Amatitlania nanolutea
Amatitlania nanolutea was first described in 1994. The fish was named after the place where it lives. Amatitlan means place of abundance amate in the Nahuatl language. Amate is a type of old paper made from the bark of Ficus petiolaris or Ficus indica. Nano in Latin means "small," Luteus means yellow. Synonyms: Archocentrus nanoluteus, Cryptoheros nanoluteus, Cichlasoma nanoluteum.
In nature, Amatitlania nanolutea inhabits water bodies of Central America: Atlantic Slope, Guarumo River Basin, Panama and Boca del Toro, Rio Guarumo, Panama. The fish can be found in small fast-flowing rivers and streams.
The dwarf Amatitlania has a golden yellow body coloration. The head has a green sheen and the abdomen has a blue sheen. The dorsal fin has a red border, the body runs through the vertical stripes, which may appear as a series of spots. Male Amatitlania nanolutea can reach a length of 10 centimeters, females remain slightly smaller. Sexual dimorphism is well-defined, and sex can be recognized in as few as 5 centimeters long individuals.
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Amatitlania nanolutea has a quiet temperament, except during the spawning period. These fish can be kept in a common aquarium in pairs with other peaceful fish of comparable size, such as pecilians, swordsmen, tetras and catfish.
To contain fish need an aquarium of 120 liters. Coarse-grained river sand is used as a substrate, during the breeding period of producers dug holes in it. At the bottom of a large number of stones and snags, which will serve as shelter for the fish. Around the perimeter of the aquarium to plant stiff-leaved plants, protecting their roots on top of small stones or planting them in small ceramic pots.
Water parameters: temperature 23-27° C, hardness dH 5-16°, pH 6,5-8,0. Requires filtration, aeration and weekly replacement of 1/5 of the aquarium water with fresh.
The menu of fish in nature consists of aquatic invertebrates, insects, small crustaceans and algae. Under aquarium conditions, they are fed live and frozen bloodworms, artemia nauplii, dry and flake food containing spirulina. The food is given twice a day.
Reproduction
Amatitlania nanolutea reaches sexual maturity by the age of 8 months.
Breeding Amatitlania nanolutea is quite simple. The females take the full initiative in courtship. They spawn in the shelter and after the male fertilizes the clutch, they take care of the clutch and fry. At this time, the male furiously defends the shelter from uninvited guests.
After 3 days the larvae hatch from the eggs, and after another week the fry swim freely. Fry, in the first days of life, fed live dust, and after 5-7 days begin to give nauplii Artemia.
Life expectancy Amatitlania dwarf in aquarium conditions is about 5 years.
