My new killies! Fundulopanchax Walkeri GH2/74

[Piscesgirl]

I got some Killies today despite my attempt to sit on my bidding card. I was hoping to find some Jordanella Floridae, but there weren't any, and in a moment of weakness, I bid on these and won.

I looked on the web, and it said temp 20 C to 23 C and I currently have them at 25 C. Should I reduce the temp back down? Should I turn off the heater? (temp would then stay at about 21 C).

There is one male and two females, and he is already chasing them around and they've only been fully acclimated for a bit over an hour now. Before I pulled my camera out, the male would stare right back at me, but after the camera was ready, he decided to become shy. The tank is thickly planted (20 gallon long), so I'm not sure if I'll ever get a good picture of any of them. If I do, I will surely post them!

Anyway, any advice in keeping them happy would be helpful!

[Shae]

They will be fine at 25c, and if they are in a planted tank, and you are feeding them well then expect little fry.

A very beautiful fish, Good luck

Shae

[stormhawk]

This should be the Kutunse population. I think the Fundulopanchax fellas here can help you out. It is a beautiful population and one that's worth keeping.

Keeping them happy.. hmm.. that would mean a planted tank, good feeding and regular tank maintenance.

I think given some luck you might find some little buggers swimming around the leaves of the plants in the near future.

[Piscesgirl]

Thank you folks! Hopefully they'll let me take pictures of them eventually so I can post them.

I'll leave the heater on then if they'll be ok at 25 C.

[Piscesgirl]

Here's some pictures, albeit pretty bad ones. As you can tell, the tank is pretty thickly planted. They don't like my camera

[Piscesgirl]

I saw a fry! I hope it survives and doesn't get eaten by the parents. I never saw eggs, but then again my tank is pretty thickly planted. Thing is, I've done some major pruning in hopes that I could see the parents every once in awhile. I cleared a large section in the middle. They (the parents) will let me see them at times, but absolutely hide when I bring out the camera. I've even left the camera on the tripod in front of the tank for awhile to get them used to it, but they still won't let me. Boohooo. Oh well, I never really wanted fish that bred, but I was so excited to see that little guy (or gal).

[stormhawk]

So my guess was right, you did see a little bugger among the leaves eventually.

There probably might be several more in there. Keep a lookout.

[Piscesgirl]

Yep, you were right! But, I haven't seen him yet again. I'm hoping he's (and maybe others) still there just hiding from the parents.

[whuntley]

Deborah,

I realize you are not really into breeding, but I think you are missing some fun. Make a couple of thick (100-200 strand) acrylic mops from the thickest, softest dark-colored yarn you can find. Wrap around a book 50-100 times. Tie at one end and cut through all strands at the other.

Nuke them in a pyrex 2-cup of water in the microwave, just to the boiling point or a bit below, and quickly rinse under the cold faucet. [Some acrylic yarns can get funky if you boil too much. I think they start to melt or something.]

Sink the wet mops to the substrate well back in the plants where the fish prefer to hide. After a few days to a week, pull the mops and examine in sunlight or under a strong halogen reading lamp. Use fingers or tweezers to transfer any eggs you find to a plastic Petri dish o/e that has some tank water in it. Sometimes I add a very, very weak (to pale green) touch of acriflavin and methylene blue. If so, I diligently replace about half the water, daily, with fresh conditioned tap water until the color is gone in a few days.

Replace the mops near the front, and males will come out to attract females to them and you can enjoy seeing them more. WAL is definitely not basically a shy species, but they do go where they can spawn most comfortably.

It is really fun to watch the eggs develop and eye up. WAL are a semi-annual, so they will water gestate. Your yield might be better if you put the eggs in very damp peat, but it is more fun to watch the eggs develop (or turn white or fungus if they are infertile or die). Do remove any dead eggs to avoid fouling the tiny bit of water they are in.

If you can't get 3" or 4" Petri dishes, that have automatic ventilation, food-storage plastic container will work if you crack the lid or otherwise be sure the eggs get plenty of oxygen and their ammonia can get away.

Keep eggs at room temperature, about 23-28C, which is the range the parents prefer, BTW.

They will take a month or so to hatch (less if very warm). In peat, I usually allowed 6-8 weeks, looking for eyes after about 4-6 weeks.

Some fun little factoids:

WAL is the only Paraphyosemion found west of the "Dahomey Gap" (in Ghana).

The 74 collection of WAL (GH-2 Kutunze) is the oldest species still being maintained by the Killifish Conservation Committee. [Contact Charley Nunziata if you are interested in making the commitment to participate.]

That collection site was long ago paved over for a market, so what we have in the hobby is all we will ever have of that particular strain.

They are usually very popular at Aquarium Society auctions, so they can be good swapping material or a way to cover some hobby costs

Enjoy,

Wright

[Piscesgirl]

Thank you for that excellent information, Wright. I will print it out and keep it to refer to. I probably won't attempt the breeding/mops at this time, but who knows for the future?

[timebomb]

I realize you are not really into breeding, but I think you are missing some fun.

On the other hand, Deborah's tank is so heavily planted I'm sure the WALs will breed in her tank, whether or not she puts in mops. In fact, I would say for hobbyists like Deborah, the fry she finds in her tanks are actually the fitter ones. Let them breed naturally in heavily planted tanks and only the fittest survive to become adults.

Deborah, I've no experience with Fp. walkeri's but if they're similar to Fp. gardneri's, the fry likes to hang around at the surface. To find them, shine a torchlight at the surface of the water when the lights are off. The eyes of the fry reflect light and it's easy to spot them this way.

Loh K L

[Piscesgirl]

I'll try that tonight! Thank you Loh KL. If they stay at the surface, won't that make them easier for the parents to eat or are the parents not that likely to eat their fry?

[timebomb]

If they stay at the surface, won't that make them easier for the parents to eat or are the parents not that likely to eat their fry?

On the contrary, Deborah, the surface is where it's safe from being eaten. Fundulopanchax fry are clever and being small, they can hide on top of leaves floating near the surface where they are invisible to the adults below. I do believe it is for this reason that we never see Aphyosemion australe fry when we let them breed naturally in a planted tank. Australe fry don't hide at the surface. They hang around at the bottom of the tank near the substrate where they are easily spotted and eaten.

Loh K L

[Piscesgirl]

I tried the flashlight thing and I'm afraid I saw nothing Even worse, it seems I have hydra now (probably on some new plants). I've used a syringe and squirted a few with hydrogen peroxide..hopefully that will get them.

Here's the best picture I could get of the male -- unfortunately it's probably a better picture of my microwave (reflection).

[TyroneGenade]

You have a beautiful microwave.

Inlist some gouramis to take care of your Hydra. The blue or gold ones, while big, work quite well.

tt

[Piscesgirl]

You have a beautiful microwave.

:P Thank you :P

I had a very mean gourami once, I've tended to stay away from them since. He was a terror. I don't want to try meds because I have lots of snails that I like in that tank; so, I'll keep trying the hydrogen peroxide at least for awhile. If worse comes to worse, maybe I'll get another gourami *shudders*

[Piscesgirl]

I saw a fry again! yay! It was at the top like Loh KL mentioned It was about a half centimeter in length maybe -- about how big til it is safe from being food to the parents?

Here is finally pictures of a female

[stormhawk]

Half a centimetre is still fair game for the parents to gobble the fella up. If you're able to catch it and transfer it, do so without hesitation.

[Piscesgirl]

I didn't think I'd be able to catch him with the tank so thickly planted (how to keep eye on him?), but he/she seems to have made it through. 'Baby' swam pretty close to one of the two females today, so I think it's ok now. I think there is only one baby.

Here's pictures, sorry again I'm an awful photographer.

*edited - better pictures below*

I think it's a female except I see faint striping on it's sides...no color. Belly is pretty big, making me think of a female.

[stormhawk]

At that size the fella's not gonna be viewed as prey. If the females ignored it then probably they view it as just another tankmate.

If you see faint striping on the side it could be a male after all.