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Introduction (Read 4871 times)
Dennis Dynes
Ex Member


Introduction
May 28th, 2022 at 1:38pm
 
Hi, my name is Dennis and I just joined the AKA!

I have been keeping fish since I was young. My father started me in Cichlids and I have kept many other types of fish since then. However, I have never tried Killifish yet. I hope that it will be a good experience.
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Ken Murch
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Re: Introduction
Reply #1 - Jun 1st, 2022 at 10:31pm
 
Welcome Dennis! 

Have you looked into which killifish species to start with?  I started with Fundulopanchax gardneri about 4 years ago.

Ken
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Dennis Dynes
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Re: Introduction
Reply #2 - Jun 2nd, 2022 at 7:10pm
 
Hi Ken, glad to meet you!

At first I considered trying Nothobranchius Rachovii, but the AKA offered Fundulopanchax gardneri gold as a beginner pair and all I had to do was pay shipping. Although, I am not sure when they will be sent out, I have a tank all set up and ready for them.

Any tips on keeping/breeding this beautiful fish? Do you feed live, frozen, and or prepared foods? Do you keep them in pairs, trios or larger communities? Any good sources for their care?

Thanks, Dennis



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Ken Murch
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Re: Introduction
Reply #3 - Jun 3rd, 2022 at 9:28pm
 
Fp. gardneri is an easy and attractive fish.  I'm happy the club is sending you a pair. 

Gardneri are very hardy, and eat a wide variety of foods.  If the pair you receive don't initially take dried foods, I would try frozen foods such as bloodworms.  Live foods such as daphnia, small worms, and baby brine shrimp will be taken by picky eaters and make a great treat. The AKA has articles on how to prepare your own foods, but this makes more sense with a large number of fish.

Most killifish are prone to jumping, so I would recommend a covered tank, or at minimum lowering the water level a minimum of 6 inches from the top.  Simple plants like hornwort or java moss are are a good addition to a bare tank.  They can be kept in pairs, trios, and larger communities if they is enough space and cover for fish to escape aggression from the dominant male. 

If you want to breed gardneri, I would recommend a species-only tank with and a spawning mop to collect eggs.  The eggs can be incubated in water, or can be dry-incubated in damp peat moss for a few weeks before re-wetting. If you have a densely planted tank without other species or power filters there's a good chance a few juvenile fish will appear without any intervention.

For more details on care, the AKA beginners guide is a great place to start.
https://aka.org/!area_Public/publicLibrary/~breeding&rearing/akabeginnersGuide/a...
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Dennis Dynes
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Re: Introduction
Reply #4 - Jun 4th, 2022 at 4:01pm
 
Thanks for the advice, Ken.

I see that you did not mention adult brine shrimp. Does that mean that they are too big for an adult pair of Killi's?

Thanks again, Dennis
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Ken Murch
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Re: Introduction
Reply #5 - Jun 4th, 2022 at 4:27pm
 
Adult brine shrimp are readily accepted!
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Medric J. Magann
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Re: Introduction
Reply #6 - Jul 14th, 2022 at 3:02pm
 
Welcome to the AKA. My experience with Fundulopanchax gardneri could have been better but that is entirely my fault. I stressed and fretted over them thinking they were so delicate but they aren't. They were my first Killie just like you. One thing you should know is that the males are very ardent suitors and their amorous advances can sometimes be fatal. Watch them very close.
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Long Live the AKA !
 
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Dennis Dynes
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Re: Introduction
Reply #7 - Jul 16th, 2022 at 12:11pm
 
I received a trio and they were all very heathy! Thanks to Jacqueline's fabulous shipping skills!

I feed them just about the same thing my Bettas eat, flake, small pellets, frozen Brine shrimp, frozen and freeze dried Bloodworms.

I have them in a HEAVILY planted tank. I did put in a few Cherry Shrimp but I think the male ate them. He is a little aggressive and chases the females every chance he gets which seems typical with many fishes, or at least the fish that I have kept. I have seen them breeding and I have noticed a few eggs.
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Tyrone Genade
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Re: Introduction
Reply #8 - Jul 17th, 2022 at 7:39pm
 
Sorry about your cherry shrimp... Killies are pretty good at catching and eating shrimp. I tried larger shrimp with my Chromaphyosemions and a mid-sized male had no trouble swallowing a large shrimp bit by bit over the course of a day.

If you have the gardneri in a tank of their own that is well planted you should start to see fry emerge from the plants in a few weeks time. If you take them out, moving them to a new tank after 2 weeks in the one they are in now, then you will lots of fry appear in the tank. They are very easy to breed.

I have never had a gardneri male kill a female but they can begin to look a bit haggard after a while.

Good luck
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Dennis Dynes
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Re: Introduction
Reply #9 - Jul 18th, 2022 at 9:01am
 
Thank you. I see why they are listed as a beginner species now and I am glad I went with them instead of the nothobranchius rachovii to begin with.

I also breed bettas and have a couple cultures of Infusoria which I have dosed the tank with the Gardneri, in hopes that any fry will have access to food before I see them.

My father used tell me stories, when I was young about how he had Killi eggs sent in the mail and hatched out months later  . The thought of this has always interested me and I plan to try it soon, maybe with nothobranchius. Until then I am enjoying the Gardneri.

Thanks again, everyone has made me feel very welcome.
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