firthy13 Posted November 21, 2012 Share Posted November 21, 2012 got a few quick snaps of my 18cm+ male fossorochromis rostratus.this is no where near full colouration obviously. im in the process of trying to find a few more adults, particually females. i love the royal blue tail and the deep red dorsal fin. he is going to be spectacular when i finally find him a mate to display to. hope you like him. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
m0oks Posted November 21, 2012 Share Posted November 21, 2012 Lovely pics. Got some fry growing up. How old would he be? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LithoMan Posted November 21, 2012 Share Posted November 21, 2012 Nice Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ged Posted November 21, 2012 Share Posted November 21, 2012 He will be a greater breeder. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
firthy13 Posted November 21, 2012 Author Share Posted November 21, 2012 Thanks. Yeah I hope he will be ged. Just need to find him some lady friends. I got him a few days before christmas last year at 3-4 cm, is is now 18cm. I thought 14cm in 11 months is a pretty good growth rate. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
malawi sand diver Posted November 21, 2012 Share Posted November 21, 2012 Great fish Michael They are a site to see when you first see them display to a female at that size. I remember when I first saw my male transform, the inky blank transformation is incredible.I have a few spare females you can have if you want next time you are down.Regards, Rob Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alex Posted November 22, 2012 Share Posted November 22, 2012 Nice fish...A full blown male Rostratus in breeding dress is up there with the best of what Malawi has to offer. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
malawi sand diver Posted November 22, 2012 Share Posted November 22, 2012 Yeah I agree. Here are some shots of a male I kept a couple of years ago that was only a few cm bigger then the one you have now. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
firthy13 Posted November 22, 2012 Author Share Posted November 22, 2012 Wow, ill be stoked if mine looks half as nice as yours. I love the blue caudal fin and the copper coloured head. Yeh that would be great rob. Thanks. I should be coming down sometime after xmas. He is currently being kept with 9 mdoka whitelips, 5 vc10's 3 pheno tanz and a few yellow. But the yellows and phenos tanz will be moved on shortly I think. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shannon Posted November 22, 2012 Share Posted November 22, 2012 I know neotropical at Chester hill have huge females for sale. They also have a male close to 30cm there too Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TimB Posted November 22, 2012 Share Posted November 22, 2012 I got him a few days before christmas last year at 3-4 cm, is is now 18cm. I thought 14cm in 11 months is a pretty good growth rate. That's amazing! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shannon Posted November 22, 2012 Share Posted November 22, 2012 Yeah I agree. Here are some shots of a male I kept a couple of years ago that was only a few cm bigger then the one you have now.These photos almost make me want to sell my tangs and Do a huge Malawi display. Almost... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ged Posted November 22, 2012 Share Posted November 22, 2012 Great photos Rob. The second one is an absolute ripper. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
malawi sand diver Posted November 23, 2012 Share Posted November 23, 2012 Thanks guys, yeah their growth rate is rapid. Shannon, thanks it will be worth paying a visit to Neotropical to check out the Rostratus there.I have found that the colour varies a lot between individuals. I have seen some that are mainly torquoise and black, others with the coppery colour on the head like my old one and still others with yellow and red on their side.Once the male gets in the mood, they display to the females pretty much all the time, that is why it is good to have at least 2 females.I will fatten up a couple of females for you Michael over the Christmas break. Here are some more shots I have taken of them over the years. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
firthy13 Posted November 23, 2012 Author Share Posted November 23, 2012 they are amazing fish! easily my favourite african cichlid! an 8x2x2 with 20+ adults would be an amazing sight! i would love to see one actually build the bower like they would in the wild. i think you would need atleast a 3ft wide tank. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ged Posted November 23, 2012 Share Posted November 23, 2012 Now that is what I call addictive. No offence intended Ant. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ant Posted November 25, 2012 Share Posted November 25, 2012 Lol...All good!! Was thinking, if only I had the dosh for a bigger aquarium! They would go nice with the lithos and mphanga (though might eatem)...lol Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
firthy13 Posted December 12, 2012 Author Share Posted December 12, 2012 watched the weirdest behaviour in this guy this afternoon during a water change.i saw him colour up and start displaying to a female P.Phenochilus Mdoka. they continued to dance together for about 40 minutes. she didnt have her tube down and she didnt look like she is full of eggs either but she would spin around and appear to be picking up mouthfuls of sand just like she normally would her eggs. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
danielsplakat Posted December 12, 2012 Share Posted December 12, 2012 such beautiful fish! had to let mine go as the male was going nuts and chasing all the other fish around haha Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cooder Posted January 11, 2013 Share Posted January 11, 2013 Magnificent fish... I can say for a certainty that if any of us had a spare 10 footer laying around we would have them...Wow great stuff... They sell for a bit? im guessing they would have to Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shannon Posted January 11, 2013 Share Posted January 11, 2013 They are actually really cheap down here cooder, can pick them up privately around the $5 mark Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
malawi sand diver Posted January 11, 2013 Share Posted January 11, 2013 Since they have such big spawns, they are the sort of fish where if there is a pair regularly spawning somewhere they will be quite common , e.g. They can spawn 120 fry every month or so once they get going. The males are also very eager to spawn all the time, one of the attractions of the fish, I have a young trio and the male is constantly dancing 24-7. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
firthy13 Posted February 1, 2013 Author Share Posted February 1, 2013 bit of an update on these guys.the male from the original post got pretty sick and unfortunately had to be euthanized.i did manage to track down another small male. he has put on about 4cm in the last 3 months with a current total length or around 11cm.here are a few pics of him starting to display to his female. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ged Posted February 6, 2013 Share Posted February 6, 2013 Very nice male. I have always been impressed by the quality of your photos and these are no exception. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
malawi sand diver Posted February 6, 2013 Share Posted February 6, 2013 Great little fish that will just keep getting better. I have a similar male, keeping a trio of them a the moment and they start to get more of the deeper turquoise colour in them from now on. Very active aswell, always displaying. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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