Finally... Fries!

[Shi Xuan]

Thanks Kelvin!

@SX: yes, youre right. These are from muar. no difference in phenotypes which I can observe with the naked eye. The pelvic fins, though red now, will eventually turn dark blue-black when they get older.

Betta persephone is a relatively unique species of the coccina complex. Generally black and the only distinct trait they share with other member species should be the red pelvic fins. I remembered reading about them exhibiting some form of family hood, whereby older fry tend to be defensive for their younger siblings. In any case, they ought to be maintained well in captivity because of their dismal future in the wild.

I would like to attempt them, despite an upsetting experience with an all male Betta coccina previously, given their diminutive size and color. Indeed, Coccina complex has a lot of drop-dead gorgeous species I would like to keep too. If Betta miniopinna had been more readily available as well, I suppose that would make an interesting addition.

[Mudskipper]

Betta persephone is a relatively unique species of the coccina complex. Generally black and the only distinct trait they share with other member species should be the red pelvic fins. I remembered reading about them exhibiting some form of family hood, whereby older fry tend to be defensive for their younger siblings. In any case, they ought to be maintained well in captivity because of their dismal future in the wild.

I would like to attempt them, despite an upsetting experience with an all male Betta coccina previously, given their diminutive size and color. Indeed, Coccina complex has a lot of drop-dead gorgeous species I would like to keep too. If Betta miniopinna had been more readily available as well, I suppose that would make an interesting addition.

Sorry to stray from the topic, but what is that bird in your Avatar? Beautiful...looks like it could be a Lady Gouldian? Or a tanager of some sort?

[Shi Xuan]

Kevin, it's a Southern masked weaver bird (Ploceus velatus), also known as African masked weaver, as the name suggest, endermic to Southern Africa, never seen one in my life but I have seen it's relative species, the Baya weaver (Ploceus philippinus), weaving a nest out of grass and drinking straws, at the backyard of my house. They lay the eggs in small clutches and are relatively small in size, measuring between 3cm - 4cm in diameter, fairly large for such a tiny bird.

Unfortunately, the parents only managed to hatch and raise their 1st brood because the 2nd brood was raided by some Eurasian tree sparrow, which took residence in their nest and killed all the chicks in it. After that, I never see anymore Baya weavers and as for the remnants of their nest, I think my mum removed it because she thinks it's unsightly.

I think the trick to see one such bird reside within your premises, is to have a hook, meant for bird cages attached to the ceiling outdoor and if your neighbor happens to be a plant fanatic, then perhaps, there will be an opportunity for that.

In my case, I think I'm very lucky because there are many species of birds to observe around my area, especially during dawn and evening.

As for the suggested Lady gouldian and Tanager, they are really breathtaking beauties, only rivaled by the birds of paradise in term of appearance, IMO.

-Sorry for going off-topic

[Shi Xuan]

A big thank you to Bernard, for these beautiful fishes. Jianyang aka stormhawk saw them today when I was at GC and he believes they might be males though. Anyway, I think they should be a reverse trio from what I can tell and I'm going to keep them in a setup similar to the way Ronnie keeps his Pseudoepiplatys annulatus;
http://www.killies.com/forum/albums/ANN/ANN_raising.jpg

The only difference though, would be a cover for these skittish jumpers.

[Emokidz]

Glad you like them! I hope they do well. I'm quite sure that the one we singled out is a female, the other two have a male in between them. Just not sure of the third. Haha. Do update me if you find out though! That set up would be alright. In fact, a lower water level would be good so that the air above the water surface is kept moist.

[Shi Xuan]

Bernard, if you are reading this, I think the trio spawned, either pair, I'm not too sure. I noticed one of them residing in the film canister though and there's some eggs in the bubblenest, I think.

No photos as promised for now as I don't want to disturb them. The thought of having one jumped out the other day while I was transferring the trio, still send shivers down my spine.

In any case, I'm keeping my fingers crossed.

[Emokidz]

That's nice. I hope the eggs are fertile. Do update us! At least now we know that there's a compatible pair among the 3. The male will reside in the cannister, while the thinner of the 2 elsewhere in the tank should be the mother.

[Shi Xuan]

I'm anticipating any bit of wriggling when the day arrives, for whatever it takes although it's a far cry from now. I've even got a cultured jar of infusoria/green water standing by, should any fry make it to the free-swimming stage.

As for the Betta channoides, the male is reaching the end of it's term. I've had the tank planted densely with Java fern, moss and Bolbitis heudelotii, and a generous layer of well-boiled peat spread over the bottom of the tank, in case the parents decided to go for an easy lunch instead.

[Emokidz]

Haha that's great. For high survival (and almost zero mortality), remove the male once he releases and nurse the channoides fry seaprate from their parents. Persephone fry can grow up alongside their parents from what I've experienced. I hope the persephone eggs hatch on your side with that pair, since I haven't tried that pair out yet. My side's not really productive. Many spawns but all fungussed. The eggs you saw that day are already flushed down the toilet. Haha. The pair on the left should be spawning soon again, huge bubble nest. Not really expecting anything though.

[Shi Xuan]

I haven't observed the nest in the film canister carefully, so for the claim of the eggs, I'm hesitant to acknowledge there's indeed any, without unsettling the trio but I can't reject the likelihood as well. Very shy betta, compared to the B.channoides, which is getting used to my presence.

Betta persephone's habitat has a very soft water composition and so, I've added a generous dosage of peat extract I had, from boiling the peat which I'm intending to use for the N.kilomberoensis.

If you haven't try any peat, I'd reckon it. Softens the water and aids in retarding bacterial growth because of it's acidic property. Some killikeepers I've read or know of use the extract for incubating non-annual killi eggs and it's good. Besides, Betta hails from habitats similar to some killies, like Rivulus sp., and I'd thought this natural tonic might be a good alternative for breeding your bubblenesters.

[Emokidz]

Thanks Shi Xuan. I will definitely give that a try. Which type of peat do you use by the way? I see Aquastar selling packets of dry peat moss. Is that the right type?

[Shi Xuan]

I'm using peat moss sold under the brand, Horti, which I bought at the Clementi NTUC outlet. I have never seen Aquastar dry peat moss before, so I can't help you but since there's a plant nursery near Kovan MRT Station, I think it would be convenient for you to get there instead and boil the peat well before using.

[RonWill]

Which type of peat do you use by the way?

Ben, Horti or Sera pond peat pellets will do fine, as will ketapang leaves. Load up a take-away tub of the media, add water almost to the brim and zap the tub in a microwave. 8mins on high setting. For a thicker brew, zap it twice. Then bench cool and store in fridge. Use as required.

Shi Xuan, danged... have you been digging into the archives? That ANN-E tub was labelled 050202 (2nd Feb 2005!!). Has it been that long???

Your trio will do great ok in that setup. Punch a few holes (with the soldering iron) into the matching lid. Works a treat for the B. simplex (Type 1, I think, from Nonn) that I kept many moons ago.

[stormhawk]

If you buy the Horti stuff, make sure it's called Jiffy Peat Pellets. The peat that comes from those compacted pellets is very fine in texture, so you better have a very fine mesh bag handy.

[Shi Xuan]

Peat is a good alternative and convenient for me in relative to ketapang leaves. I prefer keeping Betta sp. in dark tanks, that said, a combination of peat and ketapang leaves gives me the best result.

I'm glad to mention, the old killies archives has been very resourceful, at least to me and it's worth every effort, going through the pages and maybe envy those days when I was not there yet.

[Emokidz]

Haha. Sounds manageable! I never thought it could be done using the microwave though. Very neat trick. Will try it out soon!

[Shi Xuan]

Haha. Sounds manageable! I never thought it could be done using the microwave though. Very neat trick. Will try it out soon!

You bet they are! I don't have the luxury of a microwave, so I use the oven and re-used my army mesh tin to heat up the peat, less hassle from my mum than to use her kitchen utensils.

[Emokidz]

It's always good to know that I don't have to use my mom's saucepan to extract and reduce the mixture - and risk getting a mouthful for it!

[Emokidz]

Also, thanks Jianyang and Ronnie for the tips on peat. Will update once I try it out. Haha.

[stormhawk]

If you want to save yourself the whole trouble with boiling and bagging peat, might as well use Sera Peat or Eheim Ehfitorf/Torf Pellets in filter bags.