Quote[/b] (Nflytrap @ May 14 2004,9:55)]Hi Nflytrap,
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Fifinda 2003....does that mean they were collected oone year ago?
Yes, they were collected last August. They are beginning to sex out and it looks pretty good, maybe a bit male heavy. It looks like most will be yellows as the yellow male was the dominant breeder. I like the orange color but the yellows have the biggest fins and body size for some reason. Cannot wait to see what the 15 or so younger ones that just hatched in the parents' tank turn out to be. Since some fry are water incubating on their own instead of peat storage I am just letting that happen. You get more with peat though. I need to wet some more fallax peat btw.
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Here in Fresno...I'd love to have lots of rain to collect rainwater. Of course, that never happens, and the water would probably be polluted...though.
Let it rain for 15-30 minutes and then collect. I have an old roof -- 30 years -- so it runs off crystal clear. Hope it rains!
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Are red wigglers the small reddish, purplish, yellowish worms with black rings that fishermen use?
Yes, only get like 2-3 inches. They are a great fish food, chooped live or frozen and chopped. Earthworms are considered the best all around food once you train fish to eat them. They really make for growth and good breeding.
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As for the killies, you must be feeding them something really good. How long do these guys live in the wild anyway? Only one month and already almost half the potential size.
Oh, fallax if you don't overfeed and push to really breed alot and keep around 72-75F would live 2-3 years. They are semi annual which is why their eggs incubate in damp peat or water just fine. Not all their water holes dry up each year. There are many locations of fallax all over the Cameroons
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Shouldn't they start sexing out soon, esp with all the sparring going on? I've noticed with A. lineatus that the young males can be quickly picked out at about 3/4-1 inch in that they begin to spar with each other(not to mention the orange bar across the bottom of the anal fin).
Yes, sexing out. Should be good to go in a month, maybe 3 weeks. They are barely a month old.
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Aquariaman's pic and most of the other's of F. fallax look awesome! Orange or yellow, with blue flecks and dark blue bordered fins is life colors, right?
Yes, those pictures are very true. The pectoral fins on the male have black borders which are impressive. The females are handsome but plain brownish tan. The spotting on the body is very cool as they are so big.
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BTw, I think the monties are starting to sex out. There is no escaping now that the point on the bottom of the fin is a mini sword. The pigment hasn't come in yet, though. The anal fins are forming into gonopodiums too. It looks as if I have at most 4 females...assuming the other two small ones turn into females.
4 females would be great. Keep me posted as I want you to have enough girls as these throw more boys. The black will fill as they age. It keeps increasing as does the sword and dorsal size and pattern. Look for the late developing largest males with long straight swords and big round dorsals.
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Also, I think the female you sent gave birth without my notice. She probably got rid of a few babies due to stress perhaps. I think there are at least three little gray colored fry swimming around. I offered the adults San Franscisco Bay Brand baby brine shrimp...they loved it. Not to mention the lil ones got to pick at the leftovers. They look so cute with those little plump bellies.
You should see how they eat the live baby brine! The small fry need it for best development. Next batch she should give you 30 or so fry. Then you'll be on your way. The fry will eat many foods but baby brine makes them grow the fastest, largest and with best color. I got to get you those microworms. I will shoot for this Sat. to mail with grindals. I've just been busy.
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Also, have you tried hard boiled egg yolk? With normal swordtail juvies...this was an instant hit. They'd follow it around biting it as if it were a wriggling worm or something. The monties arent as enthusiastic, but it did stir up a bit of action. The babies hung on the outskirts and grab the particles that came to them.
Oh, yes, egg yoke is an old food for fry just not too much as it causes an infusoria bloom. If yo can collect mosquito egg rafts and put those in the tank the fry love the tiny newly hatched mossie larvae. Sifted dapnia are great too. Babies are so cute when they get fat. Killie babies are fun as they are little reptors in attacking live food.
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As far as the adults go...things will be pretty rowdy with the guys outnumbering the girls!
Yes, once you know you'll want to even it out some. Monties are not hard drivers on the females but the males should be equal in number or less than the girls. I keep 5 pairs together now. I put my extra males with 2 big montezumae x brick red helleri females I have. It's a 4th generation cross that has been seemingly sterile in this generation. I tried their brothers, helleri hi fin males and now pure monty males. Nothing. They seem to get gravid but no fry. It's a shame as they are huge fish (6 inches) with a light orange color overall with the monty body patterning (no black spots as a reg. monty was used in the cross) and the long long straight sword. We shall see what happens.
Bobby