Re: A. nijsenni

[Ken Laidlaw <K.Laidlaw@roe.ac.uk>]

> 
> since 3 weeks i keep  a pair of A. nijsenni in a 180 litre community tank with
> red phantom (Megalamphodus sweglesi), cardinal tetra, a clown loach, a ancistrus
> cat. The nijsenni  have spawnded twice within the last 2 weeks but the eggs or
> fry were gone after 2 or 3 days. I think this might be normal for a young pair.
> What do you think ?

This sounds normal to have a few failures at first.  I too 
have a young pair and the female gave up looking after the 
eggs after two days.

> 
> I think i will move the loach and the ancistrus cat to another tank to avoid
> robbery.

Good idea, keep an eye on those phantom tetras also.  In 
such a big tank though you should be OK.

> 
> One more question:
> The colour of the ring in the caudal fin of my nijsenni is more orange than red.
> I remember i've seen red rings before. Is this a sign of degeneration, lack of
> good food (vitamins) or have only wild caught fish that red ring?

When I bred nijsseni in the past the fry when they grew had 
a less impressive coloring in the tail edge than the 
parents.   I don't know whether this was diet/water 
related. The colur elsewhere in the  fish, e.g. the blue on 
the males was as good as the parents though.

 My present pair have superb red rings and they 
were captive bred in Germany.

Any one else any thoughts on the tail colour thing?

Regard,
Ken.