CYATHOPHARYNX FURCIFER--A Living Jewel

[SGypsyMermaid]

i dream of one day having a tank big enough to house a colony of these beauties...

http://www.petsforum.com/cichlidroom/cichlid_news/covers/cover-016.jpg

i almost bought some, but after i did a little research, i realized that i could not come close to providing them with the conditions that they require. for one, they absolutely have to be the dominant fish in their tank, or they will suffer, so my visions of housing them with frontosas went right out the window!

i also discovered that they require a sand substrate in order to properly construct their nests, and because in their search for food, they take in mouthsful of sand and blow it out through their gill plates.

[chennes]

Neat fish, but I always wonder about the photographic techniques that make it look like that. Have you ever seen one in person? Do they appear that iridescent under normal aquarium lighting?

Chris

[SGypsyMermaid]

i've never actually seen one in person, and i understand that they only look this way in breeding color--that's why i'd want a colony--but from what i've read, and all the different pictures i've seen, they really do exhibit that spectacular coloration.

[chennes]

How large are they? There's no frame of reference in the photo...

Chris

[SGypsyMermaid]

if i remember correctly, adult males are about 10".

[Rudy]

They look a bit like Rostratus. In that picture anyway.
http://www.petsforum.com/cichlidroom/gallery/Fossorochromis/rostratus.html

[SGypsyMermaid]

yeah, as far as the coloration goes--you're right.

[hyperdive]

I have the "sumbu" which is commonly known as the blue green furcifer and a mate of mine has the "karilani" which is known as the Orange cap furcifer or Karilani copper.

The karilani is magnificent (much better than that picture on the cover). The sumbu it about as good as the picture you posted.

You need a 6x2x2 minimum for a colony of 2 males and 4 or 5 females. The male will build a massie spawning pit out of coral sand at one end of the tank. The karilani have built one over 12 inches high.....

Well worth the effort.

Andy

[SGypsyMermaid]

oooohh--i'm drooling...do you take digital pics?--can you post some?

[hyperdive]

http://home.kooee.com.au/bmoremon/My%20Fish.htm

The pics at the top of the page are the karilani.

[chennes]

Wow! Those fish are incredible!

Chris

[SGypsyMermaid]

fabulous!!! :mrgreen: :mrgreen: :mrgreen:

[Overawed]

wow, very nice!

[SGypsyMermaid]

okay--i couldn't stand it...i got five juveniles. they're going to be housed temporarily in a 29 gal. with my new synos(syn. aterrimus, and i think a clarias and 2 ornatus). i know that they will eventually need a 6 foot tank, but since tangs are such slow growers, i figure i've got some time. i'll give them a sand substrate and some rocks. what can i house with them?

[SGypsyMermaid]

hmmmm...found some more info on them. from what i can see, i should keep them alone. even my new synos will have to go elsewhere, and i'll put the petricolas in with them instead.

[tropheus10101]

i have a 7'' furcifer male he is so pretty

[SGypsyMermaid]

no more furcifers for me for awhile. i overfed the first batch...learned my lesson, got a second batch which my dad overfed while i was in the hospital...he did his best; the rest of the fish were ok except for some of the endler's...*sigh* maybe one day...:bawl:

[aharris]

I'm really sorry to hear that. They are so worth it, too. I already love mine.

I hope you get the chance to try again someday, and I hope when you do it'll work out for you.

[SGypsyMermaid]

thanks...maybe i'll try again in the future when i've gotten over all of the money that i've lost.:(