Breeding the Epiplatys (Pseudepiplatys) annulatus

[RonWill]

Dear all,

In this thread, Rashid asked, "Anybody in here got any experience in breeding the abovementioned."

Guess what Rashid! Although I didn't manage to get any fry from the 'clowns' that Desmond passed to me, I did manage to breed these lovable fellas!



If you remembered... I found 2 tiny ANN fry and raised them.


3 months later, they're now about 2.5cm, mature and the best part is... I have a pair! Yyyaaayyy!!

Instead of trying to spawn them in a larger tank, I dumped the pair into a round plastic container (the ones I used for raising fry), together with java moss and a whole piece of ketapang leaf. Mild aeration is provided and only fed live food.

I resisted temptation to check on them daily and left them alone for 2 weeks!!... and I can't take it anymore!

When I slowly opened the lid, I squinted through the tannic mess... and YES!!... I saw frys, tinier than a tiniest pin head, with their little 'headlights' shimmering near the water surface.

With a disposable plastic soup spoon, I carefully separated them into another container with java moss in infusoria soup*. In all, I transferred 10 of them in various stage of growth.

Returned the breeding container to it's position and guess what I'll be doing in 2 weeks' time? :wink:

*Ingredients:
3 drops Liquid Fry No:1, thrice weekly.
1 swipe of gunk from microworm culture, twice weekly.
1 squirt of live daphnia, twice weekly.
1 pinch of tubifex, weekly.
1 dash of powdered brewers' yeast.
3 hours of good sunlight, over a week.
Mix and let set... (just don't invite any guests!)

Try it and let me know how this works for you. Enjoy!

EDITED 040624 - Images redirected to Killies.Com
Pseudepiplatys annulatus's Gallery

[zmzfam]

Instead of trying to spawn them in a larger tank, I dumped the pair into a round plastic container (the ones I used for raising fry), together with java moss and a whole piece of ketapang leaf. Mild aeration is provided and only fed live food.

I resisted temptation to check on them daily and left them alone for 2 weeks!

Question: With the mild aeration, how fast did the water level fall? Looking at the stack of containers, how did air exchange take place within the container itself? I also think people would be asking - how big is that container anyway?

Sorry Ron - got to satisfy my curiosity.

[timebomb]

Ronnie,

I take my hat off to you. You're one superb fish breeder. I think you can even get salted fish to breed

Loh K L

[A.Rashid]

Congrats Ronnie,

I really salute you man,.... and guess what also Ronnie...

a few weeks ago I trimmed my moss from my planted tank and placed them into my apisto frys tank and to my surprise I saw 1 of the frys of different shape. I didn't know what to make of it so I waited and only last Sunday that I notice it's an p. annulatus. but only had 1 fry of it... .. well at least I know they "did" it hehehehe.

still hunting for these lovely clown killies... but most LFS I went to had no stock yet.. so now I know where to get.... right Ronnie???... hehehe

[RonWill]

I think you can even get salted fish to breed

yeah... I'll try, but no guarantee Kwek Leong, unless you make sure I have a pair! Do I incubate salted fish eggs in salt instead of peat :wink:

[RonWill]

still hunting for these lovely clown killies... but most LFS I went to had no stock yet.. so now I know where to get.... right Ronnie???... hehehe

I was wondering about that too... that the supply of clown killies is pretty sporadic. At times, you'd find it everywhere... then suddenly, nothing!

If all goes well, it'll take slightly more than a month before the frys are stable to be transported. Be patient Rashid, I'll give you a call when the time draws nearer.

If you can't wait... you can always pop over! :wink:

[RonWill]

Question: With the mild aeration, how fast did the water level fall? Looking at the stack of containers, how did air exchange take place within the container itself? I also think people would be asking - how big is that container anyway?

Zul, size of the plastic container is 5 inches deep with a diameter of 10 inches, which is adequate even for a trio of adult Fundulopanchax.

All the lids have at least 3 holes, 'cut' out with a soldering iron, and caters for feeding and airline tubing. Splatters caused by the airstone under the lid drops back in and water loss is negligible.

I use a turkey baster with a short tubing extension for feeding and clean water mixed with the daphnia, BBS, etc, more than make up for evaporation and/or water loss.

No apologies needed for being curious... only dead people don't ask questions!!

[A.Rashid]

If you can't wait... you can always pop over! :wink:

oh, I can wait, no problem......poping over is a no problem....

[francis]

Congrats Ronnie,

I have always wanted to try and breed them but haven`t got round to it yet.


Rashid,

If you come across these beauty,msg me please

Cheers
francis

[RonWill]

Rashid, If you come across these beauty,msg me please

Me too!... and there's no such thing as too many of these little fellas! :wink:

Francis, if you think what's available locally is beautiful, wait till you see the Ep (Pseudepiplatys) annulatus 'Monrovia' at Tim Addis's site! The red band at the pectoral and anal fin, makes this a fine fish and will do any tank proud!

At Tony Terceira's site, pics of both 'Guinea' and 'Monrovia' populations are shown but last I discussed with Tony, the pic of that stunning beauty was taken in 1974 and hasn't been seen much since!... which is why specie conservation is a prime directive for a serious killie-keeper. What's lost is lost!

Currently available 'Monrovia' specimens (at least from the pics I see online, not in person) seems to have very faint tinge of redness and looks very similar to the 'Guinea' population.

As far as these clowns are concerning, I'm always searching for more! :wink:

[A.Rashid]

Dont worry.. if I see any will post it here for everybody to benefit it.
I am also looking in importing these species from overseas either in live form or eggs.

Just like Ronnie said they are that damn beautiful...

[francis]

You guys have rekindle my interest in this fish.Now all i have to do is setup another tank and look out for this fish.

Ronnie, Thank for sharing the link.They are damn beautiful man.


Cheers
francis

[RonWill]

You guys have rekindle my interest in this fish.Now all i have to do is setup another tank and look out for this fish.

Francis, please do. ANNs don't do well in 'new' setups. The more mature the tank is, the more stable the ANNs will be.

Densely planted would be good and floaters is almost a must, as these are relatively shy fishes and are good jumpers.

Thank for sharing the link.They are damn beautiful man.

I'm more than happy to be blamed for your 'annulatus addiction'. Good luck with your search.

[francis]

Thanks Ronnie for the pointers on the mature tank.Maybe i will set it up first and add a few shrimps in there while searching for the killi.if i can`t find them in a month or 2,i know who to turn to ....

[CM Media]

Hi Guys,

If everything is going smoothly, you'll be able to lay your hands on them pretty soon......... Keep a lookout here :P

[A.Rashid]

I just got news from Fish N Fishes(No.7 Pasir Ris Farm), that they will be having the Epiplatys (Pseudepiplatys) annulatus aka clown killies for sale this weekend. This stock is without any collection code, supposed to be cheap, how cheap... I do not know, should be very affordable I guess. yet to be confirmed.

there are also other killi species but I have no idea what they are right now... just got to wait till weenkend comes....

[RonWill]

I've been busy with the camera... so enjoy!

A pic of the breeding pair in the round container mentioned earlier... full of mulm, detritus and rotting ketapang leaves!


I found more ANN frys and wanted to transfer them to the grow-out container BUT, there were older frys there... and they will snack on the new comers.

New and old fry in soup spoons. Copy&Paste insert of small fry for comparison.

14 young frys collected Feb 24th


Closeup of 3 older fry, about 10 days old. These are going into the cory tank*.
Big pic here.

closeup of single fry


*Transferred 5 ANN frys to cory breeding cum daphnia/tubifex culture tank (Feb 24th) because while the parents ignore the fry, juvenile ANNs will snack on their smaller siblings! (I love the way Wright says it..., "if it can fit into the mouth, it's din din!")

The young frys are transferred to a 'dirty' grow-out container.

Will update as time allows... too many different babies to handle!

EDITED 040624 - Images redirected to Killies.Com's Gallery

[RonWill]

Francis,
I hope you don't mind me answering the question here but it'll keep my PM Inbox from flooding! :wink:

You asked, "May i know where you buy these container from?"

Any place that sells take-away bags and containers should have these. Just ask for the largest round type and are typically priced between $3.50~3.80 for a packet of 3's.

Alternatively, go to a wholesaler and buy one lot of 50's... believe me, it's much cheaper... averaging between 60~65cents for each set of container+lid.

Group a few chaps together... do I hear 'mass-order'??

[francis]

Hi Ronnie,

Thanks for the sharing,I think i only need a few pcs.I`ll be at Fish N Fishes this weekend.Anyone coming down,maybe we can meet up?Rashid?

[A.Rashid]

Yup Francis I'll be down at FnF this Sat afternoon, maybe will be there at about 2pm cant stay long because i got to report back to work by 5pm.

and yes Francis the containers Ronnie mentioned are very handy. cheap and good....