Re: Sexing of Mikrogeophagus Altispinosa

[Frauley/Elson <fraulels@minet.ca>]

While we're on the subject, is there anyone on the list who has kept and
bred wild-caught altispinosa?
My only experience is with tank-bred altis, and now with an
extraordinarily frustrating group of wild-caught 2 spot altis. I'd love
to hear from anyone who kept the 'original' fish when it first came in,
just to see if it was as challenging as the 2 spot at first.
The 2 spots show more geophagus-like behavior, covering the eggs with
sand, but I haven't gotten them past wrigglers, and that was in close to
pure rainwater. I'd like to compare notes as my fish are getting old,
and I'd like to keep them going.
-Gary Elson

Michael Brock wrote:
> 
> Raymond,
> 
> I've bred them several times in a 10G, moderately planted aquarium. A coarse
> sand  substrate (over kitty litter if that makes a difference) w/ 30W of
> standard fluorescent lighting. I used my tap water (3.5KH, 1.5 GH, pH 7.5)
> w/ no conditioning (it's out of a well). Temperature about 80 degrees. A
> light cycle of 11 hours. The only
> filter is a single Tetra sponge filter but the aquarium is well established
> and water quality is pretty good. I change about 25% every 2 weeks or so.
> I've gotten two sets of healthy fry from this set-up. In this tank I've bred
> them alone and w/ zebra danio dithers (which were quickly yanked when they
> started devouring fry).  In both instances I kept both parents in the tank
> for about 2 weeks until the mother (in both cases) started treating the fry
> more like tank-mates than offspring (aka light snacks).  I then pulled both.
> In each instance they laid their eggs on pieces of slate lying flat on the
> sand.
> 
> I've also bred them in my community tank. A 29G, heavily planted tank with
> diy CO2.  Lots of floating plants. My tap water (as described above) w/ a pH
> of 6.5-6.8 from the CO2. Substrate is pure Flourite. 105 watts of HO
> fluorescent lighting. A
> Whisper C power filter, no charcoal w/ a power head for circulation. CO2
> injected into the intake of the Whisper.  Temperature a little lower in this
> one, in the area of 78.  Lots of tetras, other M. altispinosa, SAE, etc.
> Only 2 fry have ever survived this environment, despite their breeding in
> there almost every 2 weeks or so.
> They have laid eggs on slate and sword plants in this tank.
> 
> I hope that helps.
> 
> Michael Brock


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