Giant Buttikoferi and old Oscar.

[Rex Karr]

http://www.arofanatics.com/members/rexk/monsterbuttikoferi/

Sorry for the blur on the Oscar picture. I will post a few more pictures later.

[cichgirl]

Awesome, Rex!!! Thanks for sharing - very impressive. I've never actually seen a buttikoferi that big - that would be something to see in person. How big is that tank? I read your previous post about it yesterday but can't recall if you mentioned it.....

[Rudy]

Rex that is awesome!!


Whos were those?

[Rex Karr]

I spent Tuesday, behind the scenes at the 'Ripley's Aquarium of the Smokies' in Gatlingburg, TN.

Its on the small side for a public aquarium (compared to the Newport Aquarium and the Tennessee Aquarium (in Chattanooga) and they only have a few freshwater tanks. But luckily they did stock a few cichlid species in their largest freshwater tank. The aquarium is probably around 10,000 gallons and contains a 5' Arapaima, a 2.5' Silver Aro, a school (10 maybe)of Red Belly Pacu, a couple 4' Red-Tail Catfish, a few 3' Niger Catfish and the Buttikoferi and Oscars.

In a holding tank in the back there was a pair of 2' Tiger Shovelnose, a 2' Perruno, a 10" Cichla sp., and a 10" Oscar. These were meant for the big freshwater aquarium, but for various reasons were being kept in the holding tank. I was told that the Cats were there so that the Red Tails wouldn't eat them, and the Cichlids because they were a lot smaller than the other cichlids.

I'm now rethinking my stocking plan for the new aquarium I hope to build this year. Those Tilapia were simply amazing.

[Karl]

Awsome pics rex

[the209jungalist]

Those tilapia under the right lights also have pink that runs along the edge of their dorsal, tail, and bottom fin. Mine looks really neat with the new light that came with my hood. I just wish I knew what kind of light it was because I would really like to get the same for my 55.

[Rex Karr]

And if you put them under an actinic light they will glow blue! :)

The pink edging is suppose to be white.

[Polarhound]

A couple of other notes about buttikoferi:

1. Buttikoferi are one of the few fish that don't get lonely when you keep them alone in a tank. However, if you have the tank space and want to try it, you CAN school them as long as you have 4-5" in the tank. Figure on a minimum of 300gal.

2. The "jaw-locking" you saw was actually an attempt to mate. Buttikoferi are mouthbrooders.

[dino38fish]

Nice fish.......Here mine for you to look at around 14 inchs and he is all most 5 years old :ok:

[crazyfishlady]

dino38fish - He's beautiful!!! Wow!

[foldgersowns]

thats a nice fish man

[Rex Karr]

Originally posted by Polarhound
A couple of other notes about buttikoferi:

1. Buttikoferi are one of the few fish that don't get lonely when you keep them alone in a tank. However, if you have the tank space and want to try it, you CAN school them as long as you have 4-5" in the tank. Figure on a minimum of 300gal.

2. The "jaw-locking" you saw was actually an attempt to mate. Buttikoferi are mouthbrooders.

I would hardly consider the group I saw as a school.

And jaw locking is a test of strength, a dominance display. Being a mouthbrooder has nothing to do with jaw locking. Its not like the male was fertilizing the eggs in the females mouth, this was a bit different. More like 2 "males" that wanted to rip each others face off.


Dino, thats an awesome fish!

[Karl]

Awsome fish dino!!!:eek:

[rsabatini]

From my experiances with all kinds of cichlids most of the jaw locking that you will see exhibited will be AGGRESSION,occassionally a mated pair out of frustration(lack of target fish)will lock jaws,as for the whole they were locking jaws because there mouthbrooders was simply a retarted statement,if it was stated as a courtship ritual and (not because there mouthbrooders)that wouldve been somewhat true and believable.Please people lets get our facts straight.

[the209jungalist]

My butti is constantly trying to court me.... about everytime I go to get clothes out of my dresser!!! Ha Ha HA!!!!

[Rex Karr]

rsabatini, your about 3 months late buddy.

[highplainsdrifter]

Truely amazing pictures. I guess I'm late too.


Buttikoferi are NOT mouthbrooders.