Re: Fp. gardneri mamfense

["unclescott" <unclescott at prodigy_net>]

> I am presently keeping ten gardneri species (strains). With almost every
specie I have been able to collect eggs and raise fry. That is with one
exception. For some reason I have had very little success with Fp. gardneri
mamfense. I have two pairs that are mature and of good size.  ...73 degrees
F., 170 ppm tds and a ph of about 7.2....

As one travels into Eastern Nigeria and then into western Cameroon rainfall
picks up. (Was it nearby Mt. Cameroon with a continental high of 400 inches
per year?)

Maybe the increased rainfall means water with less mineral. Perhaps you
should cut your water with 1/3 demineralized water (rain, R.O., whatever is
easiest to come by). Or ... as summer rolls around you may find warming
temperatures trigger spawning.

Then again, even "easy" killies will sometimes not spawn and then begin for
no discernable reason. Somebody on this list suggested "benign neglect" for
such reluctant fishes (maintaining them routinely until encouraged to change
the program).

I had some gar Nsukka from Art Titus which grew big and gorgeous over
six-seven months while producing nary an egg. Then they improbably started
when winter fishroom temperatures were about 69 degrees F. They were
incredibly prolific for the next two years - and were still going when sent
off to the AKA national.

Probably a bunch of people on this list have an anecdote like that. One pair
might be sterile, odds are your two pairs ought to have somebody fertile in
time. (Getting two pairs seems like a wise policy and seems to be getting
more popular.)

If you get into summer and they're still not making whoopee, separate them
and condition with worms and /or daphnia. Not long after they are
re-introduced you should have "lots of little whoppees" (copywrite Jim
Thomerson).

All the best!

Scott



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