Vatf grow out

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49ersfan

Gambusia
MFK Member
Nov 11, 2013
106
1
16
Bay Area, CA
Well after months of trying to get a vatf my lfs brought one in for me and im excited! So i havent done a grow out thread but i figured i would to track his growth. Any thoughts or suggestions would be appreciated done tons of reasearch on this guy but would love anyones input whos has kept them.

Heres a pic of him, he started eating bloodworms last night after being in my tank 3 hours!


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That's not a VATF. :(

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Really? Not a vatf? I thought fatf/batf diddnt have a red tail (not a expert at all) what does he look like? Anyone have ideas on id? Either way would love if he is a batf always thought they look mean haha.


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49ersfan said:
Really? Not a vatf? I thought fatf/batf diddnt have a red tail (not a expert at all) what does he look like? Anyone have ideas on id? Either way would love if he is a batf always thought they look mean haha.


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Indeed not a VATF. It is definitely a Sahelian tigerfish, which means it is either BATF or FATF. All ATF have colored tails, but where the equitorial species (except of course goliath) have their entire tail a bright color, the Sahelian tigerfish only have bright color on the lower lobe. The trade off is that the Sahelian fish seem to have more intense coloration on the lower lobe.

As for your fish, I can't say for certain the species from the pic, but I'm certainly inclined to think FATF. Either way, you're in for a treat. My experience has shown me that the Sahelian tigerfish tend to be much spunkier and owner-friendly, especially at a small size. My brevis and forskahlii both actively begged by 4" and my brevis actually hand feeds!

I've encountered none of the skittishness or face smashing in either Sahelian species that the equitorial species are known for.

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Chicxulub said:
Indeed not a VATF. It is definitely a Sahelian tigerfish, which means it is either BATF or FATF. All ATF have colored tails, but where the equitorial species (except of course goliath) have their entire tail a bright color, the Sahelian tigerfish only have bright color on the lower lobe. The trade off is that the Sahelian fish seem to have more intense coloration on the lower lobe.

As for your fish, I can't say for certain the species from the pic, but I'm certainly inclined to think FATF. Either way, you're in for a treat. My experience has shown me that the Sahelian tigerfish tend to be much spunkier and owner-friendly, especially at a small size. My brevis and forskahlii both actively begged by 4" and my brevis actually hand feeds!

I've encountered none of the skittishness or face smashing in either Sahelian species that the equitorial species are known for.

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Thanks for the info! So from yesterday when i put him in the tank he decided hes the boss haha. He is not nearly as skittish as ive read they can be and readily took frozen bloodworms 3 hours after bringing him home. He even started gaining a little interest in pellets he will chase but not eat yet. About the face smashing u mentioned he does not ram the tank but he will swim in circles with his face on the glass (hard to explain) i taped paper to the sides of the tank and put the back of the chair in front seems to calm him down. Is this normal? He seems to be calmer when im infront of the tank but that seems odd because everything ive read says they r skittish when people approach the tank. Any tips to calm him when im not at the tank?


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49ersfan said:
Thanks for the info! So from yesterday when i put him in the tank he decided hes the boss haha. He is not nearly as skittish as ive read they can be and readily took frozen bloodworms 3 hours after bringing him home. He even started gaining a little interest in pellets he will chase but not eat yet. About the face smashing u mentioned he does not ram the tank but he will swim in circles with his face on the glass (hard to explain) i taped paper to the sides of the tank and put the back of the chair in front seems to calm him down. Is this normal? He seems to be calmer when im infront of the tank but that seems odd because everything ive read says they r skittish when people approach the tank. Any tips to calm him when im not at the tank?


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The swimming in circles against the glass I've found is a sign of stress. Normally I'd say that this is because of your water parameters, but he is brand new and that could be the cause.

Still, check your water. Ammonia and no2 should be zero and no3 should be no more than 20. I've found that ATF tend to do that circle glass spaz thing (I know exactly what you're talking about) when no3 gets above 20 or anything else gets above 0.

EDIT- Also, a moon light is critical when they are smaller. It REALLY helps to control what I call night terrors. If your main lights are on, leave them off for a day or two with only the moon lights on. Also, I suspect that he's not calm when you're at the tank; I rather expect that he's just more worried about watching you than trying to do the circle spaz.

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Chicxulub said:
The swimming in circles against the glass I've found is a sign of stress. Normally I'd say that this is because of your water parameters, but he is brand new and that could be the cause.

Still, check your water. Ammonia and no2 should be zero and no3 should be no more than 20. I've found that ATF tend to do that circle glass spaz thing (I know exactly what you're talking about) when no3 gets above 20 or anything else gets above 0.

EDIT- Also, a moon light is critical when they are smaller. It REALLY helps to control what I call night terrors. If your main lights are on, leave them off for a day or two with only the moon lights on. Also, I suspect that he's not calm when you're at the tank; I rather expect that he's just more worried about watching you than trying to do the circle spaz.

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Water was fine yesterday (ammonia -0 nitrite-0 nitrate- 20) but i will definitly check it agian today, and had no idea about the night terrors i will definitly follow your advice with my moon light. Thanks agian for the help.


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