Theraps wesseli Care Guide
Theraps wesseli, now placed in Chortiheros, is a rheophilic Honduran cichlid from fast-flowing Caribbean-slope rivers.
Compiled by Aquairi from published sources · Published · Updated
Overview
Theraps wesseli, currently placed in the genus Chortiheros, is a cichlid endemic to fast-flowing waters of the Caribbean slope of northern Honduras, including the Papaloteca, Cangrejal and Danto rivers. It is a stream-dwelling species with a slender, elongated body and dark vertical markings.
Taxonomy
- Family: Cichlidae
- Genus: Theraps
- Scientific name: Theraps wesseli
- Common synonyms: Chortiheros wesseli
Habitat
It lives in the fastest currents of clear streams. Reported field conditions include water of roughly 25 °C, a pH near 7.8 and relatively soft water, with strong flow over the species' range in northern Honduras.
Tank requirements
- Minimum tank volume: 350 L
- Temperature: 22-27 °C (72-81 °F)
- pH: 7.0-8.0
- GH: 8-18 °dGH
- Water flow: strong
- Lifespan: 8-12 years
Diet
It is treated as an omnivore. As a rheophilic stream cichlid it accepts a varied diet in captivity; substantial water movement and clean, oxygen-rich water are more important than any single food type.
Compatibility
It is semi-aggressive, particularly during breeding, and is best housed singly, in pairs, or with robust, similarly sized companions. Ample hiding spots allow subordinate fish to retreat.
Conservation status
IUCN Red List: Vulnerable, assessed in 2020.
Theraps wesseli Breeding Guide
Overview
Theraps wesseli was described by R. R. Miller in 1996 and is now placed in the monotypic genus Chortiheros as Chortiheros wesseli. It is endemic to the northern Caribbean coast of Honduras, recorded from the Río Papaloteca, Río Cangrejal and Río Danto, where it lives in fast-flowing waters. FishBase lists a maximum size of about 8.0 cm SL, and the IUCN assessed the species as Vulnerable in 2020. Because it is a rheophilic stream fish, captive breeding depends on reproducing the clean, oxygen-rich, flowing conditions of its native rivers.
Breeding Setup
The species originates from fast-flowing river reaches, so a breeding tank should provide strong, well-oxygenated current, stable warmth and very clean water. A substrate of sand with rocky rubble and larger stones reflects the natural habitat and supplies the flat surfaces and crevices that Central American substrate-spawning cichlids use as spawning sites. The Aquairi record classifies this species as a substrate spawner of intermediate breeding difficulty.
Common Challenges
Detailed published breeding accounts for this species from peer-reviewed or specialist editorial sources are scarce, reflecting how uncommon it is in the trade and its restricted, vulnerable range. The main husbandry challenges are maintaining the strong flow and high water quality the species requires and providing enough space and structure for a compatible pair to establish a territory. Specific spawn sizes, egg development times and fry-rearing details are not documented in the sources consulted and are therefore omitted.