Cryptoheros panamensis

Well, it looks like I'm stuck on the genus Cryptoheros.

A good friend gave me a 5 subadult C. panamensis. These fish have been very rear in the hobby and I have no idea why. Size, temperament and easy maintenance make these cichlids perfect for the aquarium. Any of the Cryptoheros are.

Here are some photos:







I sure look forwards to see how they turn out as adults.......

I can understand why you would be hooked on them they are good looking fish. Congrats on the new fish.

Beautiful fish, wonder why they haven't caught on?

Nice looking fish!

Great little fish..

Pics are very nice also..

Very nice Klaus

Great looking little fellows!

Thank you all.

I know I'm late on this, but great looking fish. Cryptoheros actually are classified as Archocentrus now. I found this out after looking for a new fish to keep. Funny thing is about most of the fish in this genus is that they are different species but very closely related to Convict Cichlids. A few are more mildly tempered than convicts though.

BigFishMan25 wrote:Cryptoheros actually are classified as Archocentrus now.

That is not correct. Juan Schmitter-Soto reviewed and revised this whole group in 2007 and released a paper.

ISBN 978-1-86977-160-7 (Online edition)
http://www.mapress.com/zootaxa/

As of "Now" Archocentus has become the best way to describe them. If you look on Cichlid Forum you won't find Cryptoheros anymore under profiles.

Evidence is presented to justify generic recognition of
Archocentrus, as well as eight other closely related genera (Caquetaia, Hypsophrys, Parachromis, Amphilophus, Archocentrus,
Cryptoheros, Amatitlania, and Rocio). Of these, Amatitlania (type species, A. nigrofasciata) and Rocio (type
species, R. octofasciata) are described as new. The present revision treats all nominal species ever assigned to Archocentrus

I don't know if you know who Sam Borstein is, but this is what he thinks. (He researches and gives speeches at Cichlid Clubs around the US).

"Personally I use Archocentrus because the description for Cryptoheros by Allgayer in 2002 is really poorly done and doesn't really define anything separate between the genera. This doesn't mean that Cryptoheros may not be a legit genera, just how it was described at present is not justification in my opinion for the split."

I guess it comes down to what ever way you want to classify it as. Seems that both ways are acceptable now.

I know Sam Borstein, he is no scientist but a hobbyist like you and me. I too make presentations at other cichlid and aquarium clubs but I am not a scientist. Juan Schmitter-Soto is a scientist and I trust his knowledge.

If you are interested in reading in the 76 page document that was reviewed and agreed on by Dr. Paul Loiselle and Sven Kullander I will gladly e-mail it to you if you pm me your e-mail address.

Here are some new pictures of Cryptoheros panamensis:

I know Sam Borstein, he is no scientist but a hobbyist like you and me. I too make presentations at other cichlid and aquarium clubs but I am not a scientist. Juan Schmitter-Soto is a scientist and I trust his knowledge.

If you are interested in reading in the 76 page document that was reviewed and agreed on by Dr. Paul Loiselle and Sven Kullander I will gladly e-mail it to you if you pm me your e-mail address.

I my not questioning your source on this. I do not do very much with New Worlds and probably will continue to keep Africans. BTW anyone can be a scientist lol. You are a scientist.

Quick question Klaus. Looks like you've been keeping these guys for a while. I was just wondering if they can actually change their sex up to a certain size?