Calvus & Comp.

[Mbuniac]

Can someone please tell me the difference between the Alto. calvus and Alto. comp. I have looked at a lot of pictures and other than the different color patterns I don't see any difference. Once I get done (are you ever really done?)with my 125 I am thinking of populating my 55 with Tanganyikans and I like the looks of these fish.
Thanks, Sam

[aharris]

I think there are some differences in profile. I think the comps are less-streamlined looking (more prehistoric). I think the technical difference has something to do with who has certain scale patterns or types of scales or something on their heads.

[Mbuniac]

I have a Dimidiochromis compressiceps and I read some where that the "compressiceps" refers to a compressed body. Maybe latin, greek, hell it's all greek to me! You should here how tongue twisted I get trying to pronounce some of these names. It's a real crack up! I keep learning tho.
Thanks, Sam
Thanks, Sam

[merlyn2221]

According to what I have read, the Calvus grows to larger sizes and its finnage is supposedly larger and has slightly more "rays" or bones in it than the A. comps. Also, the Calvus has a longer profile from dorsal fin to mouth than the comps.
(And NO, I haven't counted my Alto. comps, Dimi. comps, or Alto. clavus fin rays, so don't quote me.)

[Mbuniac]

Thanks Merl,
So if I understand you correctly, you're saying that they are pretty damn close (can I say that?). Everything that I've read on both of them says they make good community tank members. What about a 55 gal with nothing but color varieties of these fish? I expect you to measure those fins and count the rays and report back! Do you really keep D. comps with them? My D. comp has become the dominant fish in the tank (slightly) and that's a good thing cause I've got a new "tankmate" for him. He's gonna need all his chutzpah!!!
Sam

[finz]

Hi Mbuniac.

Calvus and Compressiceps are very closely related - close enough to cross-breed and produce viable young. The differences are as stated in previous posts as well as the fact that calvus have no scales on the top of their head (calvus is latin for bald). It is possible to keep a mixed group of these in a 55 gallon but I would not recommend more than 2 males in a tank that size due to the aggression between males. Also, because of crossbreeding, all young produced should be destroyed or at least never allowed to leave your house.

[Mbuniac]

Sorry:oops: It seems that I always forget to mention that I meant an all male tank, or someone will post about an all male tank and I don't notice it. I even warned someone about crossbreeding when he asked about an all male tank!
So how about it? An all male tank that is.......
Thanks, Sam

[finz]

Never tried that with Altolamps. My males hide in caves most of the time so I would guess that they would either be hiding all the time or fighting all the time.

[tom]

Originally posted by Mbuniac
I even warned someone about crossbreeding when he asked about an all male tank!


Not a big deal, Sam: No doubt you read crossdressing and were thinking of the rarely seen J. edgarhooveri.

[aharris]

Hey, a bunch of crossdressing cichlids couldn't be all bad.

[SGypsyMermaid]

Originally posted by tom
Not a big deal, Sam: No doubt you read crossdressing and were thinking of the rarely seen J. edgarhooveri.

you, my dear, are a sick puppy!:razz: but isn't there actually a fish that has "crossdresser" as part of its name? it seems to me that i've seen that.

[SGypsyMermaid]

yup...a victorian hap. sp. "crossdresser"!

[Mbuniac]

No doubt these fish were imported directly from the Rift lakes to San Francisco:D

[tom]

Originally posted by SGypsyMermaid
yup...a victorian hap. sp. "crossdresser"!

Now that really is a new one (at least for me). Any idea how it came by that name?




Note to any crossdressers: Please don't email me about the earlier quip. It's (obviously, I thought) a poke at the former FBI director, and is not aimed at crossdressers in general.

Thanks :mrgreen:

[SGypsyMermaid]

i only found sparse reference to it online. when i get home, i'll check seehausen--that may be where i saw the reference originally.

[aharris]

Isn't there a Nanocara (or something, I'm thinking African riverine related to Krib) transvestitus in the fish world? I've probably got my understanding of latin wrong but the root does appear to have something to do with tranvestite.

[tom]

I'm unaware of that name, too, but, yep: It no doubt comes from the Latin vestire , which remains unchanged (no pun intended) in the modern Spanish and Italian (vestir(e)=[to] dress). With the trans prefix, it suggests that either the male or female of the species adopts the "dress" (colors, obviously) of the other (just as in transvestite). Some variation of that basic premise probably is behind the "crossdresser" name of the hap noted by SGypsy.

Thanks for the info--interesting stuff!

[aharris]

Hee, hee! Found it. Nannochromis transvestitus.

http://www.thecichlidgallery.com/article_transvistitus.htm

[Torch]

If you can see a good example of both fish and compare the two you will see a slight difference.

There seems to be more slope in the calvus head down to the mouth.

Also, and I am not sure exactly how to describe this, there is more of an off white color to the head and around the eye.

I am sure there are more differences but, that is how I usually pic the two apart.


Torch

[merlyn2221]

Also, the Calvus have "spots" which are clearly visible on them, whereas the comps don't for the most part.

[Mbuniac]

Merlyn,
Does that mean that comps sometimes have spots so I still can't tell them apart based on that criteria?:razz:
Sam

[Torch]

Does anyone know how to sex the Calvus? I bought three of them a few years back and two have grown a bit and are dark black and the other has almost not grown at all and is still light in color.

Torch

[merlyn2221]

:razz: Uh, yeah. I have noticed on mine that the little compies occasionally have spots they grow out of when they get older. While the Calvus' spots get more pronounced. Oh yeah, and as far as the all male Calvus or comp tank, or maybe even a mixed tank...give it up!

I had a battle royale take place in the 55g. First the white chaitika Calvus tried to kill the black Calvus, then the black tried to kill the other black, then that black tried to kill the little yellows, then it tried to kill "Compie" (my Mwela orange) and now everyone has been moved. The dimi comps stayed out of the fray, but beat the crap out of each other while this battle was going on.

The new arrangement goes like this: smaller dimi comp, white chaitika Calvus, black Calvus and Compie in the 120g; smaller black Calvus and 1 yellow Calvus (who still gets chased constantly) in the 55g; smallest yellow Calvus in a breeder container with plenty of small rocks and plants - he got the worst beating and was near death, but he's great now in his little kingdom. Since they grow so slowly, he should be fine for a couple of years in the breeder. :D

IME (which mind you is somewhat limited) I have found that if you get a group of them when they are small, they will sort out the dominance issues as they go along. It is a big mistake, (at least for my part) to put sub-adults into a group together. In both my tanks, they are kings (or queens, since I only know the sex of one of them to be male) and swim out in the open with the other fish. Next to Tropheus (who are real pains in the butt), I love these fish best. They are a little shy at first, but once they know you and their surroundings, they are great fish. Just watching them eat is a trip in itself. They are absolutely awesome.

And Torch, as far as sexing them goes, it is very difficult unless they are large and you sex these fish frequently. Even the old fish guy at my lfs who's been sexing fish for longer than I'm alive, has a hard time. I tried to do it on my little yellows and I couldn't even FIND thier genital area. They are so compressed when they are small. As far as outward signs like pointed fins, or any other things like that - forget it. Males and females are almost identical. I do know two fish breeders in my area who can sell me a sexed pair, but that's only because the family has bred them for years. I am told that you can more easily sex dimi comps because they are not as compressed and they grow faster.

I don't care what sex they are, although I had hoped for a pair of blacks to breed, but forget that! I have a total of 8 dimi comps, comps, and Calvus, and I love every one of them!

[Mbuniac]

It would be tough for me to decide whether I like my D. comp or Red Empress best. In my big tank the D. comp is boss and I like him best. In my 55 the Red Empress acts like an Oscar, wagging his tail when you come up to the tank and all that sort of stuff. Now......If I can just get enough fish in my 125 so I can put my Red Empress in there without him killing my D. comp!!!:confused:
Sam

[merlyn2221]

Hey Sam, if you go to the thread finz has in this forum, you will see what I mean about the spots on the juvie comps. His picture there shows a little guy, and he has the spots. Once my "Compie" (mwela orange) got to about 3" his spots started to fade. The Calvus' on the other hand, got more pronounced.

[Mbuniac]

Thanks Merlynn, I'll check it out.
Sam

[Mbuniac]

Aha! Now I think I've got it! However, if I were to see a tankful of both I'd probably have to look at the sign on the tank to know what they were (assuming the sign didn't say assorted african cichlids):) .
Thanks, Sam