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Amphilophus citrinellum "Fireball"
History & Quick Facts:
Purchased August 1999 at Hanover Pets, Rt. 10, Hanover, NJ. $70. I immediately went to work on his finnage, which had serious pectoral problems and a bad dorsal ray. (I did water changes every three days, added liquid vitamins to his food, and put some sort of antibiotic in the water.) Also, his nuchal hump was not as pronounced as it should be. Since then Fireball has added at least an inch in overall length and grown nicely in all dimensions, including height.
Preferred diet is large round koi or cichlid pellets. Also likes earthworms and snails. Occasionally eats krill, but not enthusiastically. When fed koi pellets and krill at the same time, Fireball gobbles down the pellets and leaves the krill. I use only top quality, color-enhancing pellets.
Update, November 2000:
We were unprepared for cold snap while traveling. Fireball suffered greatly, with visible sores and white tufts of fungus. Finnage looking horrible; appetite gone.
Update, January 2001:
Water changes and warmer temperatures have restored Fireball to his fiesty disposition. Appetite normal, finnage and health restored. Dorsal extensions still a little worn.
Update, September 2001:
Fireball's nuchal hump seems to have grown overnight. I've been feeding him less, but other than that, no change in his routine...nothing new to look at or interact with. Perhaps it is due to age? Whatever the case, he is now more impressive than ever before.
Show record & comments:
Bucks County Aquarium Society, September 1999, All New World Cichlids, did not place.
Still adjusting to new home and did not travel well.
NJ Extravaganza, October 1999, New World Cichlids 11"+, 2nd Place.
Showed very well in a large class with close to 20 entries. At this time, Fireball's nuchal hump was still not up to snuff. 1st place went to my trimac, which is a more technically perfect but much less impressive specimen. This show was very rewarding as these two fish beat so many, including Jeff Rapps' legendary umbie and trimac, which were admittedly over the hill. Still, Jeff has forgotten more about cichlids than I'll ever know, so it was quite an honor.
Greater City Aquarium Society, April 2000, All New World Cichlids, 1st Place.
Fireball's finest hour, traveled well despite the jarring ride to Queens. Put on a show all weekend, displayed chest-high on a stand, and drew oohs and ahhs nonstop as he shook and smacked the glass with his powerful and impressive jaw. His nuchal hump was huge at this show, but not grotesque. Beat dozens of fine fish from appistos up to Larry's now legendary Cuban. The strain of the show took its toll and I skipped a couple of key shows. Months later, he still wasn't ready for...
NJ Extravaganza, October 2000, New World Cichlids 11"+, 3rd Place.
At this show, Fireball was displayed on the top shelf of a 3-tiered format, so he was almost six feet off the ground. At this height I conclude that he did not feel as threatened, so he did not feel compelled to show his stuff as much. Fireball lost to Larry's Cuban and my own trimac, neither of which are as impressive. The upside is that he has not shown the same after effects that he did from the Greater City show. The photo above was taken at this event, and as you can see, his nuchal hump was again not up to snuff.
American Cichlid Association Show & Convention, July 2001, Cichlasoma over 6", 3rd Place.
At this show, Fireball was displayed on the top shelf of a 3-tiered format, so he was almost six feet off the ground. This time, he "strutted his stuff" constantly, and was even a TV star as the featured fish on News 12 NJ. Very stiff competition, we were very pleased to place where we did, particularly after someone thought Fireball "looked hungry" and put flake food in his show tank. (!)
New Jersey Aquarium Show, November 2001, Cichlasoma over 6", 2nd Place.
At this show, Larry's Cuban cichlid was, admittedly, a better looking fish.
NJAS Fish Show, November 2002, Cichlasoma over 6", 1st Place.
Fireball won this competition hands down, looking to be at his peak. Finally beat Larry Jinks' Cuban cichlid again.
Chris Persson, of Connecticut, maintains the Cichlid Scene website...is a genuine nice guy and a "person"-able gentleman. He took this photo (which I promptly stole for this site) and wrote the following:
"I'm still raving about your Midas cichlid. I'll give Larry's tetracanthus its due, but...my vote goes to your citrinellum. Please keep me in mind if circumstances should change and you wish to part with it. I'm smiling as I type this because I regularly get emails from people trying to buy my cichlids--and, like you, I'd never part with 'em!"
Jeff Rapps, of Tangled Up in Cichlids, is truly one of the nicest and friendliest people I've ever met in the fish hobby. He is probably the most successful breeder of rare and unusual new world cichlids in the USA, but carries himself with a quiet humility that I admire even more than his cichlid prowess. He said the following:
"I really like your citrinellum...may be the winner"
