Poly needs and breeding

[santoury]

I have had a few Polys here and there in the past. I've kept the senegal, albino senegal (or are they albino palmas? The ones everywhere these days...) ornate, delhezi, weeksii, etc...

But lungfish had taken over, and I am finding myself a little disappointed without a Poly tank, so have a few questions for when I get back into Polys...

First of all - when I had them, I didn't know how to sex them, nor did I care. Now I do, with a hope of breeding some of them. How can you tell sex? Post pics of each, please. Can all species be sexed in (this) same way?

Second, how finicky are they with water parameters? Are they prone to getting anything in particular? (Never had any issues before though.)

Third - How dependent are they upon aeration, being air breathers? Is what they gulp, sufficient, or is extra aeration needed, as with many other fish.

Fourth - Is anyone on MFK breeding any Polys?

Thanks in advance!

 

[hurricane_redbone]

yea i wanna see the answer to this question...

 

[beblondie]

1.The anal fin of the males are approx twice as wide as the females and more muscular.This applies to all polypterids including ropefish and is the only sure way of sexing them.
2.If you can drink the water they can live in the water
2a.Not really they are very hardy fish.
3.not dependant at all on aeration if the O2 content falls below 3.5mg per liter they simply grab atmospheric O2.
4. It can be a whole lot of effort for little return.-Anne