***KELBERI PROJECT***
- Thread starter Scatocephalus
- Start date
**UPDATE**
Since having removed all other fish, the behaviour and looks of the kelberi have changed.
First and foremost, I have been paying very close attention to the vent area looking for any differentiation. When I started the project I actually caught the fish out and tried to vent them. I couldn't see any difference and my hopes for having a breeding pair were seriously lowered. I strongly considered selling them at the time. Now when I look I think I can see a difference. the larger fish appears to have O > while the smaller fish appears to show O o This is an excellent sign. The larger fish is the male and the smaller the female. The larger fish also shows much heavier body spotting. The female's body is almost devoid of dark markings. The fins of both fish are equally colorful and patterened with the exception of the female's spiny part of the dorsal fin. Both fish exhibit a black "mohawk" but the female's has numerous, large gold spots whereas the males is strictly dark black. Still no difference in the cranial profile. I'll try and get some pics up within the next couple of days.
Both fish have grown an inch or so in the past couple of months.
The kelberi have become more aggressive feeders. Don't get me wrong, they still are nowhere near the level of the monoculus or piquiti but they now actually beg for food and hit the feeders as they are dropped in the tank where before I'd have to leave the room or sit down and hold still for a minute or two after adding the food before they start to feed. The larger of the two actually goes after frozen krill with a mild level of enthusiasm. With that said, he maybe eats 3 or 4 out of every dozen he takes in his mouth. It's a start. The smaller of two could still care less.
Both fish are very mellow in regards to aggression towards each other. I never see them chase each other and rarely do they flare their gills at each other. In fact, I rarely see them leave each other's side. They are almost always together. I do see the female chase after the Metynis "Red Hook" occasionally, usually when they approach her tree branch. At times I do wish they show a little more "emotion" towards each other. It seems as if they are completely indifferent to each other other than never leaving each other's side.
In my original post I had mentioned using RO water. I decided against this as I want to try and simulate the dry season when water quality typically worsens as there is not the constant influx of rain water. I'll give it a couple more months and then I'll greatly increase the level of food as well as perform several large scale water changes with cooler RO water. Hopefully this will simulate the beginning of the rainy season (spring) when the fish typically breed. I'm hoping that after a few months of low food levels, very warm water and less than perect water quality followed by lots of food, elevated water quality and cooler temps will kick their reproductive mode into high gear.
All in all, I like the changes I am seeig thus far. We'll see here in a couple of months if the steps I'm taking are the right ones. I'm also incorporating a couple a ideas that Brian and I discussed. I think that he's right on and hopefully they help.
To be continued...
Since having removed all other fish, the behaviour and looks of the kelberi have changed.
First and foremost, I have been paying very close attention to the vent area looking for any differentiation. When I started the project I actually caught the fish out and tried to vent them. I couldn't see any difference and my hopes for having a breeding pair were seriously lowered. I strongly considered selling them at the time. Now when I look I think I can see a difference. the larger fish appears to have O > while the smaller fish appears to show O o This is an excellent sign. The larger fish is the male and the smaller the female. The larger fish also shows much heavier body spotting. The female's body is almost devoid of dark markings. The fins of both fish are equally colorful and patterened with the exception of the female's spiny part of the dorsal fin. Both fish exhibit a black "mohawk" but the female's has numerous, large gold spots whereas the males is strictly dark black. Still no difference in the cranial profile. I'll try and get some pics up within the next couple of days.
Both fish have grown an inch or so in the past couple of months.
The kelberi have become more aggressive feeders. Don't get me wrong, they still are nowhere near the level of the monoculus or piquiti but they now actually beg for food and hit the feeders as they are dropped in the tank where before I'd have to leave the room or sit down and hold still for a minute or two after adding the food before they start to feed. The larger of the two actually goes after frozen krill with a mild level of enthusiasm. With that said, he maybe eats 3 or 4 out of every dozen he takes in his mouth. It's a start. The smaller of two could still care less.
Both fish are very mellow in regards to aggression towards each other. I never see them chase each other and rarely do they flare their gills at each other. In fact, I rarely see them leave each other's side. They are almost always together. I do see the female chase after the Metynis "Red Hook" occasionally, usually when they approach her tree branch. At times I do wish they show a little more "emotion" towards each other. It seems as if they are completely indifferent to each other other than never leaving each other's side.
In my original post I had mentioned using RO water. I decided against this as I want to try and simulate the dry season when water quality typically worsens as there is not the constant influx of rain water. I'll give it a couple more months and then I'll greatly increase the level of food as well as perform several large scale water changes with cooler RO water. Hopefully this will simulate the beginning of the rainy season (spring) when the fish typically breed. I'm hoping that after a few months of low food levels, very warm water and less than perect water quality followed by lots of food, elevated water quality and cooler temps will kick their reproductive mode into high gear.
All in all, I like the changes I am seeig thus far. We'll see here in a couple of months if the steps I'm taking are the right ones. I'm also incorporating a couple a ideas that Brian and I discussed. I think that he's right on and hopefully they help.
To be continued...
very cool story and I would love to be on the wagon for the fry as well if possible. Best of luck to you brother
Sounds great, Mark. I am really excited for you. I appreciate you incorporating my thoughts into your plan and I really do think that you are headed in the right direction. As a side note, I have looked into the reproduction of kelberi in nature and have come up with some new ideas that I will run by you. If they help, great, if not then that's OK, too. At least you will be familiar with the data.
I'll be in touch via e-mail.
Cheers,
--Brian
I'll be in touch via e-mail.
Cheers,
--Brian
