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BOUNCE killietalk at aka_org: Non-member submission from [GuyWren <guyo at guyonet_free-online.co.uk>]
In general I agree with what has been said on the subject so far but with some
reservations. I should add that I have not been keeping killies for all that
long so if in doubt go with the opinions of wiser heads.
I sometimes think that people don't actually look at their female killies very
closely, if at all. I think that there is often a marked degree of difference
in females within the same genera. Put A. loussense, elberti n'tui and scheeli
together and I defy anyone not to be able to spot the difference. This is not
to say that this is always the case. I wouldn't feel comfy mixing N foerschi &
rubrippinis, but N. spec kilombero is quite distinctive. My advice (for what
it's worth) is keep a log of which fish are in which tanks and include a
written description of the distinguishing features. Include diagrams. Make sure
you do this under the same lighting conditions so there is a direct comparison.
If in doubt don't mix, if you do and forget, don't breed. Mixing populations of
the same species is a no-no, these really are difficult to distinguish.
Keeping strains pure is probably the most important function of killifish
associations worldwide and this is probably the only way you will find killies
with the right info on their origin. I would urge you to join one.
How do people feel about aquarium strains of killies? My local aquatic shop
(London) always keeps killies but is not always given full details of where
they are collected are we saying that these fish should be avoided. At a recent
BKA auction most of the fish were fully labeled and some weren't, just N.
patrizii for example, so even within organizations the full history isn't
always known. I have about 15 female N. foershi from a hatching that
unbelievably contained no males. At the auction I purchased a trio of N.
foerschi TAN 97/45 intending the male to have a very good time. Back home I
realized that I didn't have the full details of my original fish and so kept
them separate. Now I have a dilemma. I fully intend keeping the strain pure but
do I condemn my other females to the scrap heap. M local shop will take
offspring. If I use my male and old females and he sells them as N foerschi do
people think this is a problem. After all a serious breeder will either not
touch them or keep them as what they are, foershi of unknown lineage.
I would appreciate comments, and apologize in advance if I have broken any list
etiquette, as I'm fairly new to this.
John De Luca wrote:
> Reply to Michael Gray. I totally agree with Barry, keeping Killies of the
> same genus together is
> asking for trouble, recognizing males is fairly easy, but females is very
> difficult if not impossible.
> Example Aphyosemion females can look so much alike even experienced Killie
> keepers would
> have great difficulty in determining which species they belong too, our
> task as breeders of any
> fish is to keep the strains pure, just take a look at the Gardneri species,
> I wonder how many
> times these fish have been cross bred? Keeping Killies like you do will
> almost certainly lead
> to infertility in some of the progeny, if the fry reached maturity and
> bred, this will lead to hybrids.
> As a member of the B.K.A. this organization will not tolerate or support
> cross breeding of Killies,
> I am a great believer, that all fish should be kept pure, just look at the
> various colour forms of
> Discus offered for sale to-day by retailers, in Scotland where I live, you
> would have a job finding
> the true silver Angel fish, nearly all that are on sale are hybrids of one
> sort or another!! I bred
> Labrador gun dogs many years ago, I certainly would never have used an
> Collie or Boxer as a
> stud dog, why do some people do this with fish? My own fish house which I
> keep about 40 species
> of Killies, the small Aphyosemions are housed in 12"x8"x8" tanks about 2
> imperial gallons of pure
> rain water, the larger Killies are in 18"x12"x12" tanks, all pairs which
> could cross are kept well apart, Killies are excellent jumpers so all tanks
> must have a tight fitting =
> lid. I conclude by offering one bit off advice, join the A.K.A. read all
> you can about the species you intend to keep, meet up with other Killie
> keepers, we have local groups in the UK, you will learn more from these
> guys than you can everread in books. I wish you lots of success in you're
> venture.
>
> John De Luca B.K.A. 268.04