malawi sand diver Posted October 27, 2010 Share Posted October 27, 2010 These guys seem to be fairly common in the hobby overseas, but I haven't seen them anywhere in Australia. Is the reason for this that we can no longer get them into the country and a population never established? Seems strange and a bit of a shame that a lot of the other large haps have established populations but these guys aren't around. Regards, Rob Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nannat Posted October 27, 2010 Share Posted October 27, 2010 theyre here or at least they were 5 years ago.a colony went to W.A. i believe but im not certain thats where they went. look them up using forum search and see Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
malawi sand diver Posted October 27, 2010 Author Share Posted October 27, 2010 Thanks Nannat, I did a forum search and yes, they were here around 2005. Interesting that there may be a few around, I would think they would be quite rare here in Oz. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andrew Posted October 28, 2010 Share Posted October 28, 2010 They're not common, by any means, but they are here and being bred. Some shops might be able to order them in via a certain wholesaler... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
malawi sand diver Posted October 28, 2010 Author Share Posted October 28, 2010 Thanks Andrew, good to know they are being bred. I'll keep an eye out for them. Regards, Rob Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fish8600 Posted January 10, 2014 Share Posted January 10, 2014 They are still around ) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
malawi sand diver Posted January 12, 2014 Author Share Posted January 12, 2014 Thanks for the info, they are one of the iconic large Malawi haps that are currently missing in the hobby here. Would love to breed them up to establish a good population here. I like the fact that the girls look nice aswell. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
firthy13 Posted January 12, 2014 Share Posted January 12, 2014 fish8600, Where did you see them?? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
malawi sand diver Posted January 28, 2014 Author Share Posted January 28, 2014 After waiting years I finally have a pair in my tank - worth the wait, they are beauties I will post a vid when I get a chance. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
firthy13 Posted January 28, 2014 Share Posted January 28, 2014 Wow!! I actually had to read that post several times. I cant believe it! Congrats. Im looking forward to the vid. How big are they? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
malawi sand diver Posted January 28, 2014 Author Share Posted January 28, 2014 Thanks mate, I'm over the moon to finally be keeping a couple, I thought it was a myth that they were here but yes they are real.The male is 12cm and the female is 10cm. They still have a really wild streak about them, its awesome to watch them hunting the small mbuna in my tank. I've kept a lot of malawi predators before, and these are the most predatorial of all the predators, like streamlined little sharks. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
firthy13 Posted January 28, 2014 Share Posted January 28, 2014 That's great!! I'm very jealous!!I look forward to seeing them. Hopefully you get them breeding. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ged Posted January 28, 2014 Share Posted January 28, 2014 Can't wait to see the video of this Three-spot Torpedo. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TimB Posted January 29, 2014 Share Posted January 29, 2014 When they 'hunt' the smaller mbuna do they eat them? Or just chase them around? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
malawi sand diver Posted January 29, 2014 Author Share Posted January 29, 2014 Here is a link to a short youtube clip of them in my tank I just uploadedhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YYXlvsZDN70&feature=youtu.beYes, they do eat the smaller mbuna if they catch them. They hunt them around the rocks and pounce on them with lightening speed.I've had these fish for 2 weeks now and have been trying to get them onto pellets without much luck yet as they only eat live food. The closest I got was floating an NLS pellet past the powerhead for movement. Also tried New Era without much luck.But they have eaten one serve of live brine shrimp and some 2cm cichlid fry I have been breeding until I can get them eating pellets. Being a piscavore in the wild it won't hurt them eating fry that I have bred myself occasionally. But I want to get them eating pelletsI will try holding off feeding for a couple of days and see if I can get them onto pellets. The male sometimes bites at the pellets but spits them out and the female won't touch the pellets. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
malawi sand diver Posted January 29, 2014 Author Share Posted January 29, 2014 Here's a photo of him: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
firthy13 Posted January 31, 2014 Share Posted January 31, 2014 Nice back ground!! What is it?? They look great rob. Hopefully they start eating soon. I'm sure they will. Were you only able to find a pair? Are there more around? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
malawi sand diver Posted January 31, 2014 Author Share Posted January 31, 2014 Hi MichaelI'm glad you like the exo's and background. The background is actually grey-green plastic rock modules.Here is another shot I just took that shows the rock modules and the male. I'll PM you some more details.Regards, Rob Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gombe Posted January 31, 2014 Share Posted January 31, 2014 Awesome, love the look of the tank, them modules look great, Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
malawi sand diver Posted February 1, 2014 Author Share Posted February 1, 2014 Thanks mate Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
daci Posted February 3, 2014 Share Posted February 3, 2014 Congratulation Robabsolutely AWESOME fish! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
malawi sand diver Posted February 3, 2014 Author Share Posted February 3, 2014 Thanks Daci I thought you would like them you love your large Malawi haps.My plan is to breed them up and have mainly them plus the mdoka white lips in my 10 foot tank. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
malawi sand diver Posted February 3, 2014 Author Share Posted February 3, 2014 Its been interesting observing their hunting tecnique aswell. They spend most of the time around the rocks looking for prey. When they spot it, they move very slowly towards the target, similar to how a dimidiochromis compressiceps slowly descend towards its target. It hovers over the prey, gradually moving in. Then when it is within range, swoops on its prey with great speed and with a sideways movement of the body snaps it up in its mouth. The beak on its mouth may be similar to a bird of prey's beak for retaining the victim in the mouth. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fish8600 Posted February 5, 2014 Share Posted February 5, 2014 I heard the wild ones actually don't have the beak.Their mouth are more straight looking. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
malawi sand diver Posted February 11, 2014 Author Share Posted February 11, 2014 That's interesting because I thought it was an adaptation similar to Aristochromis Christyi (but not as pronouced), where the beak helps to retain the fish in the mouth when they are caught. Having said that, I have seen a lot of photos of them and I think the subtle beak is more obvious when they are smaller and as they get bigger the beak becomes less obvious. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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