Fundulopanchax gardneri nigerianus P82

[Scott_sg]

Hi all, some advice or input would be appreciated.

I got a bad hatch of the P82 from up north, hatched 5 lost 1 in the first day or so and have raised 4. The problem is I have 2 confirmed males and one looking like a male and they are reaching almost an inch and a half, about 4cm.
The fourth I noticed early on that it was growing much slower than the others - all hatched 31 October, so I moved that off by itself hoping and fingers crossed it is a small female. Anyway it does not really seem to be growing and is still only about 1/2 inch or 1cm approximately. It is living in the equivalent of a fish condo, BBS nearly every day, daphnia (moina) every few days, even a few small tubifex crawling around in there if "it" (her please) wants to pick at them. She seems happy and healthy enough, but just does seem to eat anything like the others and really just does not seem to want to grow.

Should I be more patient? I am used to having a few slower growing fry but this is bordering on ridiculous compared to the size of the others. Even if in a years time if this one does grow up and become a female, should I really be breeding her? Is this a common thing with gardneri and I am worrying about nothing? I have even been wondering about some companion fish in case it is a stress or shyness thing.

Is anyone else keeping these locally? Any input appreciated.

Scott.

[selena]

Hi Scott,

I don't have Fundulopanchax gardneri nigerianus P82 but something quite close to it.

I have a pair of Paraphyosemion nigerianus 'Lokoja' / Fundulopanchax gardneri nigerianus 'Lokoja' which are the descendant from Ronnie's.

Like most non-annual the fry growth are slower. If you have some that are growing faster, likelihood it's gonna be a male. What do you guys or gals think if I separate the gender into two different container; restrict the male fry to one feed every two days and treat the female to three feed every day?

I have long pull out the mop but still find fry swimming in the breeder tank.

Rating:-

Care of Fish : Easy. Beginner fish. Olympic jumper!
Spawning : Easy (Mop, Mossball, gravel? I think so )
Incubation : 7 - 10 days
Fry : Haven't seen any bellyslider or unhappy fry.
Only faster and slower growth, same like human.
Can take BBS or Walter worm straight away.


-------------------------------------------
Selena

[RonWill]

Selena,
Great work with the 'Lokoja'. I no longer maintain that but GAR 'Lafia' (which I'll be handling over to another hobbyist soon).

Scott,
Very pretty killies and vibrant colors but IIRC, the male P82 is quite aggressive and drives the females pretty hard. I'd suggest sorting out the fry by size lest the slower growing ones becomes dinner.

By themselves, or amongst companions their own size, these stand a better chance of catching up with their larger siblings.

[Scott_sg]

Selena, always full of surprises.. What other mysteries and secrets are there??
I am hoping that I can get a female, on closer inspection I think the smaller one of the three together is a female - I really hope anyway.
And yes Ronnie you are right, I have noticed just this last week or so that as the males have coloured up they have become quite aggressive.
So I think I will split them up for now.

OT
My other problem is now my R. pyropuncata any advice on them? They have coloured up nicely 3 males and a female, and were quite happy- to be honest I hardly saw them, always hiding. I hatched half a dozen or so, two jumped as fry -still trying to figure how they did it, so they don't count anymore.
Anyway I thought ok, the female is looking kind of fat so I will put in a small dish of peat and see what happens.... What nasty little fish!! The males suddenly become absolutely violent. So they have been sent to solitary now except the biggest and baddest male.
Sorry to wander off topic, but it was almost instantaneous the change in them, from peaceful little fish I hardly saw to what I think might have been a blood bath if I had not split the males up. They actually reminded me of Betta's. Oh yeah and they are bad at jumping - maybe they just don't like me

Scott

[RonWill]

....nyway I thought ok, the female is looking kind of fat so I will put in a small dish of peat and see what happens.... What nasty little fish!! The males suddenly become absolutely violent

Some cuties go through a "Dr. Jekyll / Mr. Hyde" transformation the minute they see a peat bowl. Can never understand fish psychology so I stopped trying but I suspect spawning media triggers survival instincts for territory and breeding rights. Simple nature's law... may the best fish win! [and no, it has got nothing to do with your face ]

Your best bet is to ensure adequate refuge for the female until she's receptive. [maybe she should quit using the "No darling, not tonight. I have a headache" line]

[whuntley]

When I used to gang-spawn Fp. species, I accepted that long fin extensions were out. I did, though avoid creating a single breeding spot, like a bowl of peat in a bare tank.

In addition to the Java Moss and structure (wood, stones, filters) for females to hide in, I usually scattered some peat on the bottom glass, and tossed in a few sinking mops, even if I did use a couple (or more) peat bowls.

The bottom peat was easily netted out and added to that in the bowls. I then picked the mops and dropped those eggs in the same peat before bagging and storing. It always seemed to work for me, so I'll probably do it again as soon as my AMI and WAL are about ready to seriously produce eggs.

Wright

[Svein]

I have bred these lovely fish for 3 years now, and I breed them only once a year. I put a trio into a 3 gallon tank covered with 2 cm peat. i let them stay there for a week, collecting the peat, squeeze the peat gently (not dry) and store the bag for two and a half week.
I become then normally 100 fry.
This is a very easy species to keep and breed

Water
ph. about 6.5
temp 24-25 degrees
soft wather.
Good luck
http://www.killies.com/forum/viewtop...highlight=p+82
Svein

[Scott_sg]

Sorry I missed your last post Svein, I really should search more.
But if i get into problems you will be hearing from me, they are nice fish and I really want to get them going.
Also had a look at your website, very nice fish!

Scott.

[Scott_sg]

My P82's seem to surprise me, looks like boys and girls - either that or someone is fooling around and putting eggs in there
They are only 6 weeks old so I am just letting them play for now, but the second one turned out to be female. What really confused me was that for a while the second one started to get the yellow stripes and then they faded away. The male is still colouring up along the flanks, and starting to look real nice.
The pics are not the best, but when it comes down to it, I don't really like disturbing them too much.





And just to shock everyone, here is the tank..



The tank contains a sponge filter, bits of peat, dried banana leaf, java moss, water lettuce, wisteria (I know the name now) and a few grains of coral sand. Anyway it looks messy but they seem happy. In another month or so I will start collecting eggs properly.

Scott.

[Scott_sg]

This is one of my "fat boy" R. pyropunctata, they are spawning also, but I hate opening the tank. They are the worst fish I have ever come across for jumping out.
This one escaped so while he was on the run I thought I would snap a photo of him. He is 6 weeks old also, but the breeding tank has eggs scattered about, so they don't take long.



They look nicer for real, just hard to get pics of them unless you lock them up. Their tank is similar to the P82's just messier and more peat.

Scott