MN-AQUARIST

Hi everyone I was wondering what people's experiences are with the rate of cross breeding between Xiphophorus species when kept in the same tank. For example a 55g with high-fin koi swordtails and blue wag platies? Would most of the fry be of the original strains or would they rapidly interbreed? I know that most swordtail strains get their color from being crossed with X.maculatus or X.variatus and then crossed back. I'm just not sure if the crosses were forced or happen readily. Thanks for your input.

If the cories are relatively small and your tank is processing fish waste, I would just get all six at once. Then I would feed very lightly for a few days to let the bacteria catch up to the new bio-load.

I agree with this, I had a similar problem and it fixed it.

In my experience they aren't predatory but like most fish wouldn't turn down a protein snack if they can fit it in their mouth.

Ph is around 7.8 KH and GH currently max out the aco test strips, city site says about 18°hardness. The anubias, crypts and Java fern have been growing well for several years at this point, the Val has been surviving in thr tank for about 4 months, the pso was added about a month ago and is going crazy. Not sure about par measurements but the tank is 24" tall with the 4ft aco light at 70% if that helps. I have a small amount of Val in another tank that while not spreading quickly is growing and looks much healthier. I think those who said the substrate isn't deep enough might be right or perhaps the crypts have taken up all the available space in the gravel with their roots. I will be sure to monitor the water after the softener to see if it does too much or leaks salt, but best I can figure is as long as I don't run water during a recharge cycle or shortly after it no salt will be introduced to the water supply. I do have access to a non-soften tap but it is only cold so water changes will get a little trickier if I need to use that. Thank you to everyone so far for your input.

As far as I can tell it's just jungle Val, I was able to get some pictures of new growth that I attached, I seem to be deficient in something. Not sure what though.

Hi I have a 60g established tank that for some reason I can't get Val to grow in. It stays short and redish in color, and will hardly spread if at all. I can grow crypts, pogostems, Java fern, flame sword and anubias however. Small sized established gravel plus root tabs, easy green to keep nitrates between 20-60 ppm ie 6 pumps or so a week, aco 4ft light at 70%. Water is very hard but I did just install a water softener today so that will be changing. Any advice?

They really look like black worms to me.

Well that is a bit puzzling, by most accounts that should have worked. Personally I would try de-worming the fish now that they are back inside and then upping the amount and frequency of feeding to see if you can trigger them to breed. I think the trout goodieds have a long gestation period so it may just be a waiting game.

To my eye you definitely have a trio, the one with the notch in the anal fin is the male. A few things to consider with the lack of fry could be the parents predating them, certain insects could eat them, temps were to warm for them to breed, maybe not enough food for the females, or possibly just bad luck with fry surviving. What kind of filter, if any, did you have on the pond?

Generally speaking it won't matter much where you put it. It's possible that you will get some "dead spots" of low flow but you can adjust airflow and position as needed. In my tanks with just sponge filters I expect to get some detritus buildup so I don't worry a lot about it.

I've had luck before with de-worming my livebearers if breeding doesn't seem to be where it should be. Sometimes females can look healthy but because of the worms not have enough extra nutrients to grow babies. Another option could be to increase the frequency(and there by the total) amount of feedings and/or adding frozen food to the mix.

I feel like i would do some sort of smaller barb like tiger barbs with Grace but that's just me.

Bristlenose are totally okay solo, and either species of Cory you listed will work no problem.

So lots to address here, I will try my best. For the variatus platies I've personally had luck keeping them in the mid 60s no problem with the occasional drops into the high 50s being tolerated but not ideal. I would personally set the coop heater at the 65 mark and leave it. The lower the temp the slower they will breed but because they are livebearers its hard to say when breeding would "stop". The danios certainly will try to eat the fry if they can fit them in their mouth. For the plants, most seem to grow better at the high 60s low 70s range, all other things being equal. I don't think you would necessarily notice a difference in growth rate but it depends on the plants.