Emory Posted August 16, 2022 Share Posted August 16, 2022 I got ahold of the rainbowfish legend himself, Gary Lange via band app about a month ago and I bought 3 pairs of Melanotaenia sp Kali Tawa or “Tawa village” rainbowfish directly from him! I PAID for them haha, but from my understanding they are extremely rare, and considered one of the “holy grail” rainbows at the moment. I have successfully spawned and raised bosemani, turquoise, and Blythe river rainbowfish before, and I plan to try to spawn these beautiful fish asap. I am very excited about the project! 2 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Friller Posted August 16, 2022 Share Posted August 16, 2022 On 8/17/2022 at 8:50 AM, Emory said: I got ahold of the rainbowfish legend himself, Gary Lange via band app about a month ago and I bought 3 pairs of Melanotaenia sp Kali Tawa or “Tawa village” rainbowfish directly from him! I PAID for them haha, but from my understanding they are extremely rare, and considered one of the “holy grail” rainbows at the moment. I have successfully spawned and raised bosemani, turquoise, and Blythe river rainbowfish before, and I plan to try to spawn these beautiful fish asap. I am very excited about the project! 😍😍 The ONE species that I want but I can't get! Stupid import laws! If the import laws didn't exist I'd be pestering Gary for the whole of the ANGFA conference in October for him to ship me some! 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cinnebuns Posted August 17, 2022 Share Posted August 17, 2022 (edited) On 8/16/2022 at 5:50 PM, Emory said: I got ahold of the rainbowfish legend himself, Gary Lange via band app about a month ago and I bought 3 pairs of Melanotaenia sp Kali Tawa or “Tawa village” rainbowfish directly from him! I PAID for them haha, but from my understanding they are extremely rare, and considered one of the “holy grail” rainbows at the moment. I have successfully spawned and raised bosemani, turquoise, and Blythe river rainbowfish before, and I plan to try to spawn these beautiful fish asap. I am very excited about the project! Totally not jelly you talked with him. Haha. Looking good! Excited to hear updates! I've just dipped my toes into the rainbow world recently with pseudomugil furcata. I haven't tried spawning them yet but I hope to. Edited August 17, 2022 by Cinnebuns 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Seattle_Aquarist Posted September 10, 2022 Share Posted September 10, 2022 (edited) Hi All, Gary Lange is a rabid (in a good way) rainbowfish enthusiast. He goes to Papua on collecting trips and finds new species and he breeds extraordinary fish. Not only that he promotes the species speaking around the country at various aquarium clubs and conventions. I had the opportunity to meet Gary and visit his fish breeding room in the St. Louis area in 2013. When he has come to Seattle to do presentations for our local aquarium club, the Greater Seattle Aquarium Society (GSAS.org), he has stayed with my wife and I - and can he tell some great stores (fish or course).Now if you live in the Seattle area and would like to hear Gary speak in person you will not have to wait long. The GSAS speaker for September is none other than Gary Lange! We are going to open both (yes both) meetings on Sept. 12th and Sept. 13th to vaccinated guests free! Rumor has it Gary is bringing juvies and well as 'egg kits' for several of the species he is currently breeding to sell at our auction. You will not want to miss this opportunity to see the man, the rainbowfish legend in person! This coming Monday and Tuesday evenings at 7:30 on the Seattle Pacific University Campus, Otto Miller Hall, Room 109 (both talks), we start promptly at 7:30 pm. -Roy Gary & I in his fishroom (one part of it) in 2013 Edited September 10, 2022 by Seattle_Aquarist 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hoon Aquatics Posted September 27, 2022 Share Posted September 27, 2022 Just to clarify, Kali means stream, so Melanotaenia sp Kali Tawa comes from the Tawa stream near the Village of Lobo. Although this species is not difficult to keep, the one note I would recommend when breeding them, is to breed and raise them at lower temperatures than most rainbowfish. This is because when Gary and I raised batches at 82f or above, we raised mostly females. Gary later shared that they were collected in water closer to 75f. We then raised batches closer to 75 to 78f and started to get an equal ratio of males to females. Apparently, Johannes Graf (in Germany) has the opposite problem where higher temperatures he was raising all males. Let me know if you are looking for further information on them. 2 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheSwissAquarist Posted September 30, 2022 Share Posted September 30, 2022 On 8/17/2022 at 12:50 AM, Emory said: I got ahold of the rainbowfish legend himself, Gary Lange via band app about a month ago and I bought 3 pairs of Melanotaenia sp Kali Tawa or “Tawa village” rainbowfish directly from him! I PAID for them haha, but from my understanding they are extremely rare, and considered one of the “holy grail” rainbows at the moment. I have successfully spawned and raised bosemani, turquoise, and Blythe river rainbowfish before, and I plan to try to spawn these beautiful fish asap. I am very excited about the project! Good Luck with breeding them, keep us posted! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Trailblazur Posted January 16, 2023 Share Posted January 16, 2023 On 9/27/2022 at 6:23 PM, Hoon Aquatics said: Just to clarify, Kali means stream, so Melanotaenia sp Kali Tawa comes from the Tawa stream near the Village of Lobo. Although this species is not difficult to keep, the one note I would recommend when breeding them, is to breed and raise them at lower temperatures than most rainbowfish. This is because when Gary and I raised batches at 82f or above, we raised mostly females. Gary later shared that they were collected in water closer to 75f. We then raised batches closer to 75 to 78f and started to get an equal ratio of males to females. Apparently, Johannes Graf (in Germany) has the opposite problem where higher temperatures he was raising all males. Let me know if you are looking for further information on them. Where is the best place to find some? THX Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mynameisnobody Posted January 16, 2023 Share Posted January 16, 2023 @Emory you definitely want to follow what @Hoon Aquatics tells you. Follow it to a syllable and you will find success. He’s got a ridiculous collection/breeder of rainbows. I would love to call first dibs on the fry!!! 😎 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Emory Posted January 20, 2023 Author Share Posted January 20, 2023 Update: I have successfully spawned them, and have 30ish healthy close to 1” juveniles growing out and on baby brine shrimp. 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Trailblazur Posted January 20, 2023 Share Posted January 20, 2023 On 1/20/2023 at 2:36 PM, Emory said: Update: I have successfully spawned them, and have 30ish healthy close to 1” juveniles growing out and on baby brine shrimp. See ya on aquabid👀 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Emory Posted January 20, 2023 Author Share Posted January 20, 2023 On 1/20/2023 at 3:41 PM, Trailblazur said: See ya on aquabid👀 Haha I will only be selling locally to the Virginia Beach area Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheSwissAquarist Posted January 21, 2023 Share Posted January 21, 2023 On 1/20/2023 at 10:26 PM, Emory said: Haha I will only be selling locally to the Virginia Beach area Shame for @Trailblazur! I live the colors on the Kali Tawa species, but I know finding them in Europe is a lost cause…😅 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hoon Aquatics Posted January 22, 2023 Share Posted January 22, 2023 On 1/20/2023 at 11:36 AM, Emory said: Update: I have successfully spawned them, and have 30ish healthy close to 1” juveniles growing out and on baby brine shrimp. Congrats 👏 On 1/21/2023 at 8:45 AM, TheSwissAquarist said: Shame for @Trailblazur! I live the colors on the Kali Tawa species, but I know finding them in Europe is a lost cause…😅 I can connect you with European breeders. I don't have a direct Swiss contact, but know breeders in Germany, the Netherlands, Austria, Turkey and Ireland who are currently working with them. Additionally, if you have a local source that can import from Maju Aquarium CV in Indonesia, they are now able to provide commercial export of M. Sp. Kali Tawa and many other rare rainbowfish species. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheSwissAquarist Posted January 22, 2023 Share Posted January 22, 2023 On 1/22/2023 at 2:44 AM, Hoon Aquatics said: from Maju Aquarium CV in Indonesia, they are now able to provide commercial export of M. Sp. Kali Tawa I’ll check them out - thanks! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jaspyjasp Posted April 29 Share Posted April 29 (edited) Hey there! Beautiful pics!! @Hoon Aquatics or anyone else, I’m considering a peaceful mid-top fish for my 40B river setup, and am super interested in the Kali Tawa. Does anyone know if these fish work well with stiphodon gobies and corydoras? Or would they completely outcompete them for food? I always target feed the bottom dwellers with wafers/repashy and am wondering if the kali tawa would hoard the food on the bottom, even if there’s food up top? here’s a pic of my setup, if it helps. thank you for any insights! Edited April 30 by Jaspyjasp Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
T. Payne Posted April 30 Share Posted April 30 I'm currently keeping my kali tawas with corydoras and gobies with no issue. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jaspyjasp Posted May 1 Share Posted May 1 Oh!! @T. Payne thanks so much for that insight! Super happy to hear that! Can i ask what the flow rate is in your tank? The tawa can handle flow pretty well? On 4/30/2024 at 4:15 PM, T. Payne said: I'm currently keeping my kali tawas with corydoras and gobies with no issue. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
T. Payne Posted May 1 Share Posted May 1 Flow is low i my tank. Filtration is a sponge filter. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jaspyjasp Posted May 1 Share Posted May 1 On 5/1/2024 at 3:41 AM, T. Payne said: Flow is low i my tank. Filtration is a sponge filter. Ahhh. Ok. I have mine fairly moderate for the gobies and garra. They like it. Maybe i can change it up on a timer or something 🤔 Thanks for the info! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jaspyjasp Posted May 5 Share Posted May 5 (edited) @T. Payne hope it’s okay if I chat with you a little more about the Tawas before I push the “buy fish” button 🤣 Do your tawa generally stay up top-middle, or not go after algae wafers or other sinkable foods? Are they generally peaceful with the corys and gobies? Would love to know more about their behaviors ❤️ Thank you!! On 4/30/2024 at 4:15 PM, T. Payne said: I'm currently keeping my kali tawas with corydoras and gobies with no issue. Edited May 5 by Jaspyjasp Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
T. Payne Posted May 5 Share Posted May 5 On 5/5/2024 at 1:32 AM, Jaspyjasp said: @T. Payne hope it’s okay if I chat with you a little more about the Tawas before I push the “buy fish” button 🤣 Do your tawa generally stay up top-middle, or not go after algae wafers or other sinkable foods? Are they generally peaceful with the corys and gobies? Would love to know more about their behaviors ❤️ Thank you!! Definitely top to middle, but they are rainbows so they swim all over the water column. The tank they are in has been replanted several times, but has always had a densely planted ground covering of crypts, mainly wendtii. With the crypts on the bottom, when the food gets past those they do not pursue the food any longer, so its available for the bottom feeders, which currently is mostly kuhli loaches. Never had a aggressive behavior towards any tankmates other than eating my cherry shrimp. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jaspyjasp Posted May 5 Share Posted May 5 @T. PayneAhhh i see! That makes a lot of sense. I can see how all the plants would deter them. I do have some plants but it’s mostly rocks for Gobies. I’m planning to add more little ones so maybe that will help hide some food. Great to know they are so peaceful. THANK YOU!! I’m getting closer to pushing that “go” button! 🤣🙏 Thanks again!! @T. Payne hope it’s okay if I chat with you a little more about the Tawas before I push the “buy fish” button 🤣 Do your tawa generally stay up top-middle or not go after algae wafers? Is everything generally super peaceful? Would love to know ❤️ Thank you!! On 4/30/2024 at 4:15 PM, T. Payne said: I'm currently keeping my kali tawas with corydoras and gobies with no issue. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
T. Payne Posted May 5 Share Posted May 5 No problem, I keep several species of rainbows and highly recommend the Tawas. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jaspyjasp Posted May 6 Share Posted May 6 (edited) On 5/5/2024 at 2:15 PM, T. Payne said: No problem, I keep several species of rainbows and highly recommend the Tawas. Omggg…I LOVE HEARING THAT!! I think I’ll purchase this week 🤩THANK YOU!! 🙏🙏🙏 Edited May 6 by Jaspyjasp 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jaspyjasp Posted May 6 Share Posted May 6 @T. Payne Would 6 be enough in a 40G? Or should I go 8? I already have: 1 chunky panda garra 9 stiphodon gobies (1”-3”) 9 small Venezuelan Corycats (1”-1.5”) Don’t want to overstock and need to keep the water fairly clean for gobies. How many do you keep? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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