Re: KillieTalk Digest - predatory fish in same container

[AUS62 at aol_com]

I find the discussion of N. occelatus interesting and immediately conjured up
memories of some of the big grow-out dirt ponds of the Florida fish farmers.
I know a number of them personally and hae found they tend to rely on
Polyculture in which a number of unrelated species are grown in the same
pond. One example stands out in my mind. One farmer had many ponds of Black
Mollies and was distressed to find most of the fish were small and undersized
no matter what feed or routine was followed. This was rectified by
introducing Jack Dempseys (Cichlasoma octofasciatum) to the pool. Both
species thrived as the Dempseys had plenty of live food of young Black
Mollies and most of the surviving Black Mollies were large and robust! By the
way, other examples of Polyculture did not involve much predation, but each
species seemed to occupy a feeding niche and lived in harmony without
predation such as Half Beaks, Orange Chromides and Plecostomus. In short, the
interrelationship of various species is variable and no doubt depends on
local conditions such as availability of food, space and water quality. 
       I have enjoyed the discussion of these Nothos. Most of us maintain our
killies in monospecific tanks and this sounds like the best arrangement most
of the time. 

                                                      Yours,   Harry Specht

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