Re: Laetacara thayeri: 2nd batch

[Mike & Diane Wise <apistowise@bewellnet.com>]

Tsuh Yang,

I agree with Helen. It's unlikely that many fry will survive, if any. Enjoy the
fish as a community member but don't expect anything more. I personally find it a
shame that you don't have any extra tanks to at least siphon out & raise some of
the larvae. Laetacara thayeri isn't common in the hobby.

As for your knifefish, all gymnotids are nocturnal hunters or live in dark (deep
or muddy) water. Your E. virescens will probably reach 1' (30 cm) in length and
will hunt down any fish small enough to fit in their mouths (you'd be surprised
how large it is!) They hunt in the dark using electrical sensors to find their
prey. Like most South American fish, they prefer soft & acid water. The reason so
many don't survive in our tanks is that the don't like to eat during the day and
most people don't feed at night. They require meaty foods - mostly live with some
frozen or freeze-dried. They also seem to do best in schools. This is not a
community fish. This is one of those times when it is really worth having a good
general reference. I recommend Baensch's Atlas (at least v.1).

Mike Wise



Piabinha@aol.com wrote:

> i came home tonight and they were chasing fish away again.  i look over (this
> time i'm paying more attention) and there they are: eggs on top of a big flat
> pebble.  the female stands guard over them, frozen... it's amazing.  the male
> runs around and sometimes he spells her but mostly it's she who stands over
> them.  i had happened to buy some new Hoplosternum cats today (i know, i
> know, but i keep community tanks... i don't think of them as breeder
> tanks...).  one confused newcomer couldn't figure which corner to stand and
> got harassed a lot by the pair.  let's hope this time, they'll raise the fry
> to adulthood...
>
> btw, i also got 2 transparent knifefish (Eigenmmania virescens).  they are in
> a separate tank.  has anyone here ever had any luck with gymnotids?  i have
> not had much luck with them in the past but this time i'm determined to not
> forget live foods for them.  please advise, i figure there's lots of south
> american fish enthusiasts here.
>
> tsuh yang chen, nyc, USA
>
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