Unknown Notho

[timebomb]

Hi, folks,

I was at Eco-Culture fish shop this afternoon where I bumped into a very nice young man. I won't reveal his name as I'm not sure if he's particular about this. Anyway, he gave me a pair of Killies. They're Nothos for sure but that's all I know. For some strange reason, the young man doesn't know the identity of the fish either although he raised them from eggs sent to him by a breeder in a foreign country. When I got home, I immediately put the pair of Nothos into a breeding tank. I managed to get some pictures but they are louzy shots.




Anyone knows what fish is this?

Loh K L

[shortman]

It should be Nothobranchius eggersi Rufiji River Camp TAN 95/7 G.

[TyroneGenade]

If this is a an eggersi then it is surely a hybrid. Regardless how well you breed eggersi for red you still get a lot of blue coming out at the base of the fins and fin rays and around the head. This looks a lot more to me like a really well bred and refined red korthausae strain. If I am right this is surely a keeper.

I've found a picture here. The picture does not show the white marginal band on the caudal but such a band is typical in well raised korthausae. The band is just visible in this shot and this one.

tt4n

[TyroneGenade]

Hello

Here are some comments by Prof. Watters:

You may be right about it being a red N. korthausae but I don't think one can be certain from the specimen in the photos, especially with such poor photos. There is a faint banding visible in the caudal on one of the photos that suggests N. korthausae and N. eggersi red usually shows some irregular patterning in the fins, very rarely are the fins a solid red.

If they were found in a pet store I would have left them there !

tt4n

[hwchoy]

KL, it might be useful to check with this guy on the identity of the foreign breeder? otherwise I suggest you just keep it in your "priddy fish" tank and forget about the ID.

[Piscesgirl]

That is quite an unusual color -- kind of purple. I think it's extremely pretty! Loh KL, how is it that people come out of dark corners bringing you mystery killies? :P

[stormhawk]

That's odd. The giver doesn't know the ID but he raised them from eggs sent by a foreign breeder. It's either the fella did not keep the species data that comes tagged on the bag of eggs, or the breeder sent eggs with a missing or damaged label.

That said, it could be a refined form of eggersi, possibly bred for the red phenotype. I have the Rufiji River, but they're not as red as this fella is.

[timebomb]

Looking at the pics that Tyrone pointed us to, it looks like what I have is a Notho korthausae. My fish has white bands on its caudal and anal fins. There's also some white in the pectorals. I tried to shoot a better picture just now but the bugger just wouldn't stay still.

Kho, thanks for trying to identify the fish but please take note that it isn't quite right to tag a location code to a fish just by looking at its picture.

Choy, I tried many times to get the name of the fish from the young man but he said he has so many Killies he can't remember. I pestered him many times for the name and gave up only when he said that he does not breed them. I have to say that although he's a nice guy, I find it very strange that he should have many species of Killies and yet has never bred any. Anyway, that would mean the fish can't possibly be a hybrid unless what he got were hybrid eggs in the first place. I think that's unlikely though.

Jianyang, he mentioned a name when I asked him which foreign breeder. I can't remember the full name but it's David something. It isn't KillifishDavid though, his name I would remember.

Deborah, it wasn't actually a dark corner but it was at a local fish shop. I went there to collect my can of brine shrimp eggs and saw this beautiful pair of Killies in a plastic bag floating in a fish tank. Naturally, I had to ask and the fish shop owner said it belongs to the young man. We were introduced and I enquired about his fish. He said they were actually meant for a friend. I offered to buy some from him and he generously gave the pair to me. He also said he has many more at home and is looking to trade his Killies for Apistos. If any of you wants to know the identity of the young man, you can call Azmi to find out more.

The young fella is obviously a very good fish-keeper, judging from the condition of the pair he gave me. It's a pity he isn't into breeding fish.

Loh K L

[TyroneGenade]

There is no way this is an eggersi it can really only be korthausae. The best way to find out is to spawn them and see. If it breeds true then you are at least dealing with a pure strain and not a hybrid. You may get some variation in the caudal where some banding may manifest. This is normal for red korthausae.

There is no location code for this strain of red korthausae. Simply lable them as N. korthausae Red. But don't distribute till you have had a good look at the next generation.

If these fish are from Killifish David then they may be of the Mafia Island Strains which produce both red and yellow fish.

tt4n

[RonWill]

I tried many times to get the name of the fish from the young man but he said he has so many Killies he can't remember

Ok... this is one line I thought only I would use but sorry guys, I can't accept the reason. I told myself, "the day that I can forget to feed one tray of fry or tank of fish, is the day I have one fish too many."

BTW, how many times must the canonball fly before we stop playing guessing games. If we adhered to a killie-keeper's spirit, this need not happen.

He also said he has many more at home and is looking to trade his Killies for Apistos

That's great! If this young man is a member of the forum (and reading this), I'd like for him to PM or email me. Interesting to meet another hobbyist 'with many killies'.

[shortman]

the fish but please take note that it isn't quite right to tag a location code to a fish just by looking at its picture.

If I were not to tag the locate code even with the Nothobranchius eggersi Rufiji River Camp TAN, there are at least 5 species "RED", 95/7 G, 95/8 G and 95/11 G. All give us different coloring.

To make it clear I am not giving the fish with tag just a guess of the ID.
The location code is to help so that we can be sure of the type of the fish species as close as possible and not to give the poor fish with location code.

For example a forumer brought a Nothobranchius rachovii Beira was trying to improve on the gene that we had but later was told by the supplier that it can't be cross as it is of different collection code. The poor forumer was told only after he had brought from the supplier.

[stormhawk]

Kho, the G and E tags refer to Male and Female respectively.

These are used by the Portuguese and perhaps the Spanish keepers. I believe you obtained those G and E tags via Vasco Gomes's site.

The Rufiji River populations of N. eggersi were collected several times in the same area, possibly the same ponds, but they were given different collection tags.

Rufiji River TAN 95/7 is a reddish fish with silvery highlights
Rufiji River TAN 95/8 is a bluish fish with red and silver highlights.

TAN 95/11 belongs to the Ruhoi River population, not Rufiji River.

List of N. eggersi populations as given on the AKA site.

N. eggersi
Populations: Ruhoi; Redhead; Red; Rufiji River Camp TAN 95-7 (Red); Rufiji River Camp TAN 95-8 (Blue); Kikongono TAN 95-9 (Blue); Ruhoi River TAN 95-11 (Blue); Kanga TZ 97-4 (Blue); Utete TZ 97-55 (Red); Ruhoi River TAN 98-11 (Blue); Ruhoi River TAN 98-12 (Blue); Saadani Game Reserve TZ 99-8 (Red); TZ 99-11 (Red); Ruvu River TAN 00-20 (Blue); Bagamoyo TZL-52-01 (Blue); Makurunge FTZ 02-2; Ruhoi River TAN 02-12 (Blue); Kilimani TAN 02-15 (Blue); Rufiji River Camp TAN 02-16 (Red); Rufiji River Camp TAN 02-17 (Red); Rufiji River Camp TAN 02-20 (Red); Bagamoyo TAN 02-28 (Blue); Bagamoyo TAN 02-29

[shortman]

Jian Yang,

Yes, corrected that before your post.

That is correct. :-)

Thanks

[stormhawk]

TAN 95/11 belongs to the Ruhoi River population, not Rufiji River.

I believe the person who gave the fish to Vasco for photography purposes made a coding mistake there.

[CM Media]

Hi Guys,

Take a look at what I've kept in the past..

[keehoe]

Loh, at the angle you took the photo looks like the fish have a bit of gold colour at its head and fin. With dark read body, looks seasonal in Christmass and Chinese New Year. Why santa give you your Christmass gift so early?

Is the person giving you the pair related to betta in anyway? I remember there is one guy from Malaysia having a lot of killie but he doesn't breed any. Only helping friend he said.

I think Malaysia killie can be found in a few LFS already. EcoCulture also?

[timebomb]

Is the person giving you the pair related to betta in anyway? I remember there is one guy from Malaysia having a lot of killie but he doesn't breed any. Only helping friend he said.

I think Malaysia killie can be found in a few LFS already. EcoCulture also?

Kee Hoe, I'm not sure if the guy's into Bettas but he mentioned that he prefers Apistos. It was dumb of me not to get his contact numbers but if I want to reach him, I think Azmi will know how as he seems to be someone who hangs around Eco often. The day I met him, he was there with his girlfriend helping Azmi clean up the tanks.

Eco has several species of Killies for sale but I think they are all from Ronnie.

Loh K L

[RonWill]

Eco has several species of Killies for sale but I think they are all from Ronnie

Folks,
That is correct. I'm slowly roping in LFS who can handle the mindset (and ridicule) of distributing killies with collection codes, or at least fishes tagged with correct names. Depending on availability, more species will be released in due time from myself and other dedicated killie-keepers. (Kee Hoe, AFAIK, there are no 'Malaysian-killies' in Eco's tanks)

Kwek Leong, I'm sure it'll take a long while before the killie-scene matures but while it's taking shape, we can only try to ensure it gets off on the right foot. Economics will also play a large part as to acceptance of 'proper killies' from the general public but in time, the discerning hobbyists will know where to hang out.

BTW, I like surprises in my Christmas stockings but not when my killies aren't what they're supposed to be.

[keehoe]

Well hope that on the Christmass day, your killies collection will stack them up together and form a christmas tree to greet you.

Thanks for your BMW Ron. I almost left them drown until kho pull out your detail document on BMW. (Bushy Micro Worm). I have just top up some blended mix of oatmeal + spirulina for the BMW. Forgot to ask kho to ask for some blood worm from you. I forgot to buy this afternoon and my Rachovii are angry at me. I think Rachovii only eat live food. Brine shrimp or blood worm.

Anyone know what else does Rachovii eat? I heard they eat black shell shrimp also. Seems like a good idea is its tank mate are all greedy to eat all my brine shrimp and left nothing for the rachovii. Anyone know what alternative we have similar to black shell shrimp in taiwan?

[hwchoy]

Anyone know what else does Rachovii eat?

cherry shrimp.