RE: [Killietalk] Looking to start a killifish tank

["Tranquility Base" <TranquilityBase at netzero_net>]

Heather:

Contrary to popular belief, killies are all difficult to keep if you do not
provide them the conditions they need to live. On the other hand if you are
willing to do what it takes they are all equally easy.

I started with killies that some people find difficult. I chose the fish I
liked. I researched the water conditions, incubation times and other special
circumstances required. Then I set about on the path of trial and error. My
errors usually involved cutting corners.

The best advise I can give you is to choose fish you really love and not
because someone else says they are easy or hard. If you really love the
fish, you will put in the effort to prepare their water, do the water
changes, pick eggs, raise live foods, make mops or boil substrate, and spend
the time and money on success with them. Killies are short lived fish
compared to some species. With few exceptions, they take care and work.  It
is in putting in the time and effort that you really appreciate them.

On the other hand, if you have limitations that you really can't work around
you may need to limit your list of fish that you can keep.

Start by knowing what temperature range you can provide. Find out what your
local water parameters are and what it will take to make the water
appropriate for the fish you want.  Calculate how much tank space your
breeders will need. Determine how many fry you intend to raise and how you
will house them. Decide what foods are locally available or which ones you
are willing to raise.

Once you have determined which variables you can not work around you will
find a pretty long list of killies that will live in almost any water
conditions and space limitation. From this list choose wisely.  Pick the
killie you really want.

I know that it may all seem pretty overwhelming. Raising killies is
different from keeping a community aquarium full of common pet shop fish. It
poses different challenges and greater rewards. Think of it as the next step
in the hobby. Once you have bred and raised fish through their entire life
cycle, you will come to appreciate, enjoy and understand them much more.

Almost every day, when I look into my fish tanks, and I find myself
impressed by at least one of my fish. This is the reward we killie breeders
receive from our fish.

Start your killie project by researching killies in general, if you are near
a club do join it, and if you can, try to find a mentor. Killiefolk comprise
a pretty close community we usually help each other and despite the
appearance of our discourse on this list we comprise a large international
community of friends.  Along with your first pair of killies, you may wind
up inheriting thousands of friends from all over the world.

Peace,

~RJ~


-----Original Message-----
From: killietalk-bounces at aka_org [mailto:killietalk-bounces at aka_org]On
Behalf Of Heather
Sent: Thursday, October 23, 2003 11:54 AM
To: killietalk at aka_org
Subject: [Killietalk] Looking to start a killiefish tank


I started a killiefish tank several years ago, but
wasn't successful.  I am now interested in starting
again.  What type of killiefish is the best for
starters?  What size tank do I need?  Where can I
obtain some killiefish?

Thanks!
Heather

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