Astronotus orbicularis

[MCHRKiller]

Just thought I would post some pics of my 2 little guys, they are around 3" long. They are jet black when smaller with white dots and slowly morph into a black/yellow fish with a striped patter and some red speckling. They are somewhat in a weird looking stage of starting to get adult pattern and still being black.




Do excuse the tank, they are in an old beat up scratched,scuffed and clouded acrylic for QT.

[Lab_Rat]

Congrats on the new babies!

[MCHRKiller]

Thanks Labby! I had to move one to the 150G as the other was being aggressive toward it...of course it was the nicest looking of the two which was being forced to hide. The same fish which allowed its sibling to beat it into the plants has taken over 1/2 of a 6ft tank full of fish many times larger...even an 8" bossy Rotkeil wont come near the cute little 3" Orbicularis. I will probably try the introduction of the other Orb. in a few days and see how it goes, if aggression continues it will be sold.

[toddnbecka]

Size is nothing, it's all about the attitude. Many (~25) years ago I had a 55 gallon tank with a mixed community of fish, the largest of which were a couple of nearly fully grown angels. I picked up a baby (1") mbuna, blue and black vertical stripes, probably a zebra because I don't think the demasoni were available back then. The little terror happily chased the angels all over the tank, and all they would have had to do would be turn around and swallow the little troublemaker.
Funnier yet was the 2" electric catfish I gave to a friend after it zapped a couple of my cichlids. (So much for the theory they'd grow up together and get along...) The wee zapper was dropped into a 6', 150 gallon tank containing 3 adult Oscars and a black pacu the size of a dinner plate. The pacu seemed to be terrified of the catfish from the start, but the Oscars had to learn. The first, most aggressive Oscar spotted the new fish and thought "yum, feeder." He got about an inch away from eating the new arrival, then did a 180. Twice, since he apparently didn't quite catch on the first time. The second-in-line Oscar only tried it once, while the 3rd Oscar seemed to learn from watching the other two and didn't even bother. A couple days later I saw the tank again. Wherever the wee zapper was, the 4 other, huge fish were as far away as they could get. As the little catfish circled the tank so did they, on the opposite end/side, etc. He was moved out soon afterward, just didn't seem right for a 2" fish to rule a 6' tank.

[MCHRKiller]

lol! Awesome story would have been funny to see I am sure. These Orbs are defying any "oscar" experience I have ever had, all Oscars I have owned were just cute happy little eating machines till 5-6". These already have attitude...considering Rapps said he grew out a male to 15" I think I may possibly be needing a new tank within a year or so

[chronic]

Aww, cute little guys

[toddnbecka]

Aside from being a different species they're also wild-caught stock, probably more aggressive than several generations of captive-bred tank-raised juvies would be. They're the fittest ones that survived in the wild, not pampered and regularly fed pets all their lives.
Looking forward to seeing how they develop, I just wish I had large enough tanks for fish like those. They may turn out to be as aggressive as P-bass when they're adults.

[Taurus]

LOL...good luck with the mediation! I gotta name for the agressive little guy...you can call him 'tude

[MCHRKiller]

lol! That is a good name for them. It really is hard to say how they will turn out when adult, there is no information regarding them online muchless in books. They have already put bullet holes into my past A.ocellatus experience even my old pair of F1 peruvians dont hold a candle to the confidence these guys have at only 3". I have decided to add the other Orb. to the tank after I do my remodel so the one in there (hopefully) beat the crap out of it.