Andinoacara cf. pulcher sp. “Rio Chirgua”

Common Name

• None

Collection Locality

Río Chirgua, Venezuela.

Etymology

The name given to this species is derived from the area in which is was collected.

The original photograph was supplied by Jeff Rapps under the name of Andinoacara sp. “Río Orinoco”, but we believe this fish to be Andinoacar sp. “Río Chirgua”. Collection locations are often obscured either by poor memory or on purpose by the collectors to hide where they are getting their "special" fish. However, The Río Chirgua is an inflow to the middle of the Río Orinoco, Venezuela, this means both rivers could carry this fish, but it is very different to the fish name Andinoacara sp. “Río Orinoco”

Size

unknown, but thought to be similar to Andinoacara pulcher

Feeding

As an omnivorous fish they are generally easy to feed. It is suggested to feed a good quality cichlid stick as staple, and supplement this with regular feeds of live and frozen foods such as earthworms, prawns, mussels, and other such foods.

Vegetable matter, including peas, spinach should also form a good proportion of the diet. High protein foods such as beefheart and other red meats are not advisable.

We feed our fish with Vitalis cichlid pellets, and live foods, including bloodworm, and meal worm.

Compatibility

Unless you are keeping this fish in a large tank (4 feet or more) then it is best they are kept as single fish, or as a mate pair. The older the fish the more aggressive and territorial they become, and will consume any fish small enough to fit in their mouths.

Unlike some of hthe related fish in the rivulatus complex, pulcher is relatively docile and is more compatible with other fish and smaller aquarium setups.

Good tank mates for these fish are other medium cichlids, large characins, such as bleeding heart tetras, and catfish such as corydoras and ancistrus.

These fish are not suitable for a standard community tank.