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Another Beginner's Cichlid!

Alongside Laetacara cuviceps, the Flag Cichlid, Cleithracara maronii, the Keyhole Cichlid, and Anomalochromis thomasi, the Dwarf Jewel Cichlid, there is another species that can be recommended to the beginner to Cichlid keeping, which I have been introduced to by the Cichlid book I obtained from my local library. This species is completely new to me, so I'm afraid I'll have to rely upon the book information in its entirety in this post, but this fish is reputedly another "Beginner's Cichlid", hardy, peaceful, indeed a somewhat shy Cichlid, and one that can be persuaded to breed in captivity with relative ease by anyone with a modicum of fishkeeping experience.

However, before covering care and maintenance, a word on scientific names. This is one of those species that will probably be listed under one of two different scientific names - Thysia ansorgii and Thysochromis ansorgii. It is also known by the common name of Five-Spot Cichlid, and bears some relation in appearance to the much larger and more aggressive Tilapia mariae. However, one important difference is the shape of the spots on the flanks - in Tilapia mariae, these are noticeably square in appearance (some of the spots remarkably so - a key diagnostic feature for this species), while the spots on Thysia ansorgii are rounded or 'ace of diamonds' shaped. Do NOT confuse the two, because Tilapia mariae is belligerent, and reaches 12 inches or more in length!

Oh, and to make matters worse, various Cichlid sites on the web seem not to have heard of this fish - an indication of its rarity in the hobby!

Now that the name confusion has been set straight, on to some details. Thysia ansorgii is a sexually dimorphic species, males reaching 10 cm (4 inches), and females reaching 7.5 cm (3 inches). Males have the usual Cichlid long flowing soft dorsal and anal fins, plus (and this is a reliable diagnostic feature in mature adults) a distinctive reticulated pattern in the caudal fin, which is furthermore asymmetrical. Females have a symmetrical tail, and a small but very prominent cluster of iridescent white scales positioned on the body just above the vent. Body colur is more or less divided into three zones: an olive to yellow upper zone, shimmering silvery white middle zone, and a very attractive lavender-hued lower zone. The natural habitat of the fish is listed in the book as:

Coastal rivers fromjust west of the Bandama in the Ivory Coast to theAnkombrah in southwestern Ghana, thence to the Quem River in Benin to the neighbourhood of Douala in the Cameroons. Small streams flowing under intact or recently disturbed forest cover. Sometimes found in swamps and oxbows, usually in association with stands of aquatic plants.

Consequently, it will live in a considerable range of water chemistry parameters, but usually prefers soft, slightly acidic water of the kind usually associated with rainforest biotopes based upon non-limestone underlying rock strata. Care and maintenance follows almost exactly the rgime for Anomalochromis thomasi: a planted aquarium, with open spaces, bogwood decorations forming partially enclosed spaces, floating plants in places for shade, and suitably chosen peaceful dither fish to help the species overcome a definite shyness that it possesses are pre-requisites for a happy group of Thysia ansorgii. Feeding is simple, the species will take any of the usual fish foods, but will devour live foods such as Daphnia and Bloodworm with undisguised relish!

The best way to obtain a breeding pair is to gather a group of juveniles together and raise them to maturity i the same aquarium, relying upon natural pairing. With this peaceful species, this is not fraught with anything like the problems associated with Midas Cichlids, for example! And, they can be kept with a wide range of more 'typical' community fishes, although it is wise to choose dither species that cannot be swallowed by full-grown adults, as even this peaceful species will succumb to temptation when it is presented to them!

Like Anomalochromis thomasi, this species spawns in partially enclosed spaces, hence the specification of judiciously chosen bogwood decorations to provide these in the above paragraph. Unlike the smaller fish, however, Thysia ansorgii frequently chooses to deposit its eggs on a vertically oriented surface, and its eggs are stalked. A spawn can comprise as many as 250 eggs, which hatch in 72 hours at 27C, and the fry are mobile 7 to 8 days later.

Fry are fairly sensitive to high nitrate levels and dissolved metabolic wastes, and require regular water changes to keep them in good condition. Keeping the fry in a nursery aquarium containing some Hornwort (Ceratophyllum demersum) will be beneficial, as this plant will assist greatly in nitrogen cycle management. The fry are large enough to take newly hatched Brine Shrimp when free-swimming, and grow at a reasonable rate. Juveniles achieve sexual maturity approximately 6 to 7 months after hatching, at 6.5 cm for males and 5 cm for females. A special note: this is one of those species in which pH plays a part in determining the sex ratio of the offspring, but sadly, the book does not specify the pH level at which a 50:50 division is achieved. Experimentation will therefore be needed.

Again, a fish I can recommend to the newcomer to Cichlids, provided of course one can find it - rarity is probably going to be the biggest hurdle that the prospective owner will have to overcome! Chances are that only specialist dealers will have even heard of this species, and the best route for obtaining specimens is likely to be a specialist Cichlid society, which is a pity, because this is another of those much-underrated species that deserves to be far better known, is far more suitable for newcomers than some of the species commonly seen in dealer aquaria, and has an interesting pastel appearance that contrasts neatly with brilliant primary-hued Tetras, for example. If you are a Cichlid fan, this is a species that should form part of any representative collection of African non-Rift Cichlids, and which should also be more widely disseminated in the hobby to prevent all those fraught accidents that occur when newcomers to the hobby mistakenly drop Convicts in with Guppies. Peaceful, does not tear plants, robust enough to withstand some of the newcomer's less catastrophic mistakes, Thysia ansorgii is defintely one I'd put on the "recommended" list.

Enjoy!




Panda Catfish fan and keeper/breeder since Christmas 2002

YOu should submit these AWSOME articles into some sort of fish magazine because they are just AWSOME.

need to try to get them in the articles section

"YOu should submit these AWSOME articles into some sort of fish magazine because they are just AWSOME."

I think he actually gets the articles from magazines and such and shares them with us (unless I've got it mixed up, then I'm terribly wrong Callil)

It's a mixture - part experience, part book info, all wrapped up in my own inimitable style ...

Oh, and if anyone can FIND this fish, let me know - so far I've drawn a blank here in the UK, and even have trouble finding much in the way of info on the net ...

Panda Catfish fan and keeper/breeder since Christmas 2002