Upgrading to Killis...

The normal progression is from coldwater (goldfish) to tropicals to marine tropicals....

Well, allthough everyone keeping marines states that it is not that difficult, I do not feel qualified to move over to saltwater just yet....

I've decided to place one step in between the Freshwater tropicals and marines.... I've just acquired Gardneris and Guentheris....

I only got them last week, so the Guentheris are still small, but the Gardneris are setup for spawning, (& have done so)..... Apparently, I have to wait about 6 weeks for the eggs to hatch.

I'm hoping to establish a "permanent breeding" culture, where I only scoop some fry out from time to time.. (Lazy aquarist I am:bigsmile..... I'll update again when I see fry.

 

Cheetah - you will need to post some pics ... sounds interesting.

 

Pics not quote

 

Unfortunately, This is the only photo I have of the Garderi female, which was taken before I moved them outside to a pond..... Any new photos will be from top down, which will not show much.... Once the fry are big,... I intend to take a couple inside, & will get an update photo then...

 

How're they doing Cheeta?

 

Have they spanned jet?

 

It is incorrect that they will take six weeks to hatch, more likely about 10 days. Gardneri's are easy to breed and you will soon see fry no doubt.

The Nothobranchius guentheri spawn in peat and this must be dried before they will hatch.

I would advise that you visit the websites of the American Killifish Association (AKA) where the expert would be Dr Brian Watters, formerly from Cape Town, who would be able to give you advice. The British Killifish Association website is also very helpful.

Kind regards,

Dirk

 

They have definitely multiplied, but it is hard to tell how many there are now (being in a pond)... The "fry" that I've seen are reasonably large & will probably also be ready to spawn soon.

 

You can keep them in a pond? Is it heated?

 

Hi Cheetah (thats the new name for Tiger Woods now BTW),

Fundulopanchax gardneri do just fine at temps above 20 C as a matter of fact if the temp goes much over 25 C you have problems, so absolutely no heating required in the pond at the moment.

In winter they will not survive if kept below 15 C and then I would put them into a tank indoors again.

It is am absolute illusion to think that most killies require heating as a matter of fact I think that most of them have their life spans shortened by heating. I keep killies from Cameroon (Aphyosemion splendopleure and Aphyosemion poliaki) and both species would die from temps over 25 C for a single day.


Kind regards,

Dirk

 

Oh wow, good know. Thanks prof

 

During the summer here in Thabazimbi, I do not foresee problems.... I will however have to put a heater in there from about April onwards

 

Actually, I do have a number of outside "ponds" with Tropicals in it, which I keep outside year round.... (obviously heating during the winter)... these are the common livebearers.. (Guppies, Platies, Swords and Mollies)... then I have one with Convicts and another with Blue Gouramies...and of course, now I have the one with the Fundulopanchax in as well.

 

Interesting, how big are these ponds? Do they have filters?

Do you still have the Killis? How many did you eventually raise?