INFO - "PERSPICAX"

NAME: Perspicax (Orange Cap)


GENUS: Pseudotropheus


SPECIES: Perspicax


ENDEMIC TO: Lake Malawi - AFRICA


MAX SIZE: 8.5cm


WATER PARAMETERS: 24-28c / ph 7.2 to 8.5


CLASS: Mouth brooding Mbuna


SEXUAL DIMORPHISM: Male Perspicax possess much stronger colours than their female counter parts. They are larger in size and exhibit a solid cobalt blue from head to tail. Males from this species will also acquire a red/orange highlight through their dorsal and pelvic fins. Females are a rusty brown colour with a pale orange in their fins.
Egg dummies may be present in the anal fin of male Perpicax however diagnosis is most accurate via the vents of the fish at a sexually mature age.


TEMPERAMENT: Perspicax are a typical mbuna in that they will defend their territory vigorously especially when breeding. Although a smaller species of the Pseudotropheus family, these fish are capable of displaying high levels of aggression to fish of the same size.


DIET REQUIREMENTS: Pseudotropheus Perspicax are herbivorous and their diet in the wild consist of predominantly algae and other vegetation however they also opportunistically feed on insects and small invertebrates. In captivity, they readily take dry foods (sinking pellets/flakes), frozen blood worms/brine shrimp and live foods. Vegetable or spirulina based foods are ideal but it is recommended that you provide your fish with a varied diet by supplementing with frozen or live foods at least once a week to further ensure your fish remain vibrant and healthy. Excessive intake of protein to this family of fish may cause health problems.

AUTHOR'S NOTES:

• Typical mbuna. Most suited to habitat with plenty of caves and crevices.


• Perspicax are best housed with haplochromides or in a single species tank for breeding purposes. It is advised to keep this species separated from other Pseudotropheus sp to prevent interbreeding.
  Selecting juveniles at a size of 5cm should allow you to differentiate males and females. Males from the batch will be bigger and more colourful.


• Perspicax will breed comfortably in colonies of 2 male and 4 females. The more counterparts in the colony will mean the mouth brooding female has better opportunities to escape constant harassment from dominant males.


• Generally an adult mouth brooding female will hold up to 20 eggs.
  From date of spawning, fry should be free swimming after 14 days depending on water temperature.

• Due to their overall size, the mother's mouth may provide difficulties when extracting young manually. Their broods are significantly smaller than other Pseudotropheus species however where Perspicax lack in tails per spawn they make up in frequency of breeding.


• Easy to House and rear. Raise temperatures and feed live foods to optimise breeding.


• Perspicax are easy to breed provided it is contained in a healthy environment and dominant males are not in competition with other more larger species in the aquarium.


• On a scale of 1-10 (ten being the hardest) this species scores a 3 for ease of breeding.


• Perspicax may be housed in a community aquarium but males generally display best colours in the absence of larger Zebra species.

photos courtesy of bayfish.com.au