Dixon1990 Posted September 17, 2008 Report Share Posted September 17, 2008 Ive seen heaps of sites saying you can keep Altolamprologus calvus pairs in 20 gallon tanks and other sites say 30 gallon, That is only 80-120L Is that right? Ifso can we get them in Nz? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
David R Posted September 17, 2008 Report Share Posted September 17, 2008 Yeah we can get them here, just like we can get black arowanas and pike cichlids... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dixon1990 Posted September 17, 2008 Author Report Share Posted September 17, 2008 What about Compressiceps? :lol: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ryanjury Posted September 17, 2008 Report Share Posted September 17, 2008 Pretty sure as long as they are a compatible pair they will be ok in a smaller tank.. I don't know if they're on the list or not I think David R has checked? http://www.cichlid-forum.com/articles/a_calvus.php Alto comp's are around I know of a few people who have pairs, haven't heard of any babies floating around, but it is only a matter of time.. They will still probably be quite expensive as they are very very slow growing/maturing.. http://www.cichlid-forum.com/articles/a ... siceps.php Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Navarre Posted September 17, 2008 Report Share Posted September 17, 2008 A Calvus are not on the import list. They used to be and I have knew a couple that brought some in. So there might be some around. However A Compresscips (sp) are on the list.........! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dixon1990 Posted September 17, 2008 Author Report Share Posted September 17, 2008 So it sounds like i will have to wait a while before i will be able to afford them! :lol: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Navarre Posted September 17, 2008 Report Share Posted September 17, 2008 Hmmm Now I think about it. Those people might have had Comp gold and Comp Blacks rather than Calvus. I might ask em...hmmm Sorry if thats a bum stear. Navarre Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
David R Posted September 17, 2008 Report Share Posted September 17, 2008 Yeah only Altolamprologus compressiceps is on the list, not that anyone at MAF would be able to tell the difference, and its not like A. calvus pose a any greater threat to the natives than A. compressiceps.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Freakyfish Posted September 18, 2008 Report Share Posted September 18, 2008 They will breed quite easily in a small tank Though as said they take forever to get to a sellable size so they wont be cheap Also Comps dont come in a Black so if U saw black ones they might be Young Sumbu possibly But as said MAF wouldnt have a hope in telling them apart unless they knew exactly what they are looking at All you need is a dodgy Wholesaler overseas to mislable them Sure it happens all the time anyways Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
new zealand discus man Posted September 18, 2008 Report Share Posted September 18, 2008 http://www.biosecurity.govt.nz/files/im ... ic.all.pdf Above is the link to the latest permitted list..Also i submitted hundreds that were imported by us in the past and are on the list...BUT MAF still failed to include the list as was know in nz..They had it as i was asked to comment and add to it...Covered most africans here and many others... They just done half the job....Think as there was a big movement of staff.. But also remember i still see current imports in stores that are on no lists...Never know your luck..What ever you want might just turn up.....Phill Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
herefishiefishie Posted September 20, 2008 Report Share Posted September 20, 2008 How easy would it be to get calvus in if you had connections. I mean at 2-3cm... I could tell the difference, but many couldn't. Just to tease, here is a pick of a male white calvus I have. I used to keep a breeding trio in a 4x1x1... he knocked off both girls the bastard. Currently raising about 10 more, should be breeding in about 6 months. These guys take about 2 years to get to maturity. Takes 6 months to raise fry to 3cm. Very cool fish. Frenchy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tropheus Posted September 20, 2008 Report Share Posted September 20, 2008 Hes a good looking boy. You would think importers in NZ would bring them in considering they bring in Alto's Is that a Cyprichromis female in the background. Guess they ready available in Aussie? Whats your weekly diet for your Alto's and Culvus? Any tips on breeding Alto's? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
herefishiefishie Posted September 20, 2008 Report Share Posted September 20, 2008 Mine eat flake food, mysis shrimp, live brine every now & then as a treat. I try not to feed them much in the way of pallets. The jaw can dislocate easy. I raise my altos in a pretty much bare tank, so the dom male doesn't bash the rest.... These guys are great jumpers, no gaps in lids. Once I can figure out best looking male, I start getting rid of the other males. I sex them on body shape. I use barnacle shells fro breeding. I have tried shells, but they can get stuck in them, once again dam male. I like the barnacle shell too as you can see eggs, fry etc. The trick here is to take the fry out before they leave the safety of the shell. Once again, dam male, food source. Raising fry can be very difficult. I have found the white calvus to be hard to raise, as has a couple of mates of mine. What worked best was bare tank, live micro worm culture. Constant small water changes. I think with this species, live food is best in the early stages. I have tried fry food with limited success. I do my water changes be emptying the fry tank 1/2 way down. Then topping the fry tank back up with water from the parents tank. {I had fry tanks under parents tanks}Which I had water changed earlier in the day. I use air line tubing to syphon the water in. The young are fragile to changes in water. The fry can be bastards to when it comes to eating each other. I have had 4 2fts with fry at different stages, just to separate them out. As I said earlier its 6 months to get them to 3cm. Frenchy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
herefishiefishie Posted September 20, 2008 Report Share Posted September 20, 2008 :lol: I just looked in on the ones I am raising. The female is hovering around an entrance to a barnacle. Got the torch out, I see eggs. 8) Looks like next weekend, set back up fry tanks. I have poker final today, will take a photo later when I get the chance. Frenchy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tropheus Posted September 21, 2008 Report Share Posted September 21, 2008 Sounds awesome photos would be great. Will have ago with my yellows & red Altos. Had my yellows breed twice now and saw wriggles but alway to slow to get them out before the male or female eats them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
David R Posted September 21, 2008 Report Share Posted September 21, 2008 Tropheus, I'm sure you've already got a list the length of your arm, but if/when you do produce some I'd be very interested. They're one of the few african cichlids I really like. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
herefishiefishie Posted September 21, 2008 Report Share Posted September 21, 2008 Good luck with it all. In my case, once I notice the wrigglers starting to separate in the shell, is the time to move them. Bait the female away from the shell with food. I had one female used to just bolt when the hand went in. the other used to attack me or shoot straight in the barnacle shell. Get yourself some micro worm culture just in case. Frenchy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
herefishiefishie Posted September 21, 2008 Report Share Posted September 21, 2008 Here's a handy link http://www.malawicichlidhomepage.com/other/altolamprologus_calvus_white3.html Frenchy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tropheus Posted September 24, 2008 Report Share Posted September 24, 2008 I was lucky enough to be given these guys so first couple of batchs have been promised for. Think I need them to spawn for me first B4 I get ahead of myself Only problem is finding enough room to separate Alto's in there own tanks as fish room has just gone crazy with fish spawning. Even my Tropheus Brichardi (3 females) are holding. :lol: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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