Finally... Fries!

[johannes]

nice updates on the fries...

[12end]

Congrats on the fries! thanks for sharing~

[dragonn]

4.5 - 5.5 pH is really low, do they live in that pH in their natural environment?

[Emokidz]

Thanks all for the encouraging responses!

[Shi Xuan]

4.5 - 5.5 pH is really low, do they live in that pH in their natural environment?

Yes, the PH of betta persephone's natural habitat ranges from 5.0 - 5.5, sometimes lesser. Somehow, fishes that thrive in low PH environment when changed to an environment with higher PH may have immunity problems because there's a certain range of PH which bacteria can thrive & which these fishes may have no immunity against.

regards,
Shi Xuan

[Emokidz]

Yup, some how temperature and pH must be kept low. Or they tend to be restless, get clamped fins or get more susceptible to dacteria/fungus attacks.

[Shi Xuan]

Hi Bernard,

You have very good taste, betta persephone is a pretty species, just like the others of the betta coccina complex & I'm very fond of all of them, including the albimarginata complex as well. Keep them well, I think they won't be a common sight in the wild not long from now. If tank space or time miraculously appear, I would probably attempt these bubblenesters. Anyway, it would be great if you have photos of their fry.

regards,
Shi Xuan

[Emokidz]

Thank you Shi Xuan. Yes, the coccina complex are my favourite complex for wild bettas. So small, yet so beautiful.

[Emokidz]

Hi Everyone,

Just to update on the persephone fries. There are about 27 of them, all currently at least 15 weeks old (about 4 months), some older from the first batch of 3.. All is well, not a single casualty!

Currently split them up into groups of 5 or slightly more. Still waiting for them to grow out a bit more and get their full colours. Will be pairing them up at 6 months, if I have the time...

Here are some pictures on how they have grown. Do enjoy (it wasn't easy taking them ):


Probably one of my best shots. They just don't really keep still!


Two males (i think?) flaring...




Some other shot of them swimming round after meal time.


Finally, their humble home...

[similus]

Hi Bernard,

I am ready to absorb some if you want to let go.

Cheers

Rick.

[Luc Tango]

beautiful! If you don't have the time, I'm sure there are a crap load of hobbyist who are willing to take this precious gems in.

[Mudskipper]

Gorgeous, Bernard. Nice to see that they're growing well. My channoides fries have coloured up and are almost ready to go too. Wish I could get some photos butt he water is so dark from the ketapang that I can't even see them sometimes. LOL!

[royss78]

Hi Bernard! Do let me know if you want to let go of some. I've been looking for it for quite a while. I can come in to Singapore anytime. Just let me know. Thanks!

[Emokidz]

Gorgeous, Bernard. Nice to see that they're growing well. My channoides fries have coloured up and are almost ready to go too. Wish I could get some photos butt he water is so dark from the ketapang that I can't even see them sometimes. LOL!

Haha! Oh you keep them in Ketapang water? I kind of raised my fry in clear water form the start, so they are fine with it. The pH is 5.5 though, from my main planted tank. They are used to cooler temperatures about 26-29 deg and no lights over their tanks, which they seem to like. All the fry take atison pellets and micropellets readily - which makes feeding infinitely more convenient! Frozen / Live food is given as a treat once in a while. Haha. I bet the channoide fry look really cute!

[Emokidz]

beautiful! If you don't have the time, I'm sure there are a crap load of hobbyist who are willing to take this precious gems in.

Haha! Thanks for the compliment!

[Emokidz]

Hi Bernard,

I am ready to absorb some if you want to let go.

Cheers

Rick.

Hi Bernard! Do let me know if you want to let go of some. I've been looking for it for quite a while. I can come in to Singapore anytime. Just let me know. Thanks!

Hello guys, I'll be nursing them up for awhile longer to be able to pair them up so that I can release them in pairs. Will probably be putting a few pairs (depending on gender ratio) up for sale in the market thread though. Will update more here!

[Mudskipper]

Haha! Oh you keep them in Ketapang water? I kind of raised my fry in clear water form the start, so they are fine with it. The pH is 5.5 though, from my main planted tank. They are used to cooler temperatures about 26-29 deg and no lights over their tanks, which they seem to like. All the fry take atison pellets and micropellets readily - which makes feeding infinitely more convenient! Frozen / Live food is given as a treat once in a while. Haha. I bet the channoide fry look really cute!

I use aged water with ketapang for one water change and clear aged water for the next...alternating all the time. No lights either and my rack is on the balcony so the temperature is whatever it is daily. Interestingly enough they will take some JBL bits every now and then but prefer frozen and live food. I admit that I spoil my fishes and buy live brine every week if I get the chance, they love to chase them around and attack. They are really cute, about two thirds the size of the parents now but already fully coloured up and I've started pairing some males and females from one batch with mates from another batch. The parents were about this size or slightly bigger when they bred so they should be ready soon.

Not going to breed the parents for a while though...got another two batches growing out. Haiz...still in boon hell.

[royss78]

Hello guys, I'll be nursing them up for awhile longer to be able to pair them up so that I can release them in pairs. Will probably be putting a few pairs (depending on gender ratio) up for sale in the market thread though. Will update more here!

Ok Bro, will wait for your updates. Thanks again!

[Emokidz]

Haha! I feed my fish boon and brine once in a while too. But I make their staple pellets. Managed to train the adult coccinas from y618 totals atison pellets readily! Lol! Chan life's seem to be more stubborn though!

[royss78]

Yup. It's harder for us when the eggs and fish we want are concentrated in Europe and the US, with the US hobbyists least keen to share them. I wish you the best of luck in your attempts to get the Ayer Hitam strain. I just passed by Muar and Ayer Hitam recently. From what I see, the oil palm plantations have expanded. I guess the future is bleak for these persephone in the wild.

By the way, have you tried miniopinna yet?

Yeah, I totally agree with you mate! I'm from JB and the wild betta scene here is really not exciting... given enough time it will be non-existent.

From the information that I've gathered in the last 3 months working together with the villagers from the surrounding kampungs... there are sightings of the persephone outside of the original two places. The Muar strain is usually found in the area of Pagoh sub-district but there are new sightings in Tangkak enroute to the town of Jementah in Segamat. The Ayer Hitam strain on the other hand is found quite close to the Ayer Hitam town but there are sightings of it in a palm oil plantation on the road to Yong Peng.

I'll be checking these places out soon so hopefully these reports are true. If it is, then there might be some glimmer of hope for this beautiful fishes. Hope to report some good news after my trip there.