Atabapo II

  • We are currently upgrading MFK. thanks! -neo
Ouch!!! That HITH looks BRUTAL!!! They are definitely very annoying on that aspect. :(

Is that the female in the background? Looks like there is a black splotch or spot in the dorsal. Thats about the only sexual difference I have seen between the ones I have kept in the past.

I never got mine that large though! Thats impressive! Is the female starting to color up any, or just staying pretty much the same?
 
I need to get some newer pics to see if the pitting is holding steady or getting better. The color is slightly better than what is shown in the photos, but nothing brilliant (unlike some of the victims).

Some very neat behavior...just hard to justify giving them a tank that big...but I'll probably end up keeping them...
 
Wish I knew what to feed pikes to get them to show the same colors they show in the wild. I mean shoot, sp. 'atabapo II' females are SUPPOSED to look like this!!!

Perhaps a diet high in krill, shrimp, and spirulina will help bring out their natural colors? Or maybe its only obtainable if they are kept outside in direct sunlight?

I don't get it though, cuz sp. 'xingu I' , sp. 'tapajos I' , sp. 'tapajos II' , and even sp. 'atabapo I" get bright red, intense coloration. But some of the lents, marms, and other pikes never fully achieve their full color potential.

Either way it frustrates me and baffles me cuz I have no idea how to make some pikes reach their full color potential. :(

bild191.jpg
 
I discovered last night that I'll have to do some cleaning of the water spots on the exterior of the tank before I can get updated shots of these fish. More color, I think, than in the older shot, and more mass...but nothing like that red! I'm sure that some krill would help, but am happy that they eat pellets, based on some of the HITH theories. This tank is full of hungry fish, and it's tough to get krill to only a few fish... Still, might be worth a try.
 
I mainly JUST feed krill, with occasionally supplementing with earthworms,and pellets. I do have to feed a fair amount of krill in order to make sure all my fish get some in the 300gal. BUT the pikes are pretty gluttony and definitely get the majority of the krill. Hopefully that will induce some better coloration?

I'm going to start putting almond leaves in the 300gal, and am also going to start adding RO water gradually as I do my water changes. :) Maybe the black water will have an effect on bringing out the intense coloration? We'll see I guess.

Do you have any experience with almond leaves? How many should I add to the 300gal? I've got about fifteen or so that I was gonna add for starters, but I imagine it will take more than that to drop the pH enough and what not, right?
 
fish speaker;3560209; said:
http://aquacharlotte.org/CAASBBS/viewtopic.php?t=6932

Note that these are pick up only, close to Charlotte, NC. I'm not really ready to get rid of them, but they've just killed off too many nice fish over the past year...and my wife is not tolerant of them.

...or maybe I just need to give them the 525 that they are in. ;)
Click to expand...

So let me get this straight... if I can find a way to get the fish to me you'll give them to me for free?? How big are they? 12"? 14"?

I have a theory regarding the HITH head and how to cure it. I'd love to give it a shot. I have a sneaky suspicion that it will help with the color as well.

I've got a contact near Charlotte that could pick the fish up and ship them to me if I understand your offer correctly. Let me know and I'll see what I can arrange.
 
Wow... this is some gnarly HITH!!


hith1.jpg
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
MonsterFishKeepers.com
Top Bottom