Epiplatys Annulatus

[mklinger1109]

Hello everyone,
I am receiving these eggs in the mail very soon and have a few questions i would like to have answered.
When i receive these eggs (10) will I be able to hatch them in a 10 gallon aquarium if they are the only organism in this aquarium besides java moss and driftwood?
I do not plan on having a filter on this tank until they are a bit older so they do not end up in the impeller blades. I will have an airstone for aeration.
From the searches i have done, it seems I should place the eggs deep among the moss to let them hatch. After this I should use Mr. Ronnie Lee's infusoria recipe?
During my searches I have also seen the use of ketapang leaf. Is this leaf used just for the breeding, or is it also of use during the egg hatching process? Is this leaf used to lower the pH where as i could get the same results with using peat moss? Or is this unnecessary?
After they grow to a marketable size i plan on selling or trading all but a trio, will I be able to breed this trio in the same aquarium?
Thank you for taking the time to respond to this post.

[RonWill]

When i receive these eggs (10) will I be able to hatch them in a 10 gallon aquarium if they are the only organism in this aquarium besides java moss and driftwood?

Dear Michael,
Do you have any idea how tiny the eggs and the resultant fry will be? In two words, helluva small !

Newly hatched ANN fry will hug the water surface in search of microscopic foods and a 10 gal is wee bit large for 10 fry! I'll be safe to say a 3gal, with air-driven (gently) stone or sponge filter will suffice.

From the searches i have done, it seems I should place the eggs deep among the moss to let them hatch.

Since I don't know how the eggs are packed, I'll hazard a guess.

Place the egg-carrying media (be it water or peat) into a small container and sink this into the 3 gal tank and let the eggs hatch. If your tank is well seasoned, there'll be plenty of organisms that will see the fry through for at least two weeks.

A paramecium culture will come in real handy and gently squirt this once every 2 days, until the ANN fry can consume BBS.

During my searches I have also seen the use of ketapang leaf. Is this leaf used just for the breeding, or is it also of use during the egg hatching process?

In the breeding thread, it was experimental to see if a lowered pH will trigger spawning and improve egg survival. I'm guessing that fry will also benefit in that the decomposing ketapang will sustain infusoria. (NOT a hard fact tho)

If peat moss is preferred, or more readily available, stuff the peat into a 'stocking bag' (small pouch made from ladies' stocking)... you want a lower pH, not a mess.

After they grow to a marketable size i plan on selling or trading all but a trio, will I be able to breed this trio in the same aquarium?

A trio is very dicey... should something happens to the male? A 3-pair-group is a safer bet.

If the tank is densely planted with floaters, the parents will usually leave the fry alone. However, the older fry will predate on their younger siblings (I love it when Wright goes... "if it fits, it's din-din")

You'll have to be patient since the growout for ANN is slower than most Aphyosemion.

For the various pics in the previous threads, it's pretty tedious to relink all images to the home server. If you should see a box with a 'X', right-click on it, select 'Properties' and copy the URL to a new browser window.

Good luck and update us on your progress.

[RonWill]

I am receiving these eggs in the mail very soon...

Michael,
I was searching through the forum and found your post. If you're still with us, I'd appreciate an update on how you got along with the ANN eggs. Some pics, if you can, would be great!

Meanwhile, here's one from my tanks...

He looks mean and nasty, probably because I took the pic before feeding him :wink:

Be hearing from ya soon?

...dreaming about those 'red pect' ANNs... (Wright, any news?)