Help with Micromoema xiphophora

[RonWill]

Folks,
I have a pair of XPO under my care and received them without a population code. However, I understand that what stock being circulated in the hobby originates from the Isla Ráton RDB 92/22 collection. Can anyone verify if this being true?

The pair is raised in ketapang stained water at approx pH6.5 and eggs collected so far aren't very viable (think I see some good ones though).

According to Jesper Thorup's page, he writes, "At a temperature of 20º-24ºC the eggs must incubate for up to 8 months. Incubation time gets shorter with higher temperatures"

With our average 30ºC temps, would anyone care to hazard a guess on incubation duration? (8 months is helluva tough on one's patience!!)

I believe this is the only pair in SG and here're some pics



Not sure why the female outgrew the partner by a large margin!

[stormhawk]

If these were from a source in France, then they're Isla Raton RDB 92/22.

The only other population I know of is Puerto Ayacucho, and even then that is pretty near to Isla Raton.

[RonWill]

Jian Yang, I'm unclear about the source but the sender was from France. Thanks anyway.

Folks,
The XPO pair wasn't too crazy about the peat bowl so I thought I'd revert back to a peat partitioned tank, similar to what I used previously for Nothos.



They like it much better and hopefully, more fertilized eggs. BTW, for this species, how long can eggs stay in peat without going 'bad'?

[stormhawk]

With the peat partition method, doesn't it become harder to harvest the peat? Short of siphoning, I can't think of another method that would make it easier to harvest.

If you're talking about incubation. This species should be similar in terms of incubation to the Terranatos you previously raised, since they are found in the same habitat at Isla Raton co-existing together. A rough guide would be slightly more to 2 months, maybe 3 months in our conditions. What was the incubation period for your previous V 96/7s ?

[RonWill]

Jian Yang,
I'm breeding a couple of SAAs at the moment but intend to clear all of them once I'm certain I've got good eggs in peat.

The XPO is on the binge of local 'extinction', being the only pair in SG, so if it means a little more effort to collect the peat, then so be it, at least until I've got a good population going.

Incubating the Terranatos and peruensis was a terrible 20-week wait and even then, eggs can 'perish' during that time.

[stormhawk]

I suppose this 20 week incubation time can apply to the Micromoema too. I am trying to obtain eggs of this species and hopefully my efforts will bear fruit.

[stormhawk]

Jian Yang,
I'm breeding a couple of SAAs at the moment but intend to clear all of them once I'm certain I've got good eggs in peat.

Ron, let me know what species you intend to clear.

[whuntley]

Jian Yang,

My SAA study group listing shows Micromoema xiphophorus as having incubation times vs temperature as follows:

Weeks Temp.
36 20C

24 22

12 24

9 26

4 28

x 30

I would guess that it will not be nearly 20 weeks, and 30C may be just too warm for proper development.

Wright

[stormhawk]

4 weeks at 28 degC? That is pretty fast. That means the older eggs that Ron collected would have been ready for hatching by now.

I'll have to check on the regular incubation periods now and then. Apparently some species listings have changed.

I do agree on the point that 30 degC is just way too high for incubation. That's why I keep my eggs in ziploc bags stored in a styrofoam box for a regular incubation temperature.