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Post by barbara on Feb 1, 2009 23:13:48 GMT -5
Sorry, I missed this post. The mommy will release them when she is ready, or feels the fry are safe. In an isolation tank, they tend to "spit" them earlier than in a tank with a lot of other fish. She will protect them as long as she can.
This fish keeps being re-evaluated on the Red list. Right now they are considered threatened, but I'm not sure they are endangered now. Someone must have located some in the wild.
The Mbipia cf. Lutea, and Hap. Kenya Gold, P. Chromogynos, and Xystichromis sp. Kyoga flameback that I have are all endangered, with different designations. Some are critical, such as the Chromogynos that Brenda and I have.
Had a set back today. I had housed 3 holding females in 1 10 gallon tank. One female spit her babies, killed another female that was holding, and then ate all the fry. My count is still over 50 for fry, and I still have at least 4 mothers still holding. I gave a small group, consisting of 1 male and 3 females to a friend in my local club today.
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Post by brenda on Feb 1, 2009 23:32:14 GMT -5
I still can't believe that Barbara...I guess you just never know what these fish are going to do. Good thing you have a big group, even after the one's you gave away.
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Post by barbara on Feb 1, 2009 23:50:38 GMT -5
My group is probably still too large, but it's at a good number for now. I can cut it back later. I'd love to find some quality males from a different source to vary my bloodllines.
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Post by barbara on Feb 2, 2009 18:38:34 GMT -5
Another 20+ fry today. I see my numbers rising out of control. I think if the last 3 hold to completion, I should have over 100 of these guys. I am moving females that have released to another tank, for recovery, and to stop this breeding. I may have to isolate my males instead....and just let them breed every couple of months for a while, until I am sure of an outlet for fry. I'm thinking of setting up for the ACA convention, to donate fry to the various charites.
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Post by barbara on Feb 3, 2009 22:59:06 GMT -5
Another mommy spit, about 15 fry out of this one. I wish I could get an actual count going, but they are just so tiny. I have to have at least 80 of these little ones. I've been combining them to the best of my ability, but even tho I have a lot, I really don't want to lose any, especially due to larger fry eating them. So, I have got the fry into 3 separate tanks.
It's really hard to have a lot of enthusiasm for breeding the fulus. I'd really like to get fry from something else...I would love my Kenya Golds to grow fast and start breeding. They are still about an inch, and they aren't growing very fast. I'm beginning to just slightly see some red coloration on a few, that should show males.
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Post by barbara on Feb 4, 2009 12:41:28 GMT -5
Be careful what you wish for? I believe I might have a holding Chromogynos, and I think I saw a Neochromis Omnicaeruleus today that didn't eat. The NO's are always begging and hungry, so if a female doesn't eat, it's almost assured that she is holding. I noticed in the 2 spawns that I've had, that the female doesn't ever really "bulk up" in the throat area like some of my other fish.
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Post by Carl on Feb 4, 2009 15:05:23 GMT -5
Good news Barbara, your fish are so busy, I think I need a score card to keep up Carl
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Post by barbara on Feb 4, 2009 15:35:04 GMT -5
Funny Carl, I was thinking the same thing. But it's mostly one species being busy. I'm going to keep the females separated until I can combine this set of fry into 1 or 2 tanks, and I'm sure I have an outlet for more fry. I'd like to donate some to the ACA for their convention, but I'm not really sure of the logistics of this.
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Post by barbara on Feb 7, 2009 11:00:29 GMT -5
Well, the big HCCC auction is tomorrow. There will be some fish there that I've never seen before. I'm trying to decide if I want anything or not, or how high I'm willing to go.
My main purchase, if available, will be some Xystichromis sp. Kyoga flamebacks. I have 2 males, and no females of this species. I have been told that several people have some that are still small, and will be willing to give me some when sexable. I would like a new male or 2 of the Xmas fulus, to help diversify my line.
I am donating...Yellow labs, Rusties, white tailed Acei, Neochromis Omnicaeruleus (all fry for the Breeder's program) and some undergravel filters for the Lake Victoria project.
I've heard rumors of Neochromis sp. Madonna, Neochromis rufocaudalis, Yssichromis sp "blue tipped", Astatotilapia defontainii. I know I'm outgunned for the defontainii, by a person with a large wallet. I might be able to get a small group of the "blue tipped" if there is more than one. We'll have to see how it goes.
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Post by brenda on Feb 7, 2009 11:34:15 GMT -5
Barbara, I say get whatever you can, you know you can make/find room!!!! I am so excited for the auction and I can't even go. I wish I could go with you, that would be a fun day!!!
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Post by barbara on Feb 7, 2009 11:51:20 GMT -5
Brenda, I wish you could go too. That would make the day complete.
As far as the fish go, I'll see what I can afford. I've heard some of the top bids for this stuff, and I don't know if I'll be able to compete. But I will take a camera, and try to get some pics of the auction, and some of the neat stuff. And, I'll come home with what I can.
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Post by brenda on Feb 7, 2009 12:14:17 GMT -5
Yeah, definitely take pics...That is all you can do...come home with what you can. It'll be a blast regardless!!!!
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Post by barbara on Feb 7, 2009 17:02:37 GMT -5
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Post by eve on Feb 7, 2009 17:07:19 GMT -5
awww, how cute
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Post by jonv on Feb 7, 2009 17:09:51 GMT -5
Nice shots Barb. It's just truly amazing how similar these species all look. I find the look of these fish to be close to those Yellow Bellies I just picked up, with the striping along the face, body shape and facial arrangement. That's a nice species you got there.
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Post by barbara on Feb 7, 2009 17:11:36 GMT -5
Thanks Eve. These were on my husband's "have to have" list, so we bought these. We got them the end of November, at less than 1/2 inch. They are growing fairly well, and this coloration is new. Right now I'm counting 3 males, and if that's correct, then my total is 3 males, 9 females, which would be an excellent colony! There is a bit of interest in these in my area, so I'll be glad when they begin to breed. They are also newly on the endangered species list.
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Post by brenda on Feb 7, 2009 18:20:57 GMT -5
Wow...This is exciting news....Congrats!!!! He looks awesome.
Jon, yes they do all look quite similar, that is why you have to be so carefully if mixing to get species that look quite different...Especially when it comes to the females.
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Post by barbara on Feb 7, 2009 19:58:19 GMT -5
Good point Brenda. I hope to have these in a species tank soon...I don't know that the yellow labs will stay with them too much longer. The Kenyas were so timid (and small!) when I first got them, that I wanted to relax them a little. The closest size I had were the yellow labs at that time.
With male coloration, breeding isn't usually too far behind. Hope I can have enough tanks ready for these guys. I'm excited for these.
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Post by kagome on Feb 7, 2009 23:53:18 GMT -5
I have yet another dumb question since I just don't know that much about the African cichlids, but am trying to learn. Why are the different species becoming endangered? Is it pollution or overfishing or something like that?
I love the new pictures, these guys are really cute! I've only ever had South American cichlids but sometimes you guys really make me want to try Africans some day when I have a bigger tank. Although it seems that when you really get into the African cichlids you don't just buy a fish, you join a cult! lol
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Post by barbara on Feb 8, 2009 0:16:14 GMT -5
OK, Lake Victoria is messed up for several reasons. The first one being was the introduction of the Nile Perch. This was intentional, because this fish was supposed to be used for fishing. It out competed and ate the Victorians. The next reason is pollution. This dramatically changed the lake.
There is estimated 200 species that have gone extinct in Lake Victoria, out of 600 species. A lot of the rest are endangered. There are a limited number of the species that are available in the US.
One point that Dr. Paul Loiselle made at his speech was that because of the tremendous loss of species in Lake Victoria, the other lakes in Africa are being taken much more seriously. There will be no more intentionally (government sanctioned) introduction of species in those lakes.
Africans are like anything else. There is moderation, but I definitely have an addiction. I have a large home, and room for the tanks that I keep. My husband and I both enjoy them (he did water changes on some of the tanks today), and I do keep species tanks at this point for my Victorian species. I'm on the drastic end of the scale, for sure. A lot of people keep one or two tanks of Africans and are satisfied with that. I just live in an area that keeps my addiction going.
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