Lophiobagrus cyclurus

[Phyllonemus]

I have a 180 liters tank with a group of 6 Synodontis lucipinnis and a group
of paracyprichromis c i c h l i d s .

Is it possible to add a single Lophiobagrus cyclurus ?
If it’s possible, do they predate on c i c h l i d baby’s and does the toxicity of this specie harm the other inhabitats of the tank ?.

[sidguppy]

a single cyclurus won't be a problem
the poison is only secreted when it's attacked or in stress.

if it has a cave of it's own it's not likely to be attacked by your current fish.

but yes, it's a carnivore and will eat small fish.

[Richard B]

Agree with Sid.

An upturned flowerpot with a "door"/hole at the lip has proved the residence of choice for my cyclurus & also for my brevi's - make the door just big ebough for them to get in/out of

[Phyllonemus]

Thanks Lex and Richard.
So he poison is secretet by stress also. My Syno's will be very active from time to time, can the over activity from the Syno's cause stress too the cyclurus ?

And how strong is the poison ?

Netting this specie out a fish bag can cause stress too when putting him/her directly in the tank i think, or am I wrong ?

[Richard B]

Mine is in with my synos & actively joins feeding frenzies without any problem at all - as long as they have a dedicated bolt-hole they can go there to chill out (so to speak) & remain stress free. I have not encountered the toxic slime so cannot advise further from experience, only to advise that set-ups should include measures to prevent it happening

[Phyllonemus]

And when I remove the Synodontis lucipinnis, is it possible to add more than one (couple maybe? ) with a group of Paracyprichromis nigripinnis
c i c h l i d s ?

[Richard B]

And when I remove the Synodontis lucipinnis, is it possible to add more than one (couple maybe? ) with a group of Paracyprichromis nigripinnis
c i c h l i d s ?

I don't see why not - cyps in general are midwater swimmers & the nigripinnis are a bit more likely to stick close to rockwork (which should extend from the floor to the surface) . keep the lophios well fed to stop them looking at juvie paracyps are a night time snack

[Phyllonemus]

I've heard/read that they can be quit nasty to eachother.

Richard, how many cyclurus do you keep in the same tank ?
And what about their intraspecific agression in your tank ?

[Oliver D.]

Hi,

I have had 6 L. cyclurus together with a group S. petricola/lucipinnis in 160 liters for some years. No problems with this combination. A male of L. cyclurus can be very aggressive to an other male.
See my youtube video from the worst fight, I´ve ever seen:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HLy2ul9mwbM
They lost barbels and parts of the skin, but very quick healing...

Now I have only one pair in the tank.

My Lophiobagrus have eat the following fishes:
- all my Xiphophorus maculatus
- my new young Hemichromis sp.

Try to eat:
a 5 cm Hemiloricaria sp. (the Lophiobagrus have had a size of 4 cm)

Deadly for both!

Uncought:
- Tanichthys albonubes

Yes they eat small fishes, but they get not all species.

I think 1 or 2 males with some females are not a problem in a tank with 180 liters. Every fish should have a cave, like a flower pot or a half coconut.

Also no problems in 5 years with the poison. Some of my Lophiobagrus have had a lot of stress...

[Richard B]

Oliver - great photo!!!

I currently have one brevi & one cyclurus and have seen no incidents between them in a 260litre. If something will fit in their mouth & ventures to the bottom of the tank it is at risk. But that said i've NEVER seen either sp venture more than 5 inches from the bottom of the tank, even around rockwork stretching to the surface - not even in the wildest melee over the tastiest foodstuff added (like prawn paste balls) where the synos and lophios go totally crazy and some of the synos sp (but not all) will go up to the surface to feed.