By Ralph Bahrke, MAS

What’s that about timing is everything? The right place at the right time…yeah, that’s it. Last year our club had a fish-growing contest. The fish used was the "chocolate cichlid", Hypselacara temporalis. I did not participate in the contest, but I was able to obtain a few specimens that someone had graciously grown and disposed of at a local pet store. (Timing). The individuals were about four and a half inches long and rather feisty! Because of their size, I was able to vent the fish and select a pair. (Right place, right time).

Since my 55-gallon tank was housing some nasty red devils, these guys ended up in a 38-gallon tank with a four-inch plecostomus as a tank mate. (A little crowded, I must say!). I dumped in about seven lava rocks and several pieces of slate along with one medium flower pot on it’s side and a chunk of driftwood. Filtration was handled with two #4 hydro sponges and a whisper power filter. The temperature was kept at a steady 78 degrees, and water changes were done every other week. I have no idea what the pH was, but I used "Tank Soft" with every water change. Ciclid pellets, OSI flakes, Tabi-Mini, and frozen brine shrimp were the diverse smorgasbord these fish enjoyed.

Almost immediately, the Hersheys (as I called them) started re-arranging the gravel and exposing the filter plate. There was an under gravel filter plate, but I was not using it for filtration Within a couple of weeks I noticed the female hiding behind a large piece of slate. Looking through the side of the tank I could see eggs attached to the slate. About 40 fry hatched out, and I was able to retrieve about 25.

The little rascals grew fairly rapidly, and were quite a gregarious group. If you have a sweet tooth, why not try some Hersheys! If you are in the right place at the right time you may be able to adopt Mom and Pop Hershey, my little chocolate friends. They are out there!