[Date Prev][Date Next][Thread Prev][Thread Next][Date Index][Thread Index]
beginner fish
Brian--
Welcome to killies! I'm also a newcomer--only been keeping killies for a
couple of years--and wanted to add to the beginner fish list. I have
found Aplocheilus lineatus (they are often labeled as a Golden Killie
when you find them in stores--I've even seen them in Wal-Mart a couple
of times) to be a good beginner fish. As killies go, they are large
(4"+), and both sexes are golden. There is also a red form that is
really nice if the fish are in good condition. They are extremely
adaptable and tolerant of less than optimal conditions. They also eat
almost anything that they can swallow (they keep trying to eat the
Japanese beetles my husband tosses to the frogs in the pond when they
are out for the summer), but they will not bother anything that they
can't swallow. I keep 6 adults in a 20H community tank with kribensis
cichlids and a trio of rosy barbs during the winter with no problems.
Another fish that has done well for me is Pachypanchax omolonotus. It's
about the same size as the lineatus, but orange and steel blue. Also
adaptable and eats anything. The only problem I have with them is that
they tend to be shyer than the lineatus (hey, everything is shyer than
A. lineatus), and they tend to jump more. I had three fish out of my
first two pairs "crispy critter" before I realized this.
Hope this helps.You might want to get in touch with local AKA members
and clubs in addition to getting an AKA membership. Where do you live?
Catherine Carney
schmidtcarney at ecr_net
Follow-Ups: