Publication2 med aquascape Publication1cs complete | Page 43

Wood was also added, but not necessary to the dep-
pii biotope.
Water quality was in the typical Central American
range, hard water, with a pH of 7.5 and a tempera-
ture range of 75 up to 84 during the summer
months. Perhaps best not to simulate the upper
temperature range, as this was mainly due to the
uncontrollable summer heat in the fish house. Cer-
tainly a upper temperature of 82 would be fine long
term. Feeding them with a range of foods had no
problems. They will except most foods offered like
pellets, flake, also chopped up mussels and prawns. I
also offered them lettuce on a clip, which they took
interest and nibbled at. As a single specimen fish in a
large community tank, i can highly recommend
them. They shared the tank with a range of Cichlids,
like Vieja argentea, exCichlasoma salvini Thorichthys
passionis and a Vieja heterospila pair.
A young Herichthys deppii
7
No problems were encountered and appeared
sociable, however, behaviour will change dra-
matically when paired and spawning. Inter-
esting to note is any smaller fish in the aquari-
um will more than likely become food. Large
livebearers will be fine, but smaller Xiphopho-
rus sp. will disappear very quickly. H. deppii
are very efficient hunters within the aquarium
and were observed to quickly whittle down a
group of green swordtails to zero!
Sexing and spawning
Sexual dimorphism can be detectable when at
a small spawning size which is reported to be
at only 3inch. Females will tend to display
more orange dappling around the head and
operculum area. Also a dark dorsal blotch will
be displayed on the female, but can some-
times also be present on young males. Sexing
large adult fish are more apparent. Males are
heavier built with flowing unpaired fins, also
with a large head and steeper cranial profile.
The black dorsal blotch will be more present
on the female, especially when dominant or
spawning. A sexed pair will begin a bonding
process. This can be rough with jaw locking,
fin nipping and chasing. Hopefully they will
settle and perform body shimmering and