yy\ _ IltAS -1 rCki Q0 ' \:011 . (3) Ict an Aequidens trying h THE CUPID° Geophagus.) In fact, B. cupido, CICHLID colored, is not at all As base color is a violet- regularly-shaped blotc coppery hue present Each scale has a minu especially prominent :1 By PAUL V. LOISELLE flanks. A roughly eye-s1 edged in shining white, far base of the soft dor$ black band through till base of the gill cover. this bar is a shining wh deep-blue, wormlike m HE WORLD OF AQUARIUM fishes con- the basis of differences in the anatomy ent on the gill covers. Ttains many species whose appearance of the gills and the structure of the skull. intense in males, and is like that of a "walking shadow" that This distinction has not been generally the sexual differences passes briefly and then is seen no more. recognized (Eigenmann and Allen, in The dorsal is a met Sometimes aquarists are permitted their work on the fishes of western South with a dusky margin in another chance at such mystery species, America, are a significant exception) and a rosewood or su and with the right combination of knowl- and the references in the aquarium liter- its soft portion. The edge, skill, and luck the mystery fish ature discuss this species under the head- borders of the notche • can become a popular standby. Hope- ing Geophagus cupido. For a number of edged, the base color fully, Biotodoma cupido, first imported reasons which will hopefully become ap- that of the soft dor into Germany in 1935 and once again parent I prefer the generic designation similarly colored, but available to aquarists in the United Biotodoma, as opposed to Geophagus. The very large ventrals States, will meet with more success as To begin with, this species is struc- with a very striking b an aquarium resident on the rebound turally unlike any member of the genus of shining white. The than on its first try. Although its main- Geophagus. The large, pointed head, pectorals are transpl tenance offers no insurmountable diffi- protractile upper jaw and flattened culties, it has steadfastly refused to re- throat and ventral profile characteristic produce in captivity, and its reproduc- of the latter genus are conspicuous by tive behavior still remains a mystery, their absence in B. cupido. The diameter subject to unconfirmed reports and con- of the eye in B. cupido is approximately siderable speculation. equal to the length of the snout, while The aquarist searching for informa- it is considerably less in Geophagus. The tion on this species will find limited dorsal and anal of adult B. cupido never pickings. It made its scientific debut in display the pointed extremities so char- 1840, being described by the great Ger- acteristic of adult Geophagus, and the man ichthyologist and anatomist, distinctive metallic spangled coloration Heckel, as a Geophagus species. In his which makes the members of the genus monograph on the family Cichlidae, such attractive aquarium fish is very published in 1904, Pellegrin assigned much reduced in B. cupido. (As I once this species to the genus Biotodoma on observed to a friend, B. cupido looks like an Aequidens trying hard to become a cupido is frightened, the metallic color- Geophagus.) ation on the flanks disappears, along In fact, B. cupido, while handsomely with the coppery glow in the dorsal and colored, is not at all flamboyant. Its on the shoulder. The fish then becomes base color is a violet-grey, with an ir- a deep umber, with three to seven light regularly-shaped blotch of a subdued spots on the dorsum. In this color phase, coppery hue present on the shoulder. the ocellated spot is obscured. This is Each scale has a minute green spangle, very apt to be how the aquarist first sees especially prominent along the lower this species in a dealer's tanks. This flanks. A roughly eye-shaped black spot, fish is not easily sexed, and is virtually edged in shining white, is present at the impossible to sex when displaying this far base of the soft dorsal, while a broad color pattern. When in normal colora- black band through the eye runs to the tion, males may be distinguished by their base of the gill cover. Just in back of larger size, minutely-pointed soft dorsal, this bar is a shining white patch. Several more intense blue wormlike markings deep-blue, wormlike markings are pres- about the gills, larger coppery shoulder Terences in the anatomy ent on the gill covers. These are more spot and longer, more vividly-edged the structure of the skull. intense in males, and constitute one of ventral. Females are generally less color- has not been generally the sexual differences in this species. ful and have a more rounded ventral genmann and Allen, in The dorsal is a metallic coppery hue profile. These distinctions were observed le fishes of western South with a dusky margin in its spiny portion, and a number of fishes displaying them a significant exception) and a rosewood or subdued magenta in preserved and examined by me for the es in the aquarium liter- its soft portion. The upper and lower presence of testes and ovaries. Hence, s species under the head- borders of the notched tail are white- although I have not managed to spawn cupido. For a number of edged, the base color being similar to this species, I am reasonably certain of ill hopefully become ap- that of the soft dorsal. The anal is the validity of these external differences. the generic designatior, similarly colored, but somewhat duskier. This species is most definitely a fish of pposed to Geophagus. The very large ventrals are a dusky violet soft, warm, acid waters, and does not h, this species is struc- with a very striking broad leading edge y member of the genus of shining white. The large, fan-shaped THE CUPID° CICHLID, Biotodorna cupido. e large, pointed head, pectorals are transparent. When B. (Dave Tohir) er jaw and flattened ral profile characteristic us are conspicuous by B. cupido. The diameter cupido is approximately gth of the snout, while less in Geophagus. The f adult B. cupido never ted extremities so char- lt Geophagus, and the lic spangled coloration members of the genus aquarium fish is very B. cupido. (As I once nd, B. cupido looks like show its best coloration or stay in the partial water changes. This species re- best of health under any but these con- acts adversely to brilliant lighting. Sub- ditions. My specimens were quite happy dued illumination is a necessity if the in softened Los Angeles tap water, pH fish are to behave normally. 7.2, hardness 40 ppm. However, they This species was also rather particular made no move to spawn, and I suspect about its food. Tubifex worms and live that the sodium ions present in the Anemia were taken eagerly, but a flake softened water from the action of the food met with little enthusiasm and was ion-exchange resin in the softener were eaten only when the fish were quite still present in too great a concentration hungry. A paste food of my recipe was to permit normal reproduction. This taken eagerly, but boiled lettuce or any species will probably not be induced to other plant food was never observed to reproduce under anything short of discus be ingested. I suspect that this species conditions, although general mainte- specializes upon insect larvae and small nance seems to involve fewer difficulties. crustaceans in the wild, a suspicion that Perhaps tank-raised fish will prove less the small, slightly bottom-placed mouth particular, but until these are available, seems to reinforce. the demands of imported stock will have This species is said to be quarrelsome, to be met. A temperature range of 75°- but my specimens were peaceful towards 80°F. served well enough for general other fish to the point of abject timidity, maintenance, and it was noted that this and displayed only moderate aggressive- species markedly benefited from frequent ness towards one another. Interestingly, We select and buy our fish from the best and most reliable suppliers and own col- lectors in South America and fly tfiem in our own plane to the States. We take proper care of +he fish right from th• start. Livebearers are raised on our own farm in Florida. Our experience of more than 40 years in business is to your advantage. Wholesale Only ARDSLEY, NEW YORK P.O. Box 627, Tel. 914 °Wens 3-4800 VERO BEACH, FLORIDA Emerson Avenue, P. O. Box 277 Tel. 305 JOrdan 2-5487 We' sa 18 AQUARIUM almost all attacks were directed either erous choice of mates, the fish never en- against the eye-spot on the upper por- gaged in any behavior that could be even tion of the flanks or against the white remotely linked to reproduction. Chasing spot. No attempts were ever made by was on a strictly random basis, and even individuals to set up a territory, and I the use of sex hormones elicited a nega- suspect that this species occurs in small tive response. The fish were between schools in nature. A stable "peck order" two and a half and three and a half was soon established, and was main- inches in length when purchased, and tained over the entire period that the did not grow noticeably in their stay in fish were in my possession. The fish were my tanks despite generous feeding, so initially quite timid, but after a few days I presume they • were and are sexually became accustomed to me and acted like mature.