Fish Folk

@Ben P. I have worked with Nothobranchius rachovii and Nothobranchius guentheri. I haven’t personally found success buying eggs and hatching them. But others have. If you’re in US lower 48, reach out to a US killi breeder. I have some eggs + peat from N. rachovii that will be ready to hatch around Easter. If you’re still looking by then, I’ll sell you them at 1-month of age.

27 📸 😂

These brothers don’t often pause long enough together in front of the camera. Definitely mature!

A win for FCB at the Anoeta. Last second glory goal from big defender…

If this works, take loads of photos and show the Forum. I'd love to learn your tips for breeding Bettas. I've started down that road, but never finished the journey yet. It's on my breeder's "bucket-list" for sure!

I'm impressed that you've mastered breeding Bettas! My one question: if you're successful, will the fry mix through the central divider, and prove to be confusing to keep distinct? Or are you not worried about that?

Sorry to hear about your Betta. It's never fun to lose a wet pet. I think that the smaller a tank, the more _unstable_ its water chemistry is. I'd assume that the 40 breeder stays more stable, less prone to fluctuation on the whole, than the 5 gal nano tank. I let plants go crazy in my tiny tanks. Indian Swamped, Duckweed, Water Wisteria, Java Moss -- I find that the plants help to balance the whole eco system, absorb any ammonia spikes, etc. You could use Peat moss all over in there -- or in a net suspended someplace. That can lower pH some. Plants really help to lower hardness. You might enjoy keeping a small African Killifish species in there. They don't mind wide parameters. I breed Fundulopanchax Scheeli (Emerald Killifish) in 5.5 gal aquariums. They're gorgeous, but more shy than Bettas...

Welcome aboard! Beautiful tanks. Lots of different interests among folks here. Hope you enjoy the comraderie.

NANF photos from home this evening… Greenhead Shiner Banded Darter Gulf Coast Pygmy Sunfish Rainbow Shiner Fireyblack Shiner 🔥

Hey all! I apologize for being slow to respond . . . life got busy this past month. I really haven't even been giving the fishroom enough care of late. For November, if everyone is up for it, here is a short (23-min long) free film published by Freshwaters Illustrated titled "The Lost Fish" (ca. 2014) about the Pacific Lamprey. It is definitely a conservation film. I am reminded of programs like CARES Priority List that document fish species suitable for aquariums that are endangered or at risk. Hope ya'll enjoy!

I’m going to keep MISC journals about Livebearers here. I’m growing out Swordtails spawned outdoors last summer… They have some NANF tankmates - Gulf Coast Pygmy Sunfish (egg layers)… The adult brooders are in a separate aquaponic set up… They also share space with a different NANF species, the Bluefin Killifish (also an egg layer)…. Also enjoying an ongoing breeding group of “Precious Metals” Guppies…

My son got a new rare migration sighting. Ash-Throated Flycatcher: normally a west coast bird. Rather odd for Maryland…

We return them. We do, however, occasionally travel south to collect stock that we keep…

Another local waterways outing today. Nice to visit our miniature aquatic neighbors! Sculpin… Fantail Darter… Rosysided Dace… White Sucker… Stone Roller… Blacknose Dace + Rosysided Dace… The Old Man 😎… The Young Lad 🥳…

I think you do not need to worry, especially given the plans. Apistos generally do fine with little greenery. Some species do like botanicals, leaf litter, and tannins. Best luck to you!

You had me at the Mythosaur 🤘 Yes, that can work. I have Anubias doing that in several tanks successfully.

Very challenging! Nicely managed there. I'd have been a long, long while working that up to play on recorder. I think the balance was excellent, and the recorder sounded quite period-appropriate. Those violin unisons are brutal if not precisely together. Definitely a favorite piece of mine. Now you have got me on a cello kick. We might not like all of these cello pieces... but I'll select a few that I dig. Let me find some... 1. Astor Piazzolla - Oblivion (setting for Cello and orchestra) 2. Heitor Villa-Lobos - Bachianas Brazilieras No. 1 (International Cello Academy) 3. Eric Whitacre - The River Cam (BBC Proms, Cello and orchestra) I've composed a few pieces for Cello if you're interested in reading some different stuff. Nothing really good, but if you have a good pianist, or a Pianist and Clarinetist. Some of it is very challenging. Tonal, but a slight bit on the jazzy side. Send me a PM if you want scores. I can fish them out from somewhere. A lifetime ago, I got my master's in Music Composition.

Enjoying the F0 brooders tonight…

Leading lady. Definitely putting moves on the Mr… Positively opaline beauty….

Aim for 2/3 air and 1/3 water if possible.

I generally use liquid AMQUEL by Kordon. But I have _seen_ squares of these in bags shipped up from FL fish farms. I'd definitely add a square. Most important is oxygen, unless you're using breather bags.

I’m always impressed with Dean’s and anyone who can successfully duplicate it. I prefer to use a floating flow-through DIY fry tray that is much simpler. I’ve made several versions. Let me see if I can find some old threads… I use Rubbermaid containers now…

My male got sick and passed. But I enjoyed the species enough to order a new pair. Now there’s a trio in here. Here’s “new boy”…

For what it’s worth, I like just breeding mine in a colony…