Crown Ruby: Microgeophagus altispinosa

[SuperDave9x19]

04mar11 edit: Note, I believe that it should be specofic name altispinosus
End 04mar11 edit.

Got some lucky pictures this weekend of my Crown Rubies courting.

http://www.cichlidforums.com/postimages/2004-03-08/32298-001.JPG

And the pair

http://www.cichlidforums.com/postimages/2004-03-08/32298-002.JPG

These are an awesome little fish.

They stand up quite nicely to my Jewel Cichlids and Kribs. The only one who nips the female's fins is the male Crown Ruby.

Often called "Bolivian Ram"... What a crock.

[Karl]

Awsome fish!

[peppermint22]

Nice pics. What's their maximum size?(crown rubies) Planning to get a pair.

[SuperDave9x19]

I haven't a clue. Various references say 6-8 cm, 8-10 cm... I dunno. I couldn't tell you how old they are. I received them at LFS and they were (claimed to be) from the wild. I can believe it cause there were only 2 at store.

Looked ugly in store (don't they always?) and were so thin I really took a risk purchasing. After seeing them for 2 weeks there I finally bought them after getting a reassurance from proprietor that I could return bodies if they die. He was happy to be rid of them.

At my home, within 1 day, they were honking down pellets as fast as my Jewels.

That single male pic is dang near actual size.

They've been locking jaws a lot lately. Unfortunately I have my community tank and no hospital/growout/etc. tanks.