Edit Retroculus lapidifer

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Name

Scientific name

Retroculus lapidifer

Described by

Authority Castelnau, Year 1855, Bracketed

Family

Cichlidae

Common names

Not recorded

Photograph credits

All 27 credited

Summary

Retroculus lapidifer is a rheophilic cichlid from the rio Tocantins and Araguaia systems and nearby coastal drainages of northeastern Brazi…

Size and aquarium

Maximum size

200mm, standard length

Aquarium size

Minimum length 210 cm, Minimum depth 60 cm, Water movement High: fast-flowing river or riffle

Water

Water conditions

Temperature 26–32°C, pH 6–8

Hardness

1–12dGH

Conductivity

Not recorded

Behaviour

Temperament

Peaceful

Community suitability

Not for a community

Where it lives

Countries, regions, rivers and lakes

Brazil, Araguaia, Capim, Das Mortes, do Coco, Guamá, Gurupi, Itacaiúnas, Maranhão, Parauapebas, Santa Teresa, Tocantins

Writing

Etymology

Retroculus: from the Latin retro, meaning 'back, behind', and oculus, meaning 'eye', in reference to the position of the eye in the posterior portion of the he…

Distribution

Inhabits rivers draining into the Atlantic Ocean in the northeast of the country, south of the Amazon. The majority of records pertain to the rio Tocantins sys…

Inhabits rivers draining into the Atlantic Ocean in the northeast of the country, south of the Amazon. The majority of records pertain to the rio Tocantins system, its major tributary the rio Araguaia, and affluents within both these basins including the rios das Mortes, do Coco, Itacaiúnas, Paraupebas, Maranhão, and Santa Teresa.

It also occurs in the rio Capim within the rio Guamá watershed and the rio Gurupi, a smaller coastal drainage.

Type locality is 'Falls of the Rio Araguaya, Brazil'.

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Where does this come from?

My own experienceFor example, I've kept twelve in a planted 60 cm tank since March 2024.A website I sawFor example, an IUCN Red List assessment, a museum catalogue or a FishBase page.A paperFor example, Marshall et al. (2011), Water temperature differences in interfluvial palm swamp habitats of Paracheirodon axelrodi and P. simulans.A book, or something not onlineFor example, Tappin (2010), Rainbowfishes: their care and keeping in captivity.Something already on the pageFor example, the Behaviour and compatibility section already says this.

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DOI

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Title

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Authors

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Year

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Pages

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Anything worth adding

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Habitat

This species is rheophilic and occurs in rapids or fast-flowing stretches of clear water rivers. Such habitats typically contain many boulders of varying sizes…

Aquarium size

An aquarium with a base measuring at least 210 ∗ 60 cm or equivalent is required.

Maintenance

Retroculus spp. are unsuitable for the standard community aquarium, and should be maintained in a set-up designed to resemble a flowing river. The substrate sh…

Water conditions

Temperature: 26 – 32 °C; this species will not thrive in cooler water. pH: 6.0 – 8.0 Hardness: 1 – 12 dGH

Diet

The diet of wild individuals is dominated by benthic aquatic invertebrates, particularly chironomid (midge), trichoptera (caddisfly), and ephemeroptera (Mayfly…

Behaviour and compatibility

Relatively peaceful unless breeding but may predate on smaller tankmates, and best-maintained alongside peaceful pelagic fishes rather than other benthic speci…

Sexual dimorphism

Adult male individuals are noticeably more slender than females, this being most pronounced in the region between ventral and anal fins which is virtually stra…

Reproduction

Biparental substrate-spawner that has been bred in aquaria. There does not appear to be any particular trigger for the reproductive process, with the main requ…

Notes

This species is available in the ornamental trade on a sporadic basis. It can be distinguished from congeners by the following combination of characters: dorsa…

References

11 on this profile

Name

Scientific name

Described by

Family

Common names

Photograph credits

Summary

Size and aquarium

Maximum size

Aquarium size

Water

Water conditions

Hardness

Conductivity

Behaviour

Temperament

Social needs

Community suitability

Where it lives

Countries, regions, rivers and lakes

Writing

Etymology

Distribution

Habitat

Aquarium size

Maintenance

Water conditions

Diet

Behaviour and compatibility

Sexual dimorphism

Reproduction

Notes

References

References