What should i expect from a Black Lancer?

TalenT · Post by **TalenT** » 23 Jun 2005, 23:33

I couldn't resist... We got a shipment of these small, incredible beautiful juvenile Black Lancers a couple of days ago. At a price of (if i'm correct about the currency) about 6-7 euros a piece (as an employee i got mine cheaper than that

). We sold almost all of them in a few days and today only one was left so he got to come with me. Since i have only South American biotopes i had to put him with some SA fish. The Lancer is about 6cm TL so i put him in a 65 liter tank (i know that he will outgrow it, but for time being) together with Ancistrus hoplogenys, Pysopixis lyra and Emperor tetras. The last days I've read everything i can find about Black Lancers, but it leaves me confused. On one hand you can read that they are the most peaceful fish and on the other that they are real fin-nippers!!! So what's the deal? I wouldn't want to see him harm my adorable Pysopixis lyra (espescially since they whirl around at lights-out like wind-up toys and don't really seem to be able to "bite back" if attacked). If it matters in any way, the Lancer seems to be a male. He has a rather visible, white, genital papilla.

Post by **Silurus** » 23 Jun 2005, 23:57

The lancers I kept were more retiring than fin nippers. They can be boisterous at times in asserting their territories (almost always at night), but no lasting damage done.

YouTube · Post by **Jools** » 24 Jun 2005, 09:30

They are most certainly not fin nippers unless it is to each other when they are. I have a pair in a large aquarium and there is no fin nipping except the occaisional bite at each other. This is a 48"lx30"wx18"h aquarium, anything much smaller and I think keeping them together is going to be difficult. I also really get the feeling with these fish that you should be keeping them in a tank stuffed full of plants and a few pipes to mimic hollow logs.

Jools

TalenT · Post by **TalenT** » 24 Jun 2005, 19:22

Thanks for the replys. Seems like it had an encounter with the male A.hoplogenys during the night - this morning the Ancistrus had a split caudal fin and the Lancer had some tears in the pectoral fins (this might have been from transport yesterday). The Lancer has found a safe place beneath the thick growth of a Microsorium sp. "WindelÃ¶w".