I have a question regarding the Alcolapia species of Lake Natron. I know that most of the salts in Lake Natron are alkaline salts, not NaCl(although it is present in lesser numbers). I was just winder chemically how the salt tolerance would transfer over to traditional NaCl tolerance. If anyone has any data about the actual NaCl tolerance, I would also be grateful(I cannot find any online). all of this is purley hypothetical, but if anyone knows anything on the topic, I would be very interested.
Question about salt water tolerance of certain fish HYPOTHETICAL
- Thread starter justintheodd
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When I was keeping, and spawning Alcolapia, I used a mnimum of 3ppt NaCl, with about half that of epsom salts, my tap water was normally about 250 mg/ L Total Hardness, so with water changes I added some baking soda, and ran a fluidized bed reactor using aragonate as media., the average pH was only about 7.8.
I believe these cichlids prefer spring and stream fed areas around the perfifery that are not a toxic more alkaline areas.
But I did notice, with my lowish pH, all fry tended to end up females.
But at maturity, once my original male died, a proven female appeared to change sex and become male.
The female below, became the male in the shot directly above.
I believe these cichlids prefer spring and stream fed areas around the perfifery that are not a toxic more alkaline areas.
But I did notice, with my lowish pH, all fry tended to end up females.
But at maturity, once my original male died, a proven female appeared to change sex and become male.
The female below, became the male in the shot directly above.
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i'm surprised they are able to live and spawn at such low ph, and with so much less salts than is normal for their habitat
I believe it became a fully functioning male, but that was almost 15 years ago, so my recollection may be fuzzy.
As you see in the photos it is spawning, and the changed male appears to be fertilzing eggs.
Because Lake Natron is such an extreme environment, and so isolated , most norms could be skewed, and so the basics of survival most species rely on, may take on extreme measures.
The temps in the lake proper often reach 140´F (60'C), although the stream enter somewhat cooler.
Their tank held at only about 90' F, may also have skewed the male/female fry ratio too, beyond the mineral parameters.
That tank emptied into (was plumbed on the same sump where the heaters were located) next in line to my N haitiensus that also prefer the hyper heated conditions.
Changing sex in the fish world is not that wild, a number of fish do it, even the ever popular animated clown fish,
To save the tiny fry, as soon as they were released post spawnnin(I believe about 12 days) the female was removed, or she would canabalize them.
By the way they like to gorge on algae, I woukd grow in containers in direct sun..
As you see in the photos it is spawning, and the changed male appears to be fertilzing eggs.
Because Lake Natron is such an extreme environment, and so isolated , most norms could be skewed, and so the basics of survival most species rely on, may take on extreme measures.
The temps in the lake proper often reach 140´F (60'C), although the stream enter somewhat cooler.
Their tank held at only about 90' F, may also have skewed the male/female fry ratio too, beyond the mineral parameters.
That tank emptied into (was plumbed on the same sump where the heaters were located) next in line to my N haitiensus that also prefer the hyper heated conditions.
Changing sex in the fish world is not that wild, a number of fish do it, even the ever popular animated clown fish,
To save the tiny fry, as soon as they were released post spawnnin(I believe about 12 days) the female was removed, or she would canabalize them.
By the way they like to gorge on algae, I woukd grow in containers in direct sun..