damba
11-15-2008, 06:11 PM
Scientific Name: Paretroplus dambabe Sparks 2002 (Paretoplus - like Etroplus, dambabe - large damba in the local Malagasian dialect.
Common Name: Damba
Adult male
http://i238.photobucket.com/albums/ff173/1cichlid1/tower013.jpg
Distribution: Northwest Madagascar, Lac Kinkony and Le Lac de la Digue and surrounding lakes
Habitat : Likely strictly Lacustrine in habita but data deficient
Breeding : From a school a pair will separate and display - the display is mainly instigated by the female. After display the pair will start spawning with the female having chosen the spawning site and done the majority of the cleaning. Once the eggs are laid the female will guard the territory whilst the male guards the eggs and nest. Sadly in captivity the eggs are normally eaten by the parents. Young can be raised artificially but this is extremely difficult and rarely ends in success.
Adult female
http://i238.photobucket.com/albums/ff173/1cichlid1/labridens001.jpg
Size: Female 30cm (12") Male 40cm (16")
Diet: Omnivore - In the wild likely molluscs and green matter. In captivity they eat practically everything but appreciate Doromin, scaled greens, snails, prawn and even flake.
Tank Size: 500L for a full grown pair
pH: 7.0-7.8
Notes: Rarely available this species is critically endangered in the wild being found over a very small range and possibly only remaining in one lake (Le Lac de la Digue) having become extinct in Lac Kinkony. Originally confused with Paretroplus pettiti this species was described by Sparks who was able to study the Paretroplus pettiti type material and ascertained it to be a separate species possibly anomolous with Paretroplus menarambo.
Paretroplus dambabe is a huge and beautiful, if aggressive species, which deserves to be more popular in the hobby. This fish can also be kept is slightly brackish water as Le Lac de la Digue is a brackish water lake.
Common Name: Damba
Adult male
http://i238.photobucket.com/albums/ff173/1cichlid1/tower013.jpg
Distribution: Northwest Madagascar, Lac Kinkony and Le Lac de la Digue and surrounding lakes
Habitat : Likely strictly Lacustrine in habita but data deficient
Breeding : From a school a pair will separate and display - the display is mainly instigated by the female. After display the pair will start spawning with the female having chosen the spawning site and done the majority of the cleaning. Once the eggs are laid the female will guard the territory whilst the male guards the eggs and nest. Sadly in captivity the eggs are normally eaten by the parents. Young can be raised artificially but this is extremely difficult and rarely ends in success.
Adult female
http://i238.photobucket.com/albums/ff173/1cichlid1/labridens001.jpg
Size: Female 30cm (12") Male 40cm (16")
Diet: Omnivore - In the wild likely molluscs and green matter. In captivity they eat practically everything but appreciate Doromin, scaled greens, snails, prawn and even flake.
Tank Size: 500L for a full grown pair
pH: 7.0-7.8
Notes: Rarely available this species is critically endangered in the wild being found over a very small range and possibly only remaining in one lake (Le Lac de la Digue) having become extinct in Lac Kinkony. Originally confused with Paretroplus pettiti this species was described by Sparks who was able to study the Paretroplus pettiti type material and ascertained it to be a separate species possibly anomolous with Paretroplus menarambo.
Paretroplus dambabe is a huge and beautiful, if aggressive species, which deserves to be more popular in the hobby. This fish can also be kept is slightly brackish water as Le Lac de la Digue is a brackish water lake.