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Killifish for everyone

Last post 10-03-2010 3:52 AM by Charles Zammit. 193 replies.
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  • 04-26-2008 2:40 AM In reply to

    Re: Killifish for everyone

    Aph.d.Richardsoni spawnig on nylon mops.

     

    2einfeshkacouple.jpg

     

  • 04-26-2008 7:24 AM In reply to

    Re: Killifish for everyone

    This afternoon, Barbara had sent me some more photos to use on our forum. This is the one that impressed me most showing an embryo inside its egg just before hatching, of Aph.d.richardsoni.

     

    Arichards...ching.jpg

     

  • 05-03-2008 3:02 AM In reply to

    Re: Killifish for everyone

     Very interesting photos, I saw these on the bka newsletter too.

     These are some of the killies I used to breed.

    Fundulopanchax filamentosus 

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

    Chromaphyosemion gemhs43 - I don't know if they changed their scientific names but when I had these they did not have one.

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

  • 05-03-2008 3:34 AM In reply to

    Re: Killifish for everyone

    Thanks alot Charles & Jonathan, for these interesting pictures. Smile

    Please treat Corydoras as community inhabitants & not as scavengers. Stick out tongue

  • 08-31-2008 6:10 AM In reply to

    • duwwi
    • Top 50 Contributor
    • Joined on 06-19-2008
    • Posts 54

    Re: Killifish for everyone

    Hi guys this morning I just bought a pair of  Killifish(Aphyosemion Australe orange).I found out that these fish are very active and dont stop moving.I housed these wounderfull fish in a 30x22x27cm 17ltr with some java moss & java ferm on bogwood.I wish to make a large aquarium for them to house around 20/30 heads.Can you tell/give me were to find any photos?As I realy wish to make an aquarium only for Killifish 

  • 08-31-2008 7:58 AM In reply to

    Re: Killifish for everyone

    I am very pleased that you are enjoying the pair of Aphy.australe (gold) that you bought from me this morning. As I told you, when you place these fish in a tank, they show off their colours much more then they are in a plastic bag. Killifish as a whole do not need large tanks. The movement that you are seeing in your pair is that they are constantly trying to spawn. If you put more pairs in one tank, you will also observe some bullying and fighting as most other fish does. Try to gain some experience with one pair. It is quite easy to obtain fry off them and to to raise these fry to maturity ( 3-5months) and then you can try other species. Aphyosemions are plant spawners and their eggs hatch-out in 15-21 days. Annual species are more difficult and sometimes it is a matter of luck or better water quality and tank location might make the difference between failure and success.

    The latest site that I obtained for good quality photos is  itrainsfishes.net/content  but this site shows only killifish from South America. Hope you will enjoy going through it.

    Charles Zammit.

  • 08-31-2008 8:12 AM In reply to

    • duwwi
    • Top 50 Contributor
    • Joined on 06-19-2008
    • Posts 54

    Re: Killifish for everyone

    So I have to make for them floating plants?I have put java moss loss and java ferm tied with a piece of bogwood.Every were the female goes the male goes after her and when she hides under the bogwood the male looks like he is going crazy and looking for her.So you think that they are already trying to mate in just a few hours in the tank?
  • 08-31-2008 8:15 AM In reply to

    Re: Killifish for everyone

    As Charlie told you, I prefer to keep killies in small quarters, having only one species in the aquarium. It's a good idea to have java moss and java fern for the females to find shelter in and also for breeding.

    For breeding purposes you need to put some spawning mops as these will be more easy to find the eggs in.

    Keep us updated mate and welcome to our family! Wink

  • 08-31-2008 8:56 AM In reply to

    Re: Killifish for everyone

    When I bought my first pair of killies, I found eggs in the bag, obviously not fertile as these weren't fertilised by the male. The day after I found eggs in the spawning mops, presumably breeding occured the same day I introduced them. 

  • 08-31-2008 9:01 AM In reply to

    • duwwi
    • Top 50 Contributor
    • Joined on 06-19-2008
    • Posts 54

    Re: Killifish for everyone

    you think they will breed the way I made for them the plants?cause I dont have any spawning mops

  • 08-31-2008 11:37 AM In reply to

    Re: Killifish for everyone

    Hi duwwi, 

    Welcome mate, nice to see you here. Wink

    In the wild, AUS do not have spawning mops, and will deposit their eggs in vegitation. So, yes they will adhere eggs to plants. 

    So, let's assume your AUS laid their eggs in a clump of java moss (which is probable) and 14-18 days passed and they hatched. The problem now will be that if the fry don't have enough places to hide, they might get eaten by their parents and if they won't it will still be difficult for them to find the adequate food  in such large quarters.

    The spawning mop, is a man made 'invention' to copy the vegitation matter found in the wild. So if the AUS are not given too many plants but instead a thick spawning mop, their instinct will tell them to lay their eggs in the mop (as a spawning medium), since the chances of the egg lasting till it hatches, not eaten, will be greater.

    Your setup, the one described earlier (with the plants) is used by many killie keepers and is called a permanent setup. I use such method myself sometimes. You will avoid picking up the eggs and incubating them yourself. So it's more hassle free, however the no. of fry yielded will be much less than using the method described below.

    Picking, Incubating and Hatching Non-Annuals eggs :

     It all starts from the spawning mop (or plants - but much easier using a spawning mop). The spawning mop is collected and gently drained. In the meantime, an adequate container (in my case, like many others - I use butter cups) is filled with water from the tank (containing the mop) and a few drops of acriflavine are added to prevent the eggs from getting fungused. After the container is filled and acriflavine added, take the spawning mop in good light and inspect it carefully for any eggs. If eggs are seen, collect them with your hands (need to be very clean to avoid fungusing the eggs) and place them in the incubating container. Don't be afraid to handle the eggs, they will hard enough few hours after being laid. After all the mop will be inspected and eggs placed in the container, put the mop back in the tank.

    Incubation time for AUS in water varies from 12-20 days, depending on many factors, mainly the temp. Place an airstone in the container, setting it at the lowest setting possible (just a bubble or two every second) to create a mild water movement, and wait for them to develop. As days passes by, you'll see the good fertilised eggs darken up, while the bad unfertilised eggs getting white and fungused. Remove these with an eye dropper, to avoid any contamination of fungus between the eggs. 

    Days passed, and your AUS fry started to hatch. Note that since the eggs were not laid in the same day, some will hatch before others. It's now time to start feeding .. you can use bbs straight away, AUS fry are large enough to eat it, or you can choose to start feeding microworms or banana worms instead. Both will give you a great end result.

     

    Tired of writing Tongue Tied If you'll be at Ta Sliema on Tuesday or Wednesday, I'll get you a spawning mop and tell you how to do one yourself. Will also explain to you the text written above more in detail .. cause I gave you just the taste of it Stick out tongue

    You choose to keep very nice, interesting and addictive fish my friend. Killies are in a world of their own, nothing to do with the rest of tropical fish, their keeping and breeding is completely different ... lots of work involved .. but worth it. 

     

    P.S. : If you search the net on AUS, you'll most probably read somewhere that although they are considered as beggininer's fish by some, they are not so easy to get them laying eggs sometimes, until you get things right. This sp. gave a hard time to some and a good time to others.

  • 08-31-2008 11:48 AM In reply to

    Re: Killifish for everyone

    Btw duwwi, if you want to see some pics and remarks on Aphyosemion Australe and many other killifish, try the following link. It's Tim Addis's website on 'Killifish of West Africa', very informative and with pics included.

     

    If you have any questions don't hesitate to ask me, Charlie Zammit, jtheuma or Tim Addis himself during the talk he's gonna give at the club on the 7th of September. We're here for that, to help each other Wink

     

    http://www.killifish.f9.co.uk/Killifish/Killifish%20Website/Ref_Library/Aphyosemion/A.australe.htm

  • 08-31-2008 12:01 PM In reply to

    • duwwi
    • Top 50 Contributor
    • Joined on 06-19-2008
    • Posts 54

    Re: Killifish for everyone

    Thanks mate I will be there on tuesday for sure.Thanks for your help again

  • 08-31-2008 10:54 PM In reply to

    Re: Killifish for everyone

    Welcome to the Malta Aquarist Society Forum, duwwi. Big Smile Yesterday, I met you at the club & it was nice talking with you, especially on planted tanks.

    Here is a link where you will see how to do the spawning mop for your Killies -

    http://maltaaquarist.com/forum/forums/p/188/1805.aspx#1805

     

    Please treat Corydoras as community inhabitants & not as scavengers. Stick out tongue

  • 09-01-2008 12:45 PM In reply to

    • duwwi
    • Top 50 Contributor
    • Joined on 06-19-2008
    • Posts 54

    Re: Killifish for everyone

    Hi guys this morning I bought another 3 pairs of killifishBig SmileThanks to everyone but mostly to Charles Zammit as he invited me to see his fish room.Guys I can tell you that he has a very nice room.(reminds me when I had mine).By the way,thanks again for your infomation on these wonderfull fish.I have never seen any in lfs.So I must say that it is a very good idea to bring fish for sale in the club.

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