Malta Aquarist Society

I'm always astonished with these fish!

Maybe thats because you're keeping them in a heated environment so they mature before...

Have you found eggs Charl? or they're just in the mood?

Well done Charles it was really interesting reading your post & if possible, can you post some pictures of the Killies.  

Hi Jonathan and all,

What I wanted to point out was just how quickly Notho. eggersi mature. It is true that in warmer temp. the metabolism of living things is faster but both the eggersi and the guentheri are exactly in the same similar conditions, temp.around 23C. The eggersi males have grown to 2cm. while the guentheri are 1.5cm. Females of both species are only 1 cm long.

While the males from the eggersi are courting the females and spawning, the males from the guentheri are still sparring with each other and no interest at all in the females. Remember, both species are only 19 days old today!

No I have not collected any eggs off them. Infact, today I isolated the females in another tank so that they will keep growing and will only put them with the males when they reach their full size, otherwise the females will remain very small and waste away very quickly.

 Aphanius mento and Aphanius dispar Richardsoni, both of which are in outdoor ponds all year round, have started to spawn. Anyone interested in some eggs or later young specimens, let me know.

Hi charles. Last January I bought some aphanius mento from you. Now for this June can you please presper a trio(1male and 2females) of aphanius dispar for me? I will talk to you next meeting when I come and buy them.

Thanks Brandon.

Hi Brandon,

I will try to collect a trio of Aph.dispar Richardsoni from the pond before our May meeting. If I manage to, I will let you know so that you can collect them from the club.

In the future when refering to this species, please also use the name Richardsoni as this indicates that this species is the one from Israel. There are other varieties of dispar which lives in most of the Middle East as far as the Persian Gulf and even further in Iran.

Hope that you will have better results with the Aphy.austarle gold if you are following the tips I gave you last Sunday.

Hi Charles. Of course there are many species of Dispar.The common dispar called Aphanius Dispar Dispar and the Richardsoni called Aphanius Dispar Richardsoni. OK if you manage bring them to our Club but inform me please. Thanks very much Charles for those Aphy.austarle gold tips. They are like a bible for me and are very helpful. Another thing that I want to tell you is that I bred and hached some aplocheilus lineatus(golden panchax) eggs. 

 Thanks Brandon.

Hi Brandon,sorry but I will not be bringing you any Aphanius dispar Richardsoni next Sunday. I did collect some from the pond but as soon as I collected the, the males lost all their colour and are still difficult to pair.

On the other hand, I did receive a request for these fish from Belgium and the couple of pairs that I am sure of will be posted on Monday. This is the best time of the year to post fish as in a few more days, the weather will be to warm for posting.

This does not mean that I am prefering a foreiner as for you I have the time all year round.

See you on Sunday.

Don't worry Charles I will wait till you have some Aphanius dispar Richardsoni avaliable.

Thanks Brandon.

 I have been at Brandon's place and I have to admit that I was impressed on the cleanliness and the way he keeps his fish. Keep up the good work friend and I hope you all all the success with your breeding. Thanks also to Charles Zammit for his help to other members in keeping and breeding these lovely fish .

martin 

Hi Martin, thanks for your nice comments. I am very pleased to hear that Brandon is doing so well with his killifish. Recently another member, Kenneth Cremona bought some eggs of annual species from Singapore through E-Bay. At first he was having trouble in hatching these eggs and asked for my help. In less then 3 weeks, he now have breeding pairs off them and he is having a great time. I am always ready to help anyone regards breeding fish.

Brandon, the 2 pairs Aphanius dispar Richardsoni and the pair of Aphanius mento Kirk Goz that I posted on Monday morning to Belgium, have reached their destination this morning in perfect condition. Now it is your turn to have a trio of them. Unluckily, I cannot attend for the next meeting as I have a family occasion and have to be present but you will soon have them. Now they are breeding and also some fry have already hatched out. 

Charles

 hi there Charles

I must admit i never kept killifish, though i know they are really beautiful fish. From reading the posts i would like to try and keep a few easy species, something to start with. Was wondering are there any breed that you can keep with other community fish? Or do you have to keep them on their own. I know they do not need a lot of space, so a small tank would be good. ANd now that the summer is approaching can you keep these fish without a heater, or maybe outside.

 Thanks

 Frank

You could keep killies in a community, although some of them might turn aggressive on smallet tank mates. But for breeding you have to set them in quarters on their own. In Summer they don't need a heater and there are species which can be kept outside, like the popular Aphanius mento.

A nice coloured species to begin with is Aphyosemion australe. Do make sure the aquarium is well covered, as these are very good jumpers.

Hi Cikkus,

Jonathan gave you a brief description of how to deal with killifish. If you go to the first and second article of this thread, you will find a very detailed information and also some photos of these wonderful fish, including information as how to keep and breed these species.

On the otherhand, should you need any help or a couple of species, you only have to shout from your front door and I will hear your scream and open my garage door and you can make your pick.

Yesterday, I went to a lfs and sold him some pairs of A.australe gold. Everyone who saw these fish at the shop was amazed and probably, most of the pairs were sold before Robert had opened their bags.

Charlie.

Thanks for that nice comments friends.Charles regarded the Aphanius dispar richarsoni you can pm me when can I come for them or if you want pick them at the next meeting.   

 Hi Charles i will be shouting pretty soon, just as soon as i know where i will keep the fish. I will also read the first two articles you had written so as to get a bit of back ground. Would it be possible to post a couple of photos as regards the species you suggest i keep to start with.

 Thanks 

 Frank