Re Sex Ratios

Having read the various articles on what determines the sex of Killies, male/female

ratios. One factor that I have considered could be possible, in their natural biotope,

or even when kept in confinement, nature could at times produce more of one sex

than the other. The example I would venture is, at times when there could be a

threat to the continuance of the species, nature will provide more females to

ensure the species survival, or a preponderance of males, could be natures way

of ensuring that only the strongest dominant males will mate with the females

thus ensuring a strong healthy strain of fry. One other possibility could be, that

predators could possibly select males in preference to females, because of their

brighter colours, this again would ensure the survival of the species.

All this is purely speculation on my part, but I feel we should explore every

aspect before making any judgements, I have observed in my own fish house,

at times throughout the year, my fish will produce a lot more males than females

and the reverse happens at times. I keep mainly Aphyosemions, about 30

different species, they are kept in 100% rain water which in my neck of the

woods is around 6 - 6.3 ph with a general hardness of 10 - 15 ppm. For

certain species I raise or lower these values, but most of my Killies breed

well under these conditions, I always feel we play about with nature far too

much. I will conclude by saying, that these observations are purely my own,

I don't consider myself to be an authority on this subject, these are just

thoughts I have considered, I will be interested to hear what other Killie nuts

views are.

John.