Re: [Killietalk] Fp. deltaensis

["Ken" <ken_combs at sbcglobal.net>]

I wrote the original poster off list but I'll sorta repeat it here...
I've kinda noticed these fish remind me of FP Gardneri "makurdi" & P-82, in
other words I've had no luck in water, poor success OTOP, with "OK" yields
in std "fundulopanchax wet" peat (not doubting other experiences). Instead I
bag deltaensis in garden peat, almost "notho dry", fluffy w/air @ 6 weeks in
the bag... not much luck using Jiffy-7 for storage(boiled or
otherwise)..nary saw a single belly slider, fry are always big and grow
fast...Could be the way I bag/store peat, but anything near the oft
recommended 3 mo's yields ZERO for me (even when the peat stayed reasonably
moist)....

Don't know if these fish are semi-difficult, but I do know they will quit
laying for a few week stretches...As for peat as a spawning medium; its is
less effective (as I apply it anyway): covered dish or not, most of it ends
up everywhere, then I find females fishing for eggs in the peat slurry...
I sometimes use "craft store/hobby" black sand in lieu of: its messy, I hate
it, but I get more eggs (so I can see em anyway), NTM deltaensis eggs seem
to be "Notho tough", or rather they don't appear near as sensitive to
abbrasion or fungusing as fallax or SJO...
I've experience no diffculties housing "brothers" raised together, nor lost
a female from abuse. I have trios or quads in just a 10gal (bare, no
cover)...multiple full grown males in a 40 breeder, aggression is usually
"tolerable"/non-fatal...

"WS" peat (if used) from worm fed trio yields for me avg 20-40 fry...
"Hand-collected" eggs over sand: about 40-100 eggs/week @ 80% loss...my fish
unfazed at 60F, produce in water temps 70F-85F, ppm 120 (pre-salt), pH
6.8-7.0 (w/o peat container in tank), salt: 1tbs/5gal...male skewed hatches
approx 60-70% male, fish are BIG in 8-10 weeks....

Ken

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