RE: [Killietalk] "Where Have All The Killies Gone"

[listhub at libros_andante.mn.org]

Hi Brian,

On 04-Feb-04 Brian R. Watters wrote:
> However, I know the answer - if one adds up all the
> Notho keepers in the AKA (plus all the other Killie groups if you like)
> there simply aren't enough of them to maintain all those
> species/populations. I have often been asked why then do I bother to bring
> them back. My reasons are varied and I won't go into that here but,
> primarily it is for research and photographic documentation. These days, I
> actually introduce into the hobby a lesser proportion (than I used to) of
> the fish I bring back, for the reasons mentioned above.
>
This comment brings up a question that has floated in my head for the past 4
year, since I got really bit by the Notho bug.

Has anyone tried any form of suspended elongated period storage for the
diapause eggs of Nothobranchius.  I know there is no comparison, but when I
was doing my Thesis work at Cornell we had a huge -80 C vat that was maintained
with liquid Nitrogen.  E. coli strains which with we where working would be
suspended in a Glycerin solution and be viable for up to three to four years. 
As I progressed up the evolutionary chain and started doing Molecular Biology
with Drosophila development there where tricks to take 12 to 24 hour fly eggs
and put them in suspension for about two months.  Drosophila does not go
through a diapause per sae but there is a slight suspension in metabolism
during instar periods and again at pupation.

It would sure be nice to have a repository of Nothobranchius locations able to
be tapped on at will.

I certainly understand that this is well beyond the subject of normal home
hobby fish care but I thought I would try to draw you out one it.

Peace
john
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Andante Systems               o
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