by Mr Chromedome » Sat Nov 09, 2013 1:37 pm
Hi guys, I was reading through the thread, and just noticed that you were keeping the Biotodoma at 25-26 C. You were also commenting on the very slow growth. Just thought I'd let you know, many years ago Ginny Eckstein, a well known cichlid and catfish enthusiast at the time, told me about a group she had in a 240 gallon tank. She said they grew quite rapidly if you kept the temperature at 82-86 F, which translates to about 28-30 C. Weidner gives 26 as a normal temperature for the blackwater species B. wavrini, but does not specify for cupido. However, he does comment that the cupido eggs hatch in two days at 28C. He also describes the habitat for cupido as still, shallow, sandy areas. Places like this tend to stay quite warm, often 3-4C warmer than the deeper channels of the same river or stream.
I kept some B. cupido "Santarem" some years ago, but they were near adult when I got them. Turned out I had all males, a common occurrence with Biotodoma. I kept them around 82 F, and they were very active and even came to the surface to eat. However, they were kept by themselves, and Weidner also comments that more aggressive feeders are not good tankmates for the species.
Happiness may be the door to Heaven, but Pleasure is not the Key. - attributed to Confucius