Hi Folks,
I have a few questions regarding Salminus growth, development, coloration, longevity, and breeding.
Currently I've a population of 45-47 S. brasiliensis that I've raised up from 8-12cm(sl) to 30-80cm(sl) over the past year. The vast majority of these animals are excelling, competing well, and are beginning to show all the hallmarks of sexual development/maturation yet aside from fins, opercula, part of the dorsal section I was expecting significantly more chromatic development by now in my few established super-males. Does anyone know when these animals typically reach sexual maturity and develop their famous gold coloration?
The animals are fed a well rounded diet of fish, insects, shrimp, mazuri gel diet, and supplemented astaxanthin weekly outside of the gel diet. Aside from intermittent phosphate spikes, water quality is great and stable. The pool is expansive, receiving natural sunlight, supplemented w/ metal halides.
Few general questions for experienced keepers:
What is the average lifespan of these animals in captivity? Has anyone here kept these to adulthood? Has anyone spawned these animals outside of their native range?
Maybe it's just me but there have been a lot of recent imports over the past 18 months of S. brasiliensis that have looked somewhat odd with juvenile headshapes more akin to S. franciscanus (including a few in my population) despite having the ray and scale counts of brasiliensis. Knowing that these animals are aquacultured is it possible that we have hybrid animals on our hands?
Appreciate the help!
Cheers,
Andrew
I have a few questions regarding Salminus growth, development, coloration, longevity, and breeding.
Currently I've a population of 45-47 S. brasiliensis that I've raised up from 8-12cm(sl) to 30-80cm(sl) over the past year. The vast majority of these animals are excelling, competing well, and are beginning to show all the hallmarks of sexual development/maturation yet aside from fins, opercula, part of the dorsal section I was expecting significantly more chromatic development by now in my few established super-males. Does anyone know when these animals typically reach sexual maturity and develop their famous gold coloration?
The animals are fed a well rounded diet of fish, insects, shrimp, mazuri gel diet, and supplemented astaxanthin weekly outside of the gel diet. Aside from intermittent phosphate spikes, water quality is great and stable. The pool is expansive, receiving natural sunlight, supplemented w/ metal halides.
Few general questions for experienced keepers:
What is the average lifespan of these animals in captivity? Has anyone here kept these to adulthood? Has anyone spawned these animals outside of their native range?
Maybe it's just me but there have been a lot of recent imports over the past 18 months of S. brasiliensis that have looked somewhat odd with juvenile headshapes more akin to S. franciscanus (including a few in my population) despite having the ray and scale counts of brasiliensis. Knowing that these animals are aquacultured is it possible that we have hybrid animals on our hands?
Appreciate the help!
Cheers,
Andrew