Species maintenance - Riv cylindraceus 'Al Castro strain'

[RonWill]

Folks,
I'm growing out a bunch of young CYL and hope to see more hobbyist maintaining these easy-to-care-for Rivulus. Having these in my tanks alone doesn't count towards 'locally established'.

They are about 2.5cm, have hearty appetites and almost sexable.

I bought the breeder pair from Lily at our 2nd Gathering and although I've yet to take their pics, you can find them at this thread.

Same rule applies, as per previous maintenance threads. Those interested (and able to keep fishes alive), please follow up here.

[Scott_sg]

Hi Ronnie,

How hard are they to keep - and breed? Rivulus have been on my wish list for a long time, but I am a complete virgin with them. I would love to try them, but that being said I hate it when I lose my own fish, let alone if I mess up with someone else's fish. It is bad enough kicking myself without someone else joining in

PS. Ronnie when I made the crack about the gift shop I was more thinking along the lines of T shirts and things, like at the zoo.

[RonWill]

How hard are they to keep - and breed?

Not hard to keep at all, Scott. One of the toughest killie I know that can take alot of abuse, perhaps more so than GARs. Excellent jumpers, if given the opportunity.

Breeding the virgins (not you ) is best left to a pair in permanent setups but swing by and see how I cook them with peat tea

Ok folks,
Most RIVs are not endowed with knock 'em dead coloration but it's (almost) the perfect beginner killie and hard to kill. When they're accustomed to your presence, you'd find their faces pressed to the glass, waiting for meal times. Quite endearing, actually, rather than some others that remain elusive.

Urm... those sitting in the back... did you raise your hands??

[stormhawk]

Ron, I still have virgin CYL of my own and they are still unwilling to spawn. I've tried peat tea and still no action. Going to catch the largest pair and give them a honeymoon suite in a plastic tray.

So yeah, I'll pass on this species maintenance program, unless however someone wants mine too.

Here's a shot of my dominant male, to illustrate the subtle beauty of these fish that are the toughest of the killies IMHO.

[Scott_sg]

Hmmm here goes with my dumb questions... Does someone have a picture of a female? I don't know if I have males or females, I have hunted across the net but that led to more confusion, but after two months of staring at these guys... they are all looking the same to me. So unless something religious happens in my tank, I think it is pretty much a gay scene at the moment.

And to explain my confusion, the bellies of them look round like female fish, but they seem to have the male markings, the caudal fins are getting black edged, but no red spots. Hell I am totally confused, I have been waiting to see if they will colour up further. They look like females to me though. Either way I think they are all the same sex whatever it is.

Other than that fundamental problem there have been no losses and they have become one of my favourite fish. They have character and are the only Killies I have that seem to recognise me and want to hang out with me.

[zmzfam]

Scott,

look for a spot near the caudal fin. Sometimes the spot can be quite faint.
Something like this (pic is not of cylindraceus) :



All Rivs females will have that spot.

[RonWill]

Scott, my group of CYLs are gowing up very nicely and there ought to be some girls in there. Some RIVs are slow to color up but not all females have that caudal spot (my observations only).

I'm glad that you're enjoying them and yes, they are a fun lot to watch and be with. Beside yourself, Rashid is now caring for the other bunch of fry plus my breeding pair.

Let me take a good look at them during water change and see what's there.

Zul, from the pic, which population does that female belong to?

[zmzfam]

Ronnie,

That was an unknown population from JY.

[RonWill]

Hi all,
I regret to inform that I will no longer be maintaining this RIV population. My entire stock of 30pcs, I think, will be left for sale at Eco Culture tonight.

Please don't ask for additional specimens, males or females. I have NONE in my tanks!... no eggs, no fry, nada!

For those who still have these RIVs, good luck!

[TyroneGenade]

hi,
anyone still keeping these? i'm looking for eggs of this population/strain. i can trade for sjoestedti eggs.

[RonWill]

Drats!! Why didn't you have SJOs when I had RIVs? Not sure who has them since Scott and JianYang seem to have vanished into thin air.

Tyrone, Eco-Culture (our killie-partner-in-crime) no longer exists and there have been zero discussion about RIVs on the local fish forums. I guess you'll have to look harder at aquabid.

Did I mention that I sometimes feel like Kevin Costner in "Dances with Wolves", being the lonely Lt. John Dunbar, exiled to a remote western Civil War outpost? D@mn... it's quiet here!

[TyroneGenade]

Hello Kevin,

Yes, the killi world seems a very lonely place. I recently joined the local orchid society. While I may feel like a the spring chicken amongst the fossils it is nice to have company for a change.

My renewed hunt for this little darling comes hot off the heals of a successful shipment of some Rivulus marmoratus eggs. All previous Rivulus imports had failed dismally but it seems that while shipping in peat doesn't work at all, shipping eggs in small test tubes does... I hope I can find some of these... They are quite unique. In a hobby where selective breeding is anathema these guys are heretical. Al Castro line bred these guys fro colour and they are gorgeous!

If you want some SJO then visit the trades section...

tt4n