Tilapia tholloni spawned

[Nebraska_cichlids]

I bought a group of six Tilapia tholloni a while back (2 years)? One pair started coloring up dramatically a few days back and did lots of digging in the tank. Today, when I returned from a 3-day business trip I found a clutch of eggs in the corner of the tank. The parents so far seem to take good care of the eggs. Another pair now also starts displaying some color and do some digging. I haven't taken any pictures yet. This is the first time they spawned for me, and I want to disturb them as little as possible.

The look gorgeous in breeding coloration -- lots of red. Not to comapred with the somewhat plain greenish-brownish color they normally have.

 

[freshwaterfishfan]

Janos

How big are they? I can't remember what I did with my group - did I give them back to you?
Steve

 

[Nebraska_cichlids]

Steve: The males are about 6", the females are smaller. I only have the six fish that I got from Ned, when we placed our order back when. YOu must have given your half of the original group to someone else. By the way, the parents are still protecting the eggs pretty well.

Janos

 

[joop]

Hello Janos,
Can you make some pictures.

On Saturday i have had some Tilapia sp Kisangani.

Maybe it looks like tholloni.

gr

Joop

 

[Nebraska_cichlids]

Joop,

I will try to take some pictures this weekend. Meanwhile you can take a look at some pics on Ariel Bornstein's website (http://www.blackwaterfish.com/congotilap.htm). My group trace back to the fish that were obtained by Ariel.

Janos

 

[Nebraska_cichlids]

Joop,

I created a one-minute videoclip but have problems uploading it into YouTube (probably too many people in the internet tonight). I'll try uploading the video again this Saturday.

Janos

 

[Nebraska_cichlids]

I tried the upload again and this time it went through. I didn't clean the glass before taking the video, because I wanted to disturb the fish as little as possible. While I was at work they moved the wrigglers from the right front corner of the tank into a small pit behind the boulders. You may be able to see the wrigglers in the first frame of the video. The female keeps in the back of the tank with the wrigglers, while the male swims up to the front glass and/or chases tank mates away. Here's the link:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rKnulJycEU4

 

[aquaticclarity]

Very nice Janos!

What size tank are they in?

 

[joop]

Hello Janos,

Great fish.
It looks like the fish called Tilapia margaritacea by Anton Lamboj.

You can see it in the book Cihlids of Western Africa(Lamboj)

gr

Joop

 

[Nebraska_cichlids]

Joop: I am aware of the picture in Anton's book and the fish indeed look very similar. On the other hand Ariel is a very good friend of Anton and I'm sure the two worked out the identification as good as they could; here's another image of the tholloni: http://www.cichlidae.com/gallery/genus.php?id=48

I'm in contact with Anton fairly regularly; next time the opportunity presents itself I will ask him about the two species.

This morning I thought the pair lost the wrigglers. Later I relaized that they moved them to yet another pit they had dug up.

Jeff, I keep 6 tholloni in a 75G. The only other fish in the tank are two G. ethelwynnae and two very old Micralestes stormsi (the last survivors from a group of 12 fish that I bought several years ago).

Janos

 

[joop]

Hello,

Here is picturelink of mine Tilapia sp Kisangani juvenile.

Maybe it,s tholloni or congica

http://s186.photobucket.com/albums/...ction=view&current=Kisangani6nov2010verkl.jpg

gr

Joop

 

[Nebraska_cichlids]

I heard back from Anton. He says that after his book went into print, it turned out that the Tilapia margaritaceae should have been identified as Tilapia cf. tholloni.

 

[Nebraska_cichlids]

The tholloni are free-swimming now. A pretty decent-sized group. The parents are still doing a good job protecting the fry, even though the two ethelwynnae living in the same tank manage to snatch an occasional fry. I'll try to make another video this weekend.

 

[Nebraska_cichlids]

A quick video update: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ifdS-8u9_24

 

[Nebraska_cichlids]

The two Gobiocichla in the tank managed to snag some tholloni fry every day, and the numbers came down to about 20-25. I decided to pull as many tholloni as I could and netted about 15 fry tonight. I'd like to bring up at least enough fish to pass on to two other hobbyists.

 

[Nebraska_cichlids]

The same pair spawned for me again. I took a brief video tonight, but will need to upload it to Youtube for posting here. Also, the first batch of fry has been growing well and should be ready for distribution in earlt spring. I will try to shoot a video of them on or before the weekend.

 

[Nebraska_cichlids]

juvie give away

If any forum members is interested in trying the tholloni, the fish from the first spawn are ready to go. I don't mind shipping but would prefer waiting for warmer weather. All I'd ask for is a a few $$ per fish plus shipping. Pick up is possible also, in fact preferred. I'll be out of town 1/31-2/9.

 

[Nebraska_cichlids]

The juvies from the first batch are all spoken for. I have another group growing out; they should be ready to go in a few weeks. PM if interested.