species of this group keep their larvae after hatching hanging at the roots of aquatic plants instead of putting them in a pre-dug pit in the bottom.
Editors Note
Currently, the assignments appear that Group 2 Archocentrus are now assigned to Cryptoheros, and Herotilapia are described under Archocentrus. Opinions will always divide.
Archocentrus centrarchus is highly recommended to keep, not only because they are peaceful, but they have fascinating spawning and parental behaviour. This is an ideal cichlid to keep in smaller aquariums; a breeding pair could easily be kept in a 50 g / 240l aquarium. If you’ re planning to keep them in a community tank, then go for a little larger. The minimum I would personally recommend is 90 g / 400L. You could keep them with smaller biotope correct centrals like Archocentrus multispinosus. In larger communities, they will do well with many different cichlids, large or small.
They aren’ t often available in aquarium stores, but if you have the opportunity, seriously give them some consideration.
Archocentrus multispinosus
References:
• Bussing, W. A.( 1998) Peces de las aguas continentales de Costa Rica. Revista de Biología Tropical, 46, 1 – 468.
• Concheiro Pérez, G., Rican, O., Ortí, G., Bermingham, E., Doadrio, I., Zardoya, R.( 2006) Phylogeny and biogeography of 91 species of heroine cichlids( Teleostei: Cichlidae) based on sequences of the Cytochrome b gene. Mol. Phylogenet. Evol. 43, 91-110.
• Gill, T. & Bransford, J. F.( 1877) Synopsis of the fishes of Lake Nicaragua. Proceedings of the Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia, 29, 175 – 218.
• Schmitter-Soto, J. J.( 2007) A Systematic Revision of the Genus Archocentrus( Perciformes: Cichlidae), with the Description of Two New Genera and Six New Species. Zootaxa 1603, 1-76.
Willem Heijns, 2007 Observations and captive breeding of Archocentrus centrarchus, with notes on Archocentrus
A. spinosissimus photo Willem Heijns,
Archocentrus spinosissimus Archocentrus centrarchus
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