19.04.2009

Thorichthys ellioti - Middle sized Cichlids for planted Community Tanks

The wisdom of creation can be recognized since the fish are dumb. What would there be a noise when they would cluck over each egg.

Relations

Thorichthys helleri Subgroup:
T. ellioti, T. callolepsis, T.helleri, T. aureus and T. scolofi

Thorichthys affinis Subgroup:
T. affinis, T.meeki, T.pasionis

Sources

Mexico: Rio Papaloapan system

Water values

pH 7 – 8; °dGH 4 – 11; °KH 5 – 13; 25 – 30° C; Clear freshwater

Size / Sex

The Thorichthys ellioti males are slightly larger than the females and full-grown with approximately 14 cm total length. In addition to the size the females can often be recognized by a black spot in the front of the dorsal fin.

Description

The form and the peaceful nature of the Elliotis are very similar to the South American Eartheater of the genus Geophagus. In contrast to the often subtle colors of the Eartheater Elliotis must not hide with their bright blue points behind the South American Ram cichlid Mikrogeophagus ramirezi.

Keeping

Despite their size Elliotis are relatively peaceful fish and should not be associated with other assertive cichlids from Central America.

Therefore it is quite possible to keep in a 150 cm wide tank several pairs up to 8 fish in a group. Then the cichlids show clearly their natural behavior. Some couples separate themself time and again from the group occupying small territories, where they will spawn soon. The territories are usually defended without any major quarrel only by threats against the other group members. The threats, where often two pairs face each other with opened gills, with their bright and blue dots, swimming back and forth as on a tug of war, are fantastic to view.

With a length of 7 to 9 cm, the fish are sexually mature. For spawning, the animals prefer the angled surfaces of a wood. One of the three adult couples in my tank, almost always care for a clutch or leads juveniles through the aquarium. The larvae hatch after about three days and are then guided through the basin for a few days. Not later than one week, the brood care instinct seems to subside or the larvae find not enough suitable food in the large tank. In any case, no fry comes up in my community tank, even at high feeding from the outside, which is mercy because of the large number of clutchs.

On transfer to a small breeding tank the fry is relatively easy to raise without major losses. It is even not necessarily to feed them with living Artemia.A varied feeding with Spirulina, Cyclop Eeze, Turbatrix aceti and encapsulated Artemia are taken from the first day willingly.

The water values play only a minor role for the Elliotis. Medium hard water with a neutral pH-value and a good water quality can be seen as ideal. The fish also feel well in a slightly acidic (pH 6.5) and relatively soft water (240 uS).

The cichlid seem to eat preferably pellets, flake food, krill and small snails. But all other non-contaminated foods are taken without objections.

Co-housing

Even if the cichlid are fairly peaceful for their size, they should not be associated with shrimp or snails. The Elliotis like to eat Ramshorn snails and Trumpet snails. Amanoshrimps were not eaten as far I could see, but they are hiding all the time. The respect for the cichlid was probably so great that some have even left the pool )-: On the other hand there were no problems with small fish like Serpae Tetra or Rummynose Tetra.

Characins from South America do not fit geographically to the Central American cichlids, but since I have fairly soft water, I once turned a blind eye. The appropriate community, especially when hard water comes from the line, would be, for example, swordtails or platies which come indeed from Mexico. Even among the familie Goodeidae there are many interesting species. Among the characins from Central America, the choice is not particularly large. They are especially of the genus Astanax. The probably best known is Astanax mexicanus.

Finally I would like to point out that I enjoy these Central American cichlid very much and, in my experience, they are very suitable for the planted community tank.

© Andreas Jäger