My experiment! Xenomystus nigri!

[Hendre]

It's time. So if you don't yet know, I am the author of an article documenting the so far mysterious breeding habits of the African knifefish and compiled all the info I could so far find here:
https://www.monsterfishkeepers.com/forums/threads/african-knifefish-breeding-what-we-know.682818/

I have kept 2 male fish for over a year now with few issues, and finally found 2 females after all this time. I purchased them this past weekend with cloudy eyes and bloated stomachs which has all cleared up now. Both are eating pellets and are doing well with the males. Peaceful interaction all round

I have no intention of breeding them directly, but am curious to see how things will work out.

Tank parameters as of today:

PH - 7.3
Temperature - 24 c / 75 f
GH / KH - Haven't tested but water is soft in my area
Tank size - 250l
Population - 2m 2f

Notes:
I am only feeding pellet food at the moment, however I am culturing daphnia to feed them and will try earthworms again. I have also supplied a lot of hiding space and it seems to help prevent anyone from being picked on. In a scientific experiment done in Germany it took 70 days for females to swell with eggs in accordance with lowering conductivity, seems some RO is in order. A friend of mine suggested using frequent small RO water changes in winter when air pressure is lower could induce spawning. So who knows lets do this!


That's all I have, lets see how this goes.

What I'd like to know is what you guys think about triggers and how to condition these guys. Anything helps!

Peace out

 

[tlindsey]

It's time. So if you don't yet know, I am the author of an article documenting the so far mysterious breeding habits of the African knifefish and compiled all the info I could so far find here:
https://www.monsterfishkeepers.com/forums/threads/african-knifefish-breeding-what-we-know.682818/

I have kept 2 male fish for over a year now with few issues, and finally found 2 females after all this time. I purchased them this past weekend with cloudy eyes and bloated stomachs which has all cleared up now. Both are eating pellets and are doing well with the males. Peaceful interaction all round

I have no intention of breeding them directly, but am curious to see how things will work out.

Tank parameters as of today:

PH - 7.3
Temperature - 24 c / 75 f
GH / KH - Haven't tested but water is soft in my area
Tank size - 250l
Population - 2m 2f

Notes:
I am only feeding pellet food at the moment, however I am culturing daphnia to feed them and will try earthworms again. I have also supplied a lot of hiding space and it seems to help prevent anyone from being picked on. In a scientific experiment done in Germany it took 70 days for females to swell with eggs in accordance with lowering conductivity, seems some RO is in order. A friend of mine suggested using frequent small RO water changes in winter when air pressure is lower could induce spawning. So who knows lets do this!
View attachment 1273935 View attachment 1273936 View attachment 1273937 View attachment 1273939
View attachment 1273940
That's all I have, lets see how this goes.

What I'd like to know is what you guys think about triggers and how to condition these guys. Anything helps!

Peace out

View attachment 1273938

During wc's add cooler water that stimulates some species of fish.

 

[J. H.]

I'd replace my filters with air powered ones and put a metal cage around my heater, so they would be able to 'talk' without electrical interference.

 

[Hendre]

I'd replace my filters with air powered ones and put a metal cage around my heater, so they would be able to 'talk' without electrical interference.

There is no free current in the tank, right next to the pump I got 10mv which is almost nothing.

 

[J. H.]

There is no free current in the tank, right next to the pump I got 10mv which is almost nothing.

But do you know how strong the pulses from your knives are?

 

[Hendre]

But do you know how strong the pulses from your knives are?

That will be tested shortly, just net one into a small tank during a water change, measure, then return

 

[J. H.]

That will be tested shortly, just net one into a small tank during a water change, measure, then return

But it might give extra strong ones when it is scared.

 

[Drstrangelove]

Triggers? These are things I've seen for different species, but also a couple things based upon how they live (slow river water)

1) temperature change (up or down)
2) temperature reaching a specific level
3) abundance of food
4) abundance of live food
5) a specific live food
6) change in pH or a specific pH (rainy season runoff in Nile, Congo Rivers, etc.)
7) perhaps a sudden reduction in nitrate level
8) Since they like slow moving waters, maybe water movement changes would be a trigger
9) Oxygen change? Slow moving river water may be low oxygen, so a high level might trigger
10) increase in surface cover?

 

[Hendre]

Update time! All the knifes are settled in and well, eating like champs! Social behaviour is tame and I have no worries. Let's see what the future holds

 

[Hendre]

Update time! Looks like there is an egg tube on a female!! The only one that I can see thus far