Brackish Central American Cichlids

[WinterAlloy]

Duanes, thanks for the information and pictures. I would love to be able to snorkel such areas. Also, the hypersaline cichlids are very interesting. How did you manage to maintain such a high pH without gradual reduction?

Cichlidfish, many Central American cichlids tend to also live in brackish waters. Even the freshwater is rather dense (SG ~1.002) due to disloved minerals. The transition to SLIGHTLY brackish (SG ~1.005) may not be a bad environment for many CA cichlids. Though, remember that some are intolorant of salt. Finding CA cichlids that live in moderately brackish waters (SG 1.010) may be less. Finding those that live in high brackish waters (SG ~1.015) are less. And, of course, of the CA cichlids, the list of cichlids that live in marine conditions (SG ~1.018+) becomes merely a few.

See this website for an article on T. meeki. http://www.cichlidae.com/article.php?id=7

 

[duanes]

When I first got the Alcolapia I added rock salt, because that's what the breeder was doing, but slowly acclimatized them to my normal water conditions. They did fine and spawned at a pH of 7.6.

I prefer to keep my cichlids in my normal water, because I do 30% water changes every other day (sometimes every day, like now when the garden needs that good nitrate inundated stuff).

 

[cichlidfish]

Cichlidfish, many Central American cichlids tend to also live in brackish waters. Even the freshwater is rather dense (SG ~1.002) due to disloved minerals. The transition to SLIGHTLY brackish (SG ~1.005) may not be a bad environment for many CA cichlids. Though, remember that some are intolorant of salt. Finding CA cichlids that live in moderately brackish waters (SG 1.010) may be less. Finding those that live in high brackish waters (SG ~1.015) are less. And, of course, of the CA cichlids, the list of cichlids that live in marine conditions (SG ~1.018+) becomes merely a few.

See this website for an article on T. meeki. http://www.cichlidae.com/article.php?id=7

Yes that is the article I read. Its been awhile, and thanks for posting. That is a very good point you made about all CA cichlids and the ability to tolerate slightly brackish water. I know the Yucatan at one time was under the ocean and limestone and other minerals are water soluble. From what I understand that is due to a lot of coral that was raised from a shift in tectonic plates. I'm not good with geology, but that is what someone told me in Mexico.

 

[duanes]

The only cichlids I found in the cenotes I snorkeled in on the coast, were uropthalmus and JDs. There were, very bright blue sailfin mollies, almost the size of adult JDs (6-8") in Cristalino and Eden cenotes.
On my last trip I only hit 4 cenotes, Eden, Crystal, Cristalino and Escondido, they are all on the map below.

In Crystal, I only saw livebearers and tetras
Escondido, tetras, live bearers and a few uros
Cristalino, tons of JDs, some catfish, thousands of live bearers, (including the very blue mollies) and a large goby hunting live bearer and JD juvies.
and in Eden, JDs, mollies, catfish, and a few uros.

Most of the largest, blue mollies were at depths of 10 ft or more, the 1 above was half the size of the ones from deeper water.

In the pic above, hundreds of live bearers were nibbling on my legs and arms.
I plan on going further inland on my next trip, and hope to find some Thorichthys types.

 

[WinterAlloy]

I saw your thread on this topic... very nice. I was more than fascinated by your excursion. That thread actually rekindled my interest in brackish fish. That spawned more countless hours of obsessive research. Unfortunately, i cannot travel, so I read books, research, and geological surveys. So, here we were at this thread. Now, I do have to say that I really would like to get my hands on some of those livebearers.

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[cichlidfish]

I saw your thread on this topic... very nice. I was more than fascinated by your excursion. That thread actually rekindled my interest in brackish fish. That spawned more countless hours of obsessive research. Unfortunately, i cannot travel, so I read books, research, and geological surveys. So, here we were at this thread. Now, I do have to say that I really would like to get my hands on some of those livebearers.

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I can't travel for a while with a baby on the way, so I need to read more too. It would be very interesting to do a CA brackish themed tank. In fact I would like to do an experiment with a mayan in a brackish tank and a freshwater tank to see the difference as the fish grow. I can't do that right now, but maybe in the future.

 

[WinterAlloy]

After a long weekend of moving furniture for my sister, it's time to increase my salinity again. For a week now, the water density has sat at SG 1.004. There had been no visible problems at all. By Sunday, I would like to have my density at SG 1.008. Again, it will be a slow transition.

Also, I had a thought on brackish Mayans colors. Flamingos turn pink from the iodine in their diet. So, what will effect will the iodine content of sea salt do for a Mayan's color?

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[duanes]

You may be right about iodine, marine algae has a high concentration, and waterever uropthalmus prey eats the algae would end up with a bio accumulation.
I've always thought the "do not use iodized salt rule", seemed a bit off.

 

[cichlidfish]

After a long weekend of moving furniture for my sister, it's time to increase my salinity again. For a week now, the water density has sat at SG 1.004. There had been no visible problems at all. By Sunday, I would like to have my density at SG 1.008. Again, it will be a slow transition.

Also, I had a thought on brackish Mayans colors. Flamingos turn pink from the iodine in their diet. So, what will effect will the iodine content of sea salt do for a Mayan's color?

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Good question. It might. I would like to see some picture of some in a complete marine environment.


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[duanes]

I'm going back to the Yucatan coast soon, so I will try to get underwater pics and video when I do.
One of the cenotes on the list I intend to visit is Xpuha, which is very close to the coast, and may have a more marine population of uropthalmus. I will try to observe feeding more closely this time.