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Re: Sex Ratio Questions


>Greetings to all. I am an adjunct professorial type at a relatively small
>college in Nashville TN. I have recently been approached by two students
>here to be their mentor on a senior biology research project. Being a
>killie keeper one of the first things which came to mind, bearing the
>limited ability of this facility to support anything highly technical (I
>have a molecular biology background) was to do a study on sex-ratio skewing
>in a differing killie species for each student. The projects are slated to
>be performed over two semesters so I thought we could look at temperature
>and pH on the sex ratios as long an appropriate species was chosen.
>
>The two semester time limit imposes the first obstacle. Having been in the
>hobby for a few years, I realize that many of the species which have
>historically been connected with large sex-ratio differences also have long
>incubation periods. Pterolebias species spring to mind as do some of the
>larger Fundulopanchax species. Although I'm personally interested in doing
>"a little work" on those species, I feel the chances for my students
>gaining any meaningful results would be slim given the imposed time limit.
>
>I've talked to a few other contacts in the hobby and they've suggested Fp.
>gardneri Misaje as well as Fp. amieti as possible choices with shorter
>incubation periods. I was hoping someone could make other suggestions or
>confirm that the above species have a propensity for sex ratio skewing. The
>only limitation is that the time frame should be under two months. Of
>course the more hardy the fish the better too.

N. rubrinpinnis TAN 85/28 would be a good choice. It throws mostly males,
but the incubation period would be 3 months or so.

>
>I would of course appreciate any help from people who might be able to sell
>or donate appropriate fish for the studies.
>
>Just as a side note, I'm trying to get long term interest at this school
>for sitting up a permanent breeding program for a few fish so wish me luck.
>
>Although not directly related to the rest of this post, if anyone here in
>the states has access to a N. rubripinnis or C. whitei location, I would be
>interested in buying fish or eggs to add to my personal fish room.

I have N. rubripinnis Mbezi River TAN 97/41, which is the "common" form of
this species. Right now I am growing some fry up to send to the convention.
I anticipate having something like 20 species of unusual Nothos at the
convention, including some that are new species. Some will be in the show,
some in the rare fish auction that is planned, maybe some in the fish sale
room. I also have a small hatch of N. rubrinpinnis TAN 85/28, but don't
know yet whether I'll get pairs. If you can come to the convention, N.
rubripinnis will certainly be available. If not, contact me after the
convention, and I should be able to send you some.

Barry

____________________________________________________________________________
Barry J. Cooper, Chair                          Email:      bjc3 at cornell_edu
Department of Pathology                         Work Phone: (607)253-3336
College of Veterinary Medicine                  Home Phone: (607)844-8072
Cornell University                              Fax:        (607)253-3317
Ithaca, NY 14853
____________________________________________________________________________