Reproduction in C. kelberi

[R1_Ridah]

They ate mostly live black worms until they were large enough to eat feeder goldfish. Since then they have eaten goldfish exclussively.

What size did you start feeding goldfish at? Have you noticed a dramatic increase in growth once you fed goldfish? Also, how about the difference in growth rate from the difference in water temp.

It just makes sense that in high temps they will have optimal growth being that their metabolism is working overtime. When my TEMP is up the activity of my PBASS changes with more aggression. When I lower the Temp they are more chill and seem to me more docile to one another. Even when I feed they are not as aggressive and will only eat what they can consume at the time. With high TEMP they will EAT & EAT until the food is dangling out there mouths.

Do you think if you kept your water TEMP up and constantly just fed live that your Kel's would be bigger?

I've had two Azuls that was fed live throughout the course of time while the other pellets. The one on Pellets was already about 12" when I introduced the live eating one at about 8". Within a few Months the live eater outgrew the pellet eater considerbaly and just continued to grow as the other seem to fall behind.

 

[Ripdevil]

For what it's worth, my kelberi have been raised in quite cool temps almost since I got them. They have been as cold as 65 degrees.

really, and yours are amazing!

 

[Ripdevil]

I dont know much about fish, but jeff told me that his kelberi come from a place(i forget the name) where they were stocked years ago. They were not there naturally. I dont know if this helps at all or brings up other questions about locality of different sub-species of kelberi, but maybe

 

[channarox]

scat,do you think raising or lowering the temperature will entice yours to spawn?

 

[Ripdevil]

thats what i was wondering

 

[Rio Negro Lover]

Cichla typically spawn in lagoons during low water period, so they are well adapted to lucustrine enviroment. Rain produces plenty of micro organisms for fries to feed on that is why many species spawn at this time.

Giant snake head evolve in swamp and streams, they don't do well chasing prey in open waters. That is why cichla, that is build for speed and adapted to lagoonish condition can out compete most species.

Introducing cichla into a reservoir will have adverse impact unless their natural food sources are introduced as well. In any case man made reservoirs are just that (man made), they are not supposed to be there anyway. No point crying over species extinction that are not supposed to be there.

The constant lucustrine enviroment may cause cichla to spawn several times a year than in a riverine enviroment. Hope this helps.

My 2 cents

 

[channarox]

Cichla typically spawn in lagoons during low water period, so they are well adapted to lucustrine enviroment. Rain produces plenty of micro organisms for fries to feed on that is why many species spawn at this time.

Giant snake head evolve in swamp and streams, they don't do well chasing prey in open waters. That is why cichla, that is build for speed and adapted to lagoonish condition can out compete most species.

Introducing cichla into a reservoir will have adverse impact unless their natural food sources are introduced as well. In any case man made reservoirs are just that (man made), they are not supposed to be there anyway. No point crying over species extinction that are not supposed to be there.

The constant lucustrine enviroment may cause cichla to spawn several times a year than in a riverine enviroment. Hope this helps.

My 2 cents

you are right.
but giant snakeheads do patrol open waters and are rarely found in streams here.
IMO even with the introduction of cichla's natural prey items,many native species will continue to disappear.
this is because its not like the cichla will only eat their native prey items.
plus their native prey items continue to feed on smaller natives.
and yes,you are right.
the cichla here breed all year round.

 

[Rio Negro Lover]

When I said streams, I actually meant small rivers. Do you have large enough streams or rivers connecting to your reservoirs to provide cover for the Giant Snakehead? Otherwise this species would seek security in open water. You can't be expecting a 2 feet fish seeking cover in a little stream don't you?

When you say native prey species endangered by Cichla, what are they? I am curious if you have any in that part of the world, because from what I know Southeast Asia is largely made up of cyprinidae species. This group did badly in lucustrine enviroment because they need streams and rivers to spawn. Looking at Google Earth Singapore seems to be void of good sized streams and rivers!

In any case you shouldn't lose sleep over the decreasing population of Giant Snakehead, as they were introduced to Malaysia and Singapore from Thailand. And the reservoirs, like I said, were not supposed to be there anyway, so are the fish.

Hope this cheers you up

 

[fugupuff]

don't know if its been mentioned yet, but size is not a determining factor in fecundity. as in humans, 4' - 7' can all equally breed and reproduce. so lets say fish can reach sexual maturity in one year, regardless of size, whether its 6" or 16" they can equally breed, maybe with different brood size.

 

[fugupuff]

I've seen with my own eyes, anadromous rainbow trouts, o. mykiss can have thousands of eggs, while creek locked specimens still breed, and are the same species, when cut open, have about a dozen of eggs, the eggs appear to be of the same size as 30" searun counterparts.