Humps

[nomadofthehills]

Can anyone tell me about midas/rds humps?

Anything there is to know about them, I'd like to know.

How big before they get them, why the get them, etc etc...






I have my 3 inch peach midas (got from petsmart, it might be a mix, but we sell midas and rds in different tanks so ill call it a midas lol) in a 55 with a theo heater and a hydor 300 filter, with a pleco. He is by himself becuase I bought a creamsicle a little bigger, but he killed the creamsickle overnight.

I then got a common pleco, about 2 inches, but it looks abberant to me, instead of grey with darker blotches it is yellowish with black circles.

As soon as my midas charged him, he whipped around and starred down the midas lol... They don't bother each other, but that might change right?

Anyway, with no other midas, will he still feel dominant and get a hump?

Also, when can I sex him? I got him last week at 2" but i swear hes already grown an inch. I feed him omega one cichlid pellets, along with freeze dried bloodworms, omega one algae discs, and frozen food. Its called frswater multipack, and its little cubes. It has 4 different cube types:

Ingredients:
Cichlid Chow
Turkey heart, Artemia Franciscana, daphnia, menhaden oil, astaxanthin, spirulina algae, sodium alginate, Vitamin premix: wheat flour, Vitamin A acetate, cholecalciferol (source of vitamin D3), vitamin B12 supplement, riboflavin, niacin, calcium pantothenate, folic acid, menadione sodium bisulfate complex, pyridoxine hydrochloride, thiamine mononitrate, biotin, inositol, L-ascorbyl-2-polyphosphate, betaine, d-alpha mixed tocopherols (source of vitamin E)

Emerald Entrée
Artemia Franciscana, mysis, krill, plankton, spinach, romaine lettuce, red leaf lettuce, spirulina algae, menhaden oil, sodium alginate, Vitamin premix: wheat flour, Vitamin Aacetate, cholecalciferol (source of vitamin D3), vitamin B12 supplement, riboflavin, niacin, calcium pantothenate, folic acid, menadione sodium bisulfate complex, pyridoxine hydrochloride, thiamine mononitrate, biotin, inositol, L-ascorbyl-2-polyphosphate, betaine, d-alpha mixed tocopherols (source of vitamin E)

Bloodworms

Spirulina Enriched Brine Shrimp
Artemia franciscana (brine shrimp), Spirulina algae

Guaranteed Analysis:
Spirulina brine shrimp:
Crude Protein Min 4.50%
Crude Fat Min 0.40%
Crude Fiber Max 0.50%
Moisture Max 94.00%
Dry Protein % 75.00%

Cichlid Chow:
Crude Protein Min 8.50%
Crude Fat Min 3.00%
Crude Fiber Max 0.50%
Moisture Max 89.00%
Dry Protein % 77.27%

Emerald Entree:
Crude Protein Min 6.20%
Crude Fat Min 1.20%
Crude Fiber Max 0.50%
Moisture Max 90.00%
Dry Protein % 62.00%

Bloodworms:
Crude Protein Min 4.50%
Crude Fat Min 0.20%
Crude Fiber Max 0.70%
Moisture Max 95.00%
Dry Protein 90.00%.



I've been feeding him 2-3 times a day, with regular water changes. Pool filter sand, with clay pots as decor, also, 2 java ferns in one of the pots, which is in a normal position, the other pots are on the side. There are also fake plants suctioned on the back.

After 2 days, he became very 'friendly', and will come to the glass whenever I aproach. He still won't eat until I remove my hand from the top, but hes getting better.

Also, need be, I can donate him to my marine biology class (im a senior in highschool) if the college I go to doesnt allow big tanks... which it probably won't Sad


Thanks for reading :)

[nomadofthehills]

Anyone?

[WharfRat]

The "hump" is called a Cephalic Hump. It is a distinct sexual characteristic in quite a few cichlid species. I had a Synspillum that had one about the size of ping pong ball on his head. They grow as they mature and according to dominance. Domintae male gets the biggest hump. Subordinate males will get it but it may only look like a swelling compared to the dominate males.

[nomadofthehills]

Darn, thanks. I guess mine is doomed to subpar lumpage :)

[tuthelimit]

Yes,
At the Amazonia small freshwater river exhibit at the National Zoo, we removed a large breeding male midas (unwelcomed addition to the display) and put him in what we call a titan bin. The hump slowly faded, but is still impressive. Your fish won't be sub-par!

Richard

[PinkBloodParrot]

My rd has a hump and I think it is male, and it has a pointed tube thingy close to its anus. So bigger hump shows that the rd is male, I think flower horn too.