Publication2 med aquascape Publication1cs complete | Page 206

Head profile of a male
© Lee Nuttall
The Rio Tulija population in the aquarium seems
to behave otherwise brighter, than the Rio Bas-
can and Rio Chacamax populations. It also seems
this population starts spawning at a later stage of
their development.
Chuco intermedium is herbivorous heavy in na-
ture where they feed on plant matter and algae.
Adding plants in an aquarium is not recommend-
ed as they will not last long. Other prepared and
dried foods can be offered like dried flakes with
added spirulina, dried insects, river shrimp and
granular food. During summer months I have
offered insects that I encounter in the garden,
which are eagerly taken. I would recommend
avoiding mammalian protein foods. Predation
was noted in my aquariums, with a group of fast
swimming Astyanax mexicanus, so show caution
when adding smaller shoals of dither fish. Male
fish can reach a length of 12”/ 30cm; Females are
smaller and not as elongated as males. Male fish
will also develop a steeper cranial profile. . The
C.intermedium group of the Rio Chacamax were .
noted to display both light and dark complexions.
Sometimes the species can show dark coloured
throats, however this is more down to mood and
not a way to determine the sex of the fish. When
a pair has formed and ready to spawn, they will
excavate and clean a spawning site. C. intermedi-
us are substrate spawners and will deposit eggs
on a stone or a vertical placed rock. The female
will adopt and change into a breeding dress, then
later the male follows. I noted with the Rio Chaca-
max population that when spawning the eye col-
our changes from blue to yellow. The pair will de-
fend the spawning site, by chasing other fish
away.
C. intermedium can deposit around 330+ eggs;
however, I noted with the first spawn, there was
only around 150+. Some eggs will become unferti-
lised and turn white, but this can be expected.
The eggs are fanned by the female, until the fry
become wrigglers. The time period from depos-
iting the eggs until free swimming was noted
around day 9; however the duration can vary
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