Re: [Killietalk] new peat ?

["Tim Addis" <timaddis at killifish_force9.co.uk>]

> As of late I have been using the "top of peat
> method" to incubate some Aphys. And Fundlop. And my fertility of these 
> eggs
> has gone up as opposed to picking and putting them in water for the entire
> 2-3 weeks! The transfer of the eggs back into the water is a bit of a pain 
> .
> . . is there a good/easy process?

Fertility cannot go 'up' in this case. Peat acidifies & prevents fungal 
build ups. The pH on peat can get as low as pH 3.5 in my measurements.
Your transfer of eggs being a pain could be diapause related - basically 
they don't want to hatch or resist this. Some sp. can be very hard to hatch. 
Increased CO2 can help but some eggs would rather die than hatch in my 
opinion.
Killie breeding presents loads of unanswered questions.

> Question two:  Generally speaking what is the increased time involved in
> 'top of peat" vs water incubation? Australe gold for instance . . . 
> Gardneri
> for a second instance . . . what would you expect from water hatch and 
> "top
> if peat" hatch in number of days?  Any explanation for the increase number
> of days? . . . that may be more questions than I am allowed . . . !

Gardneri are not just 'gardneri'. Many of the Cameroon/Nigeria border forms 
exhibit semi annual chacteristics. I have kept Akure from the south of 
Nigeria on peat in the past for 6 weeks & hatched out OK. Forms from 
Lacustre can take 3 months & are one of the most challenging killies. Some 
2-3 week incubation forms will not take this exposure but where a sp. does 
you could expect to double incubation times. Totally dependent on species & 
conditions of course.

It's interesting that the name 'gardneri' is put as an easily bred fish. 
Some populations are very hard & tax even the best breeders. This is bourne 
out by the fact certain populations last for only a short time after 
collection in the hobby. Conservation management also comes into play here I 
feel.

        Tim 

Join the AKA at http://www.aka.org/aka/modules/content/index.php?id=9.
Archives are at http://fins.actwin.com/killietalk/
Modify your subscription at http://www.actwin.com/mailman/listinfo.cgi/killietalk