way. Dave told me my plan was wrong and that they'd be best left to grow up together. He said adding males would not work at all. I rearranged all the tanks and they have been together since. IDK! Its an experiment.

[QuarterMiler]

Yes, it's definitely an experiment! I've got a million different ideas rolling around in my head at the moment! Sand/no sand, by themselves/with others, paper or plastic! I'm losing it!:runnningaround:

[dogofwar]

To clarify: Elongatus can be some wicked aggressive fish...so I'd worry about them killing the Thorachromis...maybe not now...but when they decide to spawn...

I've had good luck keeping Vics (and Vic-types) with Barombi-Mbo fish (basically Tilapia) and other West Africans. I have not had good luck keeping them with Rift Lake fish...especially if I want them to breed.

Matt

[QuarterMiler]

To clarify: Elongatus can be some wicked aggressive fish...so I'd worry about them killing the Thorachromis...maybe not now...but when they decide to spawn...

I've had good luck keeping Vics (and Vic-types) with Barombi-Mbo fish (basically Tilapia) and other West Africans. I have not had good luck keeping them with Rift Lake fish...especially if I want them to breed.

Matt

Thanks Matt!

I knew the elongatus were aggressive, but maybe too much so. I found out how hard they can be on each other(see my last post). Plus they spawn like mad constantly. The Brauschi seemed ok with the labs though. What are your thoughts on keeping them by themselves?

[dogofwar]

I'm debating what to do with mine...because they're definitely picking on the fish that they're in with (grow out sajicas and texas cichlids).

I'm thinking of putting the group - minus the biggest, angriest male - in with a group of Hap sp. "ruby green" that's a little smaller.

I like using a couple of 4-5 pieces of 1" PVC pipe rubber-banded together as breeding condos for Vics. Seems to give them places to shelter while holding or otherwise trying to hide from a male...

Matt

[QuarterMiler]

Thanks again Matt. Like you, I'm still kicking around ideas. I'm even wondering how they'd fare in a 4' tank with 4 T. Otostigma. Or some Acei. I like the PVC pipe idea too. I think we're all hoping for at least one spawn!

[dogofwar]

I think that acei would be good tank mates.

I think that the Thorachromis would bite the T. otostigma.

I'll bet that some barbs would be good tankmates...

Matt

Thanks again Matt. Like you, I'm still kicking around ideas. I'm even wondering how they'd fare in a 4' tank with 4 T. Otostigma. Or some Acei. I like the PVC pipe idea too. I think we're all hoping for at least one spawn!

[QuarterMiler]

The more I think about it, I lean towards the acei as well. I think I am going to try that, it will be an easy switch.

[leffler817]

I think Acei and Brauschi would make a nice color combo! :beerchug: