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For the very first time an Astroblepus species is offered on the Dutch market.
A recent thread on these fish was mainly about their feeding habits. I'd like to know whether or not these fish can be kept in a (sort of) regular South-America biotope with a strong current but a temperature of 25 C?
Anyone got any experience with Astroblepus? Pls fill me in.

Marc,
I saw them come through the Bogota exporters on rare occasions. They need very high O2 levels and cool water. To give you an idea, they are found in streams alongside trout. I think they would do about as well in a typical tropical tank as a rainbow trout would. That said, if the price is right you certainly could experiment.
-Shane

Shane,
Thanks for replying. I've found out that experimenting with fishes is almost always at the cost of their lives.
Sometimes I should just be smart and say no. The money matter is no issue, but their lives are. After Gagata, Pseudolaguvia, Akysis and several other species I should finally know where to stop (or not to start).
Thanks for your advice: it'll save me from certain disappointment.

Hi all! I am from Ecuador, and sometimes dealers from Colombia sell Astroblepus grixalvii, as "tiburón fantasma", i want to breed them in captivity, but haven´t any idea of how sex these fishes , anyone here knows?

Note to the beginning of the thread: i know some of the tropical rivers on the Ecuador-Colombia frontier from a trip with a friend, they are fast running, with gravel bottom and large rocks, and the water varies on temp. according the time of the year, from 18-20 ºC on rain season to 25-27ºC on dry season, the Astroblepus usually are found on the deeper parts, on dark places, the bigger ones on the still water zones...

Marc - any pic available?

I'd really like to get hold of Astroblepus & am currently setting up a tank which will be entirely suitable. In their absence the Euchilichthys will go in & maybe some glyptothorax.

and the temp should depend of each species, here on the andes, the local Astroblepus spp. lives on chilling streams at 8-14ºC...

Richard B wrote:Marc - any pic available?

No, I haven't. Afaic remember they were listed and I did not actually see them. Not 100% sure though; it's been 2.5 years ago (January 2007)....

I know two people who have kept them but they tend not to live very long. I would say, for the fishes sake: no go.

In terms of sexing, the male has a large genital papilla