Rivulus xiphidius "Crique Boulanger"

**Svein** · 10th Oct 2005, 06:32

Hi folks
Just show you one of two couples of this beauty which I bought from S Miwa, Japan, and the best is; this time I get eggs

in fact quite a lot of them.

Regards
Svein

**stormhawk** · 10th Oct 2005, 06:43

Svein, that's a nice pair and you're very lucky to get eggs.

**TyroneGenade** · 10th Oct 2005, 20:51

That is one super looking fish. I feel terrible knowing I left my pr of xiphidius in Italy.

**stormhawk** · 10th Oct 2005, 21:13

Why'd you leave your pair in Italy? No way to bring them back home to SA?

**Svein** · 10th Oct 2005, 21:17

I'm agree, this is one of the most beautifully killi species I have seen.

I've got 6 last year ( http://www.killies.com/forum/viewtop...ight=xiphidius) but the male never got color, but now I understand what a nice male look like.

I have 28 eggs in 2 weeks, so now i hope I will be able keeping this species for the future

I have also lowered the water level to 5 cm, and I think thats help.
Here is the male waiting for the female (left corner) at the mop:

Regards
Svein[/url]

**Svein** · 19th Oct 2005, 17:43

Updating

I have 15 fry now in a 5 gallon tank with a slow filter an javamoss.
feeding them with bbs, micro and vineager worm.
I think rivulus eggs are very strong and "healthy" I have only lost 3 eggs (fungus) to 30 eggs. I only use "peatwater"
Regards
Svein

**stormhawk** · 19th Oct 2005, 18:06

Svein, that's very good news.

I hope you have a big group of xiphidius soon.

**nonamethefish** · 20th Aug 2006, 07:28

How difficult are these to keep? I've been offered some in a trade(alongside another Riv and clown killies) and they are one of those fish that I've been looking at since I got started with killies. From what I've read it seems they prefer shallow water, moderate temps, live foods, and soft acidic water(the last I am probably unable to provide).

**whuntley** · 20th Aug 2006, 12:40

Joseph,

Soft, acid water is pretty easy. If you need modest amounts, like for a few XIP, then bottled DI water from the store can be mixed with your harder tap water, and acidified with some peat.

A Reverse Osmosis unit can be found, often for under US$100, and will provide far more soft water than you can use, even for a big fishroom.

Peat does little to lower pH of really hard tap water, as that water is usually buffered, with lots of KH. Adding some DI water will work wonders for activating the humic acids in the peat. You need to get KH down well below 4 degrees before this works much.

Wright

**nonamethefish** · 21st Aug 2006, 07:26

What is considered a high KH? Here it is around 8. I'm not familiar with the scale but would I need to do 50/50 tapwater/distilled to get a KH of 4?

How much does it cost to run an RO unit? I doubt I'd ever be able to get one but I've heard the filter needs to be changed out with some frequency.

**whuntley** · 21st Aug 2006, 09:44

Keep haunting the thrift stores. I have bought good, working RO units for $5, there.

Running costs are negligible if you save the discharge water for your patio plants or mix it back with your regular tap-water storage. Properly run, I have had membranes work for over 10 years without any problem. You need to change the carbon and particulate filters every six months or so, if you run it a whole lot. Those are very cheap.

KH of 8 is medium high, but the 50:50 mix will probably do the job. XIP may want softer water, but no killy cares what the pH is, so concentrate on what they need, not utter BS mythology. Lots of peat will help lower GH, also.

One problem with this species is that you need lots of patience. I understand they grow up very slowly, which is one reason they are pretty rare. Folks seem to want instant gratification.

Good luck, when you get them,

Wright

**nonamethefish** · 19th Oct 2006, 12:14

Well, they've arrived, along with some interesting news on how this particular person keeps them. Just plain on St. Louis tapwater...no peat...no nuthin. I'm curious if I should follow their method(since they could afford to send me a pair it obviously worked for them) or go with the more traditional way. These are the Bagne de Amirates or something strain as opposed to Crique Boulanger

They are currently being treated like any other killifish and have settled in.

Snooping around the top. So far this guy has eaten 2 fairy shrimp and a gammarus.

Female. Doesn't seem quite as at ease as the male.

**RonWill** · 19th Oct 2006, 13:59

Joseph,
If these "Bagne de Amirates" are anything like the XIP 'PK 15', then Wright's right about 'em growing ssslllllooooowww.

Redeeming point; Not very particular with water requirment but seem to like slightly acidic conditions (peat water will do fine). IMHO, the XIP are the prettiest of the Rivulus group. Work hard on 'em, ya.

**nonamethefish** · 19th Oct 2006, 14:20

Hello Ron.

How far have you gone with them? Did you start with eggs? Or did you just get these breeders? I wonder what PK15 means? Also, how slow is slow?

Any notes on husbandry regarding feeding/breeding would be nice also.

Not sure of them being the prettiest Riv species but I wouldn't be surprised. I was originally intending to only get one species in this trade but with 3 new killi species and no new tanks someone is going to get voted off the island.

Here is the other Rivulus. R. iridescens. Fat sassy things they are.

**RonWill** · 19th Oct 2006, 15:36

Joseph, it was unfortunate we didn't get very far. This thread and this pretty much sums up my brief experience with the PK15 and no idea what PK means.

Originally Posted by nonamethefish

Also, how slow is slow?

Ok. How about really really slow?!!

but something tells me they'll do better with cool temps, like Svein's "Crique Boulanger".

**nonamethefish** · 26th Oct 2006, 12:38

Well...they will have no problem getting cool temps here. I've actually heard they reverse, they need warm temps.

They are still alive, kicking, and eating...but are not plumping up. I will get in some blackworms sometime soon to give them and hopefully they will start filling out.

**nonamethefish** · 7th Dec 2006, 15:04

Bumping this up to hear about the xiphs that made it into Singapore with Wright.

Mine are doing fine, settled in, but no fry yet.

**timebomb** · 7th Dec 2006, 21:05

My pair of R. xiphidius are in a 2 feet tank all by themselves. I would have got a great photo of the female if she had not moved behind a leaf when I snapped the picture.

When I moved them from the container into the tank 2 days ago, I saw eggs but they were all fungused. Nevertheless, I have high hopes for the pair. I don't intend to pick eggs but I do expect to see fry in a few weeks' time.

Loh K L