Guaptes: Loisellei

[LIVEBait]

Loisellei

I saw a few specimens at a LFS yesterday...I was told it is a relative of the Managuense-Jaguar Sicklids.

Anyone have experience with this fish?
Max-size for an adult?
Temperment?

Would I be able to house 1 or a breeding pair in a 48x16x18 55gal?

I'm having a tuff time finding info on the net as most sites on this fish are in a different language So any info is greatly appreciated.

 

[BLOCKA]

Same family yes but id say closer to a tiger motoguense that managuense..they are pretty aggressive for what they are same temperment as mangs if not meaner.....nice fish and a small pair will be ok for a whiel but will have to update tank in a couple years and its Cichlids not sicklids...lol

 

[EX-AmP]

depends on your dimensions. red tigers ime are more agressive and a lot more expensive here. they get around 12-14 inches

 

[LIVEBait]

Thanks for the info. So I can expect about 10~12 in. for a fullgrown Loisellei....

Yep and I meant to type "Cichlids"
I think I read the "How do you pronounce Cichlids" Topic just before I wrote this
topic.

Are Motaguense rare in the states?
I've been looking around. All I can find is Managuense, Loisellei, and a few Dovi. I saw for the first time a juvi. Friedrichsthalli the other day.

I'm still deciding what I want to keep in this setup...tank still cycling.

 

[LIVEBait]

Ex-Amp,

What are you using to filter your 60G Midas tank?

Currently on my setup I'm using an Eheim 2215, and an old Whisper 3 power filter.
I'm wondering if it would be enough or should I ditch the Whisper and add another canister.

 

[EX-AmP]

honestly im not using much filtration. i just keep the water clean by all means. i have thorough gravel vacs and water changes throughout the week and if he doesnt eat anything i scoop it out. im trying to powerfeed him just a bit more so he can max out.

 

[LIVEBait]

Cool deal, Ex-AmP B)

This was sold to me as a Friedrichsthali. I've been told it could be a Loisellei.
Any help on positive id? Its about 3" TL.

Freddi

Also, right now its all by itself in the tank. What would be a suitible tankmate. I was thinking Firemouth or Convict?

 

[redgold]

That's not a freddie. Most likely loisellei. The grey colored back is unique to the loisellei. Hard to tell but it looks like it might be female. When the guapotes reach around 3+" SL, the females lose any stopping in the unpaired fins (if they even had any) and the males keep it. This doesn't include jags, but it does work for loisellei, dovii, mota's, etc.

my FEMALE loisellei at about 2" SL. Note the spots in the fins.

HERE she is at around 4", all spots gone. I should put up some more recent pics, she's a beautiful fish. The anal fin turns a nice red against the bright yellow body.

 

[LIVEBait]

Thanks for the reply, redgold.
Exellent pics of a great fish you have.

Yep, from what I can see, mine appears to have no spotting on its fins...so it may possibly be female. The face and top-half above the lateral line is greyish-olive in color. The bottom half is a brilliant yellow-gold. The gill plate has what appears to be a few streaks of light blue-turquoise, with a few specs of the same color above the lateral line. Loisellei? probably.

I was having a hard time looking for Loisellei, the ones I saw previously, 2" juveniles, were sold and gone. They were all-silver in color with only horizontal barring. They could have been stressed...they were in a tank filled Convicts, much larger than them.

So when I saw this one listed as a Freddi, I said to myself, "Looks close enough," ...and decided to buy it.

And now that I've seen pics of yours,
I believe mine's a Loisellei also.

 

[cichlidmaster]

I agree it is more thanlikely a loisellei, and definitely a female as it is not only laking the fin spotting, but the spotting around the gill plates as well!!


I would not house a firemouth with this fish as it will end up eventually dead.

The convicy may fair better!!

CM

 

[LIVEBait]

Thanks for the reply, cichlidmaster.

Yep, I think I will go with the Convict as a possible tankmate.