ApiApi

Will do, and thank you for the quick reply! While anchor worm looks to have the right 'consistency', colour and look to be 'trailing' in the same way, whatever it is on my sewellia it looks to be much smaller and does not branch at the ends like the worms in the pictures. But perhaps it is just early stages? As for water quality—is there anything that immediately stand out to you in the parameters I posted? In the four years I have kept fish I have only had one outbreak of ich and other than that, never really had to deal with issues of that nature, so this is kind of new to me 😅

I have had them for about three weeks and noticed this for the first time yesterday. They do not spend a lot of time on the front glass, however, so it could be I just have not seen it before now. I am not sure how to recognize anchor worms, however. The tufts are soft, clear white (as seen on the picture), swaying with the water's current and the fish's movement, only 1-3 millimeters long and less than the width of a hair. The sewellia are the last ones I stocked and nothing but food, water and small amounts of liquid ferts has been added since. None of them show any rapid breathing or listlessness, neither those with nor without the tufts, nor does any of their tank mates. All fish in the tank are quite active, with their tank mates scattering eggs all over the place pretty much daily and the sewellia rarely staying in one place for more than a minute and frequently sparring. The sewellia are constantly grazing and become very active when there is food in the tank. They are still confused about gel- and tablet foods, butting their heads and swimming in circles around it, but they are quick to 'hoover' it up as soon as it starts falling apart, they also go crazy over frozen cyclops. The rest of the tank pretty much go into a frenzy the moment I open the lid to feed. I have not been adding any water conditioners during water change (other than gh- and kh/ph buffers for my livebearer tanks) as my tap water does not have chlorine/chloramine or has had any problems with heavy metals. I have never used water conditioners for any of my breeding-, fry grow-out- or community tanks over the past four years and never had any trouble. I have not kept sewellia before, however. Could it be they are sensitive to things other fish, including fry, would not mind?

I just today noticed that some of my sewellia lineolata have these white 'tufts' on the outer edge of their modified fins. As such, I am wondering if this is normal (i.e. sensory organs, common growths, results of territorial sparring, etc) or if it could be a sign of disease/parasites? The six loaches are all very active, frequently sparring, unafraid of their tankmates and not at all shy, and none of the other fish in the tank are showing any signs of disease or stress (rather the opposite as they are frequently scattering eggs). Any ideas of what this could be? Tank parameters are as follows: pH - 6.8 Nitrates - 10ppm Hardness - GH5 Nitrite - 0ppm Ammonia - 0ppm KH/Buffer - 6°d Water Temperature - 25°C/77F

Oh, that is cool! I have never heard of cave spawning bettas, but it does not sound too unprecedented. There are other cave spawning anabantoides after all, like some of the parosphromenus (licorice gouramis). Make sure to keep us posted!

Oh absolutely! That is usually how it goes, is it not? Most of what I have bred has been deliberate, but pretty much allways in response to me seeing breeding behaviour in their display tanks. The persephones are some gorgeous-looking fish. As for the wild vs. tank raised, IMHO, it is all about context, but I am thinking 'What did you get done today?' might not be the best place for that discussion 😅 However, getting it established as a tank bred species in the hobby has to start with wilds at some point, and I think that is especially the case with a lot of the wild-type bettas. Being as 'new' and obscure as a lot of the species/strains are, I am afraid we might soon run into problems with the genetics should we pick the broodstock from tank raised individuals only. From your choice in meassurements I am guessing you are from the US? I am Norwegian myself, so I probably do not know anyone who could get them to you, but I will keep my eyes and ears open in case I come across some online in the US or with world-wide shipping. If you were interested in tank raised Apiapis, however, you could try Taylor from Simply Betta on YT. I cannot guarantee that she is shipping, or is even willing to part with some, but I know she has a group that seems to have been breeding well for her.

@Odd Duck Haha. One would think so, right? Unfortunately not, or at least not yet. I was in the process of getting a group a while back, but by the time I had saved for the fish, tank and equipment they were sold out. So now I am waiting for the importer to get them in again, but it is taking its sweet time. In the mean time I figured it was a good screen name. Just about obscure enough to not be previously taken on most fish forums.

Did waterchanges, planting and trimming on all the tanks today. 12 litre betta tank 240 litre planted community 25 litre 'iwagumi' The office tank rack