Amphilophus chancho information

[TheOscarGuy]

I think there's relatively less information on the chanchos, and not many hobbyists keep these. I am getting two from another board member (Reagan). Therefore, I would like to get some more details from those who are keeping/have kept chanchos, apart from this being the largest growing in the midas complex:

1. Have you found them to be slow growers compared to other midas? I have seen a few posts that say they can be extremely slow growing, could you guys tell me what sort of growth rates have you observed?

2. Do the colors vary depending on where you've got them? The large I saw at Reagans was a bit black(in comparison to Amarillo, or barred midas), though I have gathered they do have somewhat yellow base, and black bars. Or are these their breeding colors? Here is a link from cjexotics to give you an idea:

http://www.midascichlids.com/yabbse/index.php?topic=3975.0

3. For feeding and water parameters, I am assuming that they require conditions similar to other midas? Is there anything specific thing that I should be concerned about?

 

[Toby_H]

Ken Davis came from Atlanta to Charlotte to be the auctioneer at our local fish club's yearly auction in October of this year. Not only was he a great auctioneer but he was kind enough to bring quite a few bags of fish to be put up for auction. I wasn't shopping for Midas this year but it seemed no one else was either, so I won two bags of Midas Cichlids with my opening bid.

At the auction in October, the Chancos I got were the exact same size as the Citrinellus. Now (over 2.5 months later) The two (apparent) male Citrinellus are in full swing of an impressive growth spurt. The Chancos have not yet started their juvenal growth spurt that I'm accustom to seeing in Cichlids. Both are receiving the same feeding, same water conditions and same tank maintenance (but in different tanks).

As for coloration, my Citrenellus are two yellow and two barred. The barred Citrenellus have a lighter color to the body with solid bars. The Chancos are more of a 'dirty grey' on the body with dark bars.

I am not aware of any special requirements they have other than that of any other Midas. But I'll be honest; I haven't researched them any more than asking Ken if they needed anything special, to which he laughed and said, "Yea, a big tank."

I know this may not help much, but I've only been keeping them for 2.5 months, so my experience is limited...

 

[TheOscarGuy]

At the auction in October, the Chancos I got were the exact same size as the Citrinellus. Now (over 2.5 months later) The two (apparent) male Citrinellus are in full swing of an impressive growth spurt. The Chancos have not yet started their juvenal growth spurt that I'm accustom to seeing in Cichlids. Both are receiving the same feeding, same water conditions and same tank maintenance (but in different tanks).

Thanks a lot for the input. I would have thought if all of them were in the same tank, that the size diff. could be attributed to the citrinellus winning out to chanchos in food competition. But you mentioned they are in separate tanks. How much have they grown for you since the time you've had them?

Mine would be starting at somewhat larger size -- as I understand, Ken has his chanchos available at ~1-2", while as Reagan is going to give 3-4" fish. Maybe that might make a difference!

As for coloration, my Citrenellus are two yellow and two barred. The barred Citrenellus have a lighter color to the body with solid bars. The Chancos are more of a 'dirty grey' on the body with dark bars.

Hmm, that's what I too think (that the color will be more a dirty gray one). And you don't see any yellow coloration in chanchos at anytime?

Thanks again, for the useful information.

 

[Toby_H]

Both the Citrenellus and Chancos were 1.5~2" in early October...

The largest Citrenellus are around 4.5", the smaller ones a bit over 3"...

All of the Chancos are arond 3"...

They are in different tanks but the tanks they are in are plumbed together... so water quality and maintenance is exact... and I feed them at the same times every time, as much as they while I'm in the fishroom.

I haven't seen even the slightest hint of color except the dirty grey and the bars... but bear in mind mine are still quite young/small.

 

[Tongue33]

Tug has owned these and I believe still owns a female

They are seemingly slow growers... Seems that they are the slowest of the Midas Complex.... From my view point they grow much slower than the whole rest of the Midas Complex species

Tug is an excellent source of info on these as he snatched them up a couple years ago at least! And was involved With them and other midas complex That were newly imported not too long ago.

 

[TheOscarGuy]

Hmm, thanks for the info. guys.

 

[SkidMark]

cant contribute much info but i really like their big head and face.

 

[---XR---]

i just sold mine, he was a trouble maker and i couldn't keep him in my commune amphil/parachro tank, but what i observed over 2-3 months-


bought him at 4", gave him away at 4", no growth whatsoever.

extremely aggressive twoards similar looking amphilophus and same species. He killed a chancho tankmate and was driven crazy by a pair of barred midas. being that he was rambunchus constantly, to the point you think he needed to have demon excoricesed (he shook like a schsopheniak) so he always had a VERY dull apperance. white and dull as a ghost, never any increased black barring color, no yellow on him ethier (red on gills- saw them alot).

sorry for ****y spelling, drank a bit this christmas.


i was hoping to be wowed by chancho's but it hasn't happened, I love my barred's so much more.

 

[TheOscarGuy]

Thanks XR for the input. I am not expecting much colors on the fish I receive, but hoping that they would start showing up as the fish grow bigger.

Anyone with larger specimen?

 

[Tug]

Well your on the right track by doing reasearch on this species (and other Amphilophus species) via CJexotics. Jeremy (the owner of the site) is by far the most experienced chancho breeders I've ever known. He was the first to bring this particular species to the states. He was also the first to breed these guys here (long before the Rapps bandwagon).

I recieved my first batch of Chancho about 3 or 3 1/2 years ago. I started with 10 or so and worked my waydown to a single pair. I lost the male some time ago and just a couple months ago lost my female.

Your right about their slow growth rate. They grow slow than any other fish I've ever kept. My female that just passed away was a solid 8" and I recieved her at 1". The male only got to 6" over 2 years before he died. So yes....they grow very slow.

The color of this species has been in my experience is a faded yellow under color with the dark barring. The barring was only present when the fish were stressed or being aggresive. The normal markings weren't bars at all but rather spots. Three to four spots set in the middle of their body the largest being the first spot set in the middle of the body equal distance from the head and tail. Their color (faded yellow) would become more intense when the went agro or the tank parameters were out of whack.

The largest and the main problem with this species in my experience is their aggression! These guys get terribly mean and will attack and kill and other like bodied fish. They don't just target other Amphilophus species (trust me I know). The only other time I've seen more aggresion from this fish is when I tried to breed them. The male almost killed my female over night. They will need a strong divider if you hope to breed them.

I've never done anything special for the chancho or any of the other new midas type species since I've owned them. Basic tap water and routine water changes. My water is very hard and the PH is very high too, something like 7.8 I think. Temp was basic too, 76-78 degrees.

From my experience they prefer a flat surface to breed rather than the cave or clay pot approach. That's was just my fish I can't really back that one up with any actual facts or research.

Well I hope that helped, they are great fish and you won't regret getting some. If you invest the time they really do get stunning as they grow.

Here is a couple pictures of my female.....