Sexing Nandopsis Bartoni

Learning how to differentiate the sexes for Nandopsis Bartoni did not come easy as there was not much specific information in these area.

So it was partly based on experience and partly, gut feel when I bought my first pair.
Now that the pair that I have bought, have bred, I am more confident with the information that I am about to share. (do note that this is based on my observation, you may use this information at your own discreation)

Sexing for adult fishes is fairly easy, especially if they are ready to breed as venting could be done quite accurately. The breeding organ of the female is much bigger compared to the anal pore. It is also rounder and closer to it.

Female Nandopsis



















Male Nandopsis



















When venting is not possible, it is possible to differentiate the sex by observing some of the physical differences between male and female Nandopsis. These physical differences can be seen in fishes as small as 1.5".

The male tend to have a longer head structruce compared to the female. He also spot a dent on the head, just above the eye region, creating an illusion of a slight hump. The dorsal fins also show more patterns and spottings compared to female which have little or no spotting at all. It is mostly a solid yellow dorsal for females, with little spotting towards end.

Sub adult male about 3"

1.5" male

Sub adult female, 2.5"

1.5" female

A couple of shot of the sub adult pair that I've got

Nandopsis Bartoni

11 Mar 2011 (Friday), I actually took a half day off work to check out the new shipment that came in a day before. Wish I could have been there on arrival day, but that was not possible as I was out of town ... working.

There were quite a few nice pick from the shipment, Bocouti, Bifaciatus, Fenestraus, Godmani, Dovii, Umbie, Black Nasties, just to name a few. But I eventually ended up with a pair of 3" Bartoni.

The decision wasn't too difficult as I have never keep this fish before since I started keeping CAs some 9 years ago. The gold color of the young Bartoni were simply irresistable.

From what I have managed to gather from 'googling' and 'yahooing', this article from The Cichlid Room Companion (http://www.cichlidae.com/article.php?id=1) got the most comprehensive write which I think is the 'Bible' for anyone who is like me, new to Bartoni.

Here goes, pictures of my new Bartoni.

Boy... I think

The Gal

The Pair





Platystacus Cotylephorus

Yes... this is not a cichlid, but I am gonna to put it here in my Blog as well.

It was a rare opportunity to own one of this here and I was not going to miss it. Much thanks to Daniel from Aquahobby, who hand carried them from Japan.

I was lucky to be the first to get my hand on them, managed to pick out a pair (hopefully it is a male/female pair). Date : 8th Feb 2011

Both cats currently measure at 8 inches. My initial worries about thier diet was unfound as they were simply crazy over the Hilkari Carnivore Pellets.

My first pick was male ( I think ), since it has a more extended dorsal ray compare the the rest of available cats. Plus base on textbook knowledge - males tends to exhibit more molted patterns. My other pick was a light brown gal....... hopefully



Some close up shot of them with my Canon Ixus 300HS.

Apistogramma Cacatuoides

As usual, I succumbed to the beauty of yet another fish. This time round, it is an Apistogramma Cacatuoides ‘Super Red’. Not just another triple red with intense colored fins, this fellow is a quadruple with both the pelvic fins showing red and black markings.

Plus there was also an equally nice looking quadruple female lurking in the same tank.

These fancy colored cacas are from selective breeding. Wild cacas do not possessed such intense color.

Cacas are great entry level apistogramma as they are hardy and least expensive. Also they have great finnage and color. Soft water with typical PH of 5 to 6, temperature around 28 degree celcius would make a comfortable setting for these South Americian dwarf cichlids. 

Maltese x Silky Terrier for adoption

31 Jan 2011 - Dog adopted

Please contact Eileen at 93842126 if you are able to help.
Location - Singapore

What exactly is 'New World Cichlids'

New World Cichlids, often referred to as South or Central American Cichlids. They are hardy, easy to care for and add brilliant color to the freshwater aquarium.

Here’s a good read, a 5 part series of articles by prof. Dean Hougen

Acaras : Cichlasoma, Aequidens, Bujurquina, Tahuantinsuyoa, Krobia, Ladacara, Cleithracara, Nannacara.

Includes such fish commonly known as  Blue Acara, Green Terror, and Keyhole Cichlid.

High Bodied Acaras : Heros, Hypselacara, Hoplarcus, Mesonauta, Pterophyllum, Symphysodon, Uaru, Acaronia, Caquetaia.

This part includes such fish as Discus, Angelfish, Parrot Cichlid, Severum, Festivum, Uaru

North America and some close relative : Thorichthys, Archocentrus, Herichthys, Mandopsis, Theraps, Amphilophus.   Neetroplus, Paraneetroplus, Herotila, Petenia. 

Cichlids discussed include those commonly known as Jack Dempsey, Convict, Firemouth Cichlid, jurupari, Red Devil, Rainbow Cichlid.

Geophagines : Geophagus, Satanoperca, Hump-head eartheaters, Brasiliensoids, Gymnogeophagus, Biotodoma, Retroculus, Acarichthys, Guianacara, Papiliochromis, Apistogramma, Apistograminoides.

The Eartheaters, Apistogramma species, Rams.

Miscellaneous Genera : Cichla, Crenicieblines, Crenicarines, Chactobranchines. 

Includes Pike Cichlids, Checkerboard Cichlids, Oscar.

Introducing my 1st cichlids for 2011 - Caquetaia Umbrifera

The blue freckle monster … my first cichlids for 2011, brought him home on the 18^th Jan to be exact.

This guy is only an inch big as has the company of 2 emperor red hooks.

For now, he is just a cute innocent looking baby, minding his own business. The blue freckle monster, as the name suggest, can grow up to a length of 2 feet.

My current tank setup is a 2 x 1.5ft, may only be able to house him for a good 6 months. Interior decoration consists of a piece of 2x1 ft tile (for easy maintenance and water management), a piece of big driftwood with lots of willow moss tied to it. The little umbie seems to like it a lot, clowning all over it like a clownfish over an anemone.

PH is around 7 and temperature is about 28 degree Celsius.

I used an overhead filter and a LED lamp for viewing pleasure and the moss as well.

Here’s another shot of this boy with the filter pump on the background. Gives a little perspective of how ‘big’ the fellow is right now.

And the tank mates, the forever hungry - emperor red hooks. Always a great addition if you want to get all your fishes to take on a pellet based diet.