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FAQs on the Cyprinodontids,
Pupfishes et al.
Related Articles: Cyprinodontid Fishes,
Cyprinodontiform
Fishes, CA:
Killiefifshes
– Part 1. by Robert Goldstein,
Killifishes, Part II--The Nothobranchius Family by Robert J.
Goldstein,
Related FAQs: Aplocheilid Fishes, Killifishes, Aplocheilids, Rivuline Fishes, |
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Possible fin-nipper? - 06/27/07
Well.... Along with the Rainbow fish, I added 1 American Flagfish (male), I
have a female on order. I did read that they can be territorial, but I've
watched him interact with the other fish, and while he will chase them away from
his preferred location, there's no nipping and it seems quite harmless.
He's the only possible culprit, but again, he seems harmless (when I'm watching
him). I've wanted a flagfish for some time as the otos weren't touching some of
the algae and flagfish have a reputation for eating algae that no one else
likes. If you think he's the culprit, will he settle down and change his
fin-nipping ways (would a female companion help) or should I return him to the
shop. I've only had him in the tank for 5 days and he does live-up to his
reputation as an algae eater... he's quite a cute little guy. Thank you and
regards, Michelle
<Aha, the plot thinnens. My guess is the Flagfish is to blame. They have been
reported to be fin-nippers. Not consistently, but frequently enough that I'd be
cautious about keeping them in a community tank. They are, as you say, lovely
fish and excellent algae eaters (they enjoy hair algae in particular). Now,
there are two ways to approach this. One is to remove him and see if things
settle down. The other is to build up a fair size group of them, so they
concentrate on one another rather than the other fish. This is the way it works
with tiger barbs -- more tiger barbs you keep, the less nippy them become. A
tough choice. The problem with nippiness in fish is it isn't always consistent.
I keep pufferfish in a community tank, and although they did nip the Corydoras,
once I removed the Corydoras, they've been good as gold. Some species of fish
maybe attract the attention of nippers. Corydoras seem to be real targets
because they are slow and blunder into territories. They also seem to very
stupid, and don't learn to avoid threats. In the meantime you do need to treat
the fish with damaged fins before infection sets it. Cheers, Neale>
Re: possible fin-nipper? – 06/29/07
> Hello Neale, Just wanted to say thank you. I know they're not the
brightest, but Corys are such cute little guys, mine "groom" each other. I fear
I'll be overstocked if I add too many more flagfish. I'll watch for another week
& see how it goes. The good news is the damaged tissue is growing back: I've
been treating with Maracyn II and Melafix. So all is better for now. Thank you again. Michelle
<Cool. Sometimes fin-nipping stops when the fish settle in. Perhaps the new fish
are just hungry or annoyed? So if the other fish are healing up nicely then
perhaps they've learned to avoid the nipper. Keep an eye on things though. I
agree, Corydoras are the best! Make sure you have a go at breeding them -- baby
Corydoras are cute beyond words. Cheers, Neale.>
Coralline algae growth/20 Gal pupfish tank: 2/16/07
In my pupfish tank there is red coralline algae starting to grow and
spread all over the artificial corals I have in there. Since they are
artificial, over time will this be a problem?
<Nope>
Thank you so much for your advice/comments.
Regards,
Debra P.
<Thank you for sharing. BobF>
Pupfish With Goiter? 1/11/07
Hi Crew,
<Debra>
I have a 20 gallon long saltwater tank housing pupfish, what I believe
to be Cyprinodon variegatus.
<Mmm:
http://fishbase.org/Summary/speciesSummary.php?ID=3181&genusname=Cyprinodon&speciesname=variegatus+variegatus>
I acquired them when my brother had to move and said he had some
"saltwater fish" that he was going to flush (yes down the toilet) if he
couldn't find someone to take them.
<Poor practice, attitude>
I later learned he was offered the 55 gallon tank for free and these
fish came with it. I had an empty 20 gallon tank which I planned to set
up for saltwater so I agreed (sight unseen) to take them (visions of the
typical saltwater fish you see at the LFS danced through my head as I
headed to his house to collect them.)
<Some surprise now!>
It took me over two weeks to ID them on the internet. The conditions
the fish were kept were to say the least very poor. The only
maintenance he said he performed in the 4 months of having the fish was
water top offs (tapwater treated with dechlorinator) and the lights were
only occasionally turned on. The gravel was filthy, the water reeked of
tobacco smoke so I opted to start anew and unfortunately put the fish
through a cycle. The LFS (I no longer use) after selling me all the
equipment they thought I needed, told me to "...do nothing..." and "...I
might lose more than half the fish."
<I do hope they fold... soon>
About halfway through I learned about fishless cycling and products like
BioSpira, Stability and Right Now! which I utilized all at some point to
bring the tank under control. I did lose a few fish but they were fish
in very poor condition when I acquired them. I later learned more about
live rock and started adding that to the tank as well (from new LFS). I
have a total of 15 pupfish of which four are new babies. well not babies
now, only one has not reached maturity yet. He/she is about 2
months. The salinity is kept at 1.021 to 1.022
<I would keep this egg-laying toothed carps somewhere more "middling" in
spg... 1.010 myself>
set up with live sand and live rock. It has a clean up crew of blue
legged & red legged hermit crabs and snails consisting of Cerith,
Nerite, one Margarita and one hitchhiking bumble bee snail; some
bristleworms and I've seen a couple Brittlestars.
<Cancel the above... need to keep the spg near where you have it for
this other life>
I utilize a Prizm skimmer which I eventually plan to replace (now that
I have a Tunze DOC Nano in my 10 gallon and can see a big difference in
how skimmers should work)
<Oh yes>
and a Bio-wheel 150 filter with two filter pads. Ammonia, nitrite &
nitrate are 0. About 8 cup water change daily. After researching the
site I think one of my pupfish may have a goiter. Attached is a picture
for your comment. She is in the center of the picture and you can see
the lump just under her right eye.
<Mmm... rather than a goiter, I suspect this is evidence of some sort of
tumorous growth... or parasitic mass... not endocrinologically linked...
Only able to discern through necropsy, microscopic examination>
Tonight I'm noticing some redness on the lower part of the
lump. Although I had not been monitoring or adding iodine I started
last night using Salifert's Natural Iodine. I also use this in my 10
gallon tank.
<Good>
The reason for using Salifert's Natural Iodine is when I added some
Kent's iodine to the 10 gallon tank and then tested the water using a
Salifert Iodine test kit I could not get a reading.
<Yes... this is one of Kent's poorer products...>
After switching to Salifert's Natural Iodine I can get iodide readings
but still cannot get a reading on the combined iodate/iodine test.
<This is a transient valence state...>
At this point I'm not sure if it's me or I'm not adding enough iodine
supplement.
<Best to test... not to over-dose>
Throughout the site Lugol's seems to be the preferred iodine supplement.
<Mmm... only due to its easy availability>
Will the Salifert test kit easily read the Lugol's iodine levels in the
water or is another test kit needed?
<It will read sufficiently to give indication of presence of useful
amounts of this element>
Why is Lugol's preferred over other Iodine supplements? If this is a
goiter she has, how much iodine do you soak the food in?
<Very little... Iodine/ate will/can be absorbed sufficiently through the
water>
Should I place their food in a teaspoon and just add a couple drops of
iodine?
<A drop will likely be more than enough... and much of any may make
foods unpalatable>
They are fed twice daily a variation of Formula One flakes or frozen
Formula One, Spirulina, or rolled seaweed on a clip. If adding iodine
to the food, should I also continue to add iodine to the water and of
course monitor it with testing?
<Yes>
The current level for iodide is .03, but as stated earlier I can't
seem to get an iodate reading.
<Not to worry...>
Will the addition of iodine to their food have any negative affects on
the invertebrates or the smaller pupfish?
<Overdose exposure could, yes>
In other words, is there any chance of an overdose?
<Yes, though small>
On another note, from what I've read in the wild the typical lifespan
for pupfish is approximately one year. Do you have any knowledge of how
long they may live in captivity?
<Yes... a few years... as shown in the fishbase.org link above...
maximum longevity is about 4.4 years in the wild>
In my research all I've found is "...can live longer in an aquarium
setting." but nothing definitive. They have wonderful, spunky, playful
personalities... but I keep hoping for no more babies!
Thank you so much, Debra Piedra
<Do post what you have in the way of young on the Internet, ask your
local stores if they'd like to sell... Bob Fenner> |
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Ameca splendens "fainting"
Hi Bob: Thank you for letting me put some of your articles on my web
site Aquarticles, which has now been done.
Now I have "discovered" you, I find I have a question!- I wrote a piece
about the Butterfly Goodeid Ameca splendens, (Fish Breeding/Three
Unusual Livebearers) in which I mention a curious habit they have, of
"fainting" as soon as they are caught in a net - they lay on their side
as if dead, but come to life again immediately upon release. This is not
cause by stress or over-exertion, since it happens even if they are
caught with the first dip of the net. It is particularly noticeable with
younger fish.
Has this reflex been written about anywhere?
<Likely so... do know of this "reflex defensive mechanism" with "baby birds" like Chickens (Gallus)... thought to have "survival value" for the individuals/species in avoiding predation... Don't recall such being recorded about goodeids... Would do a library/computer search on the species, behavior: http://www.wetwebmedia.com/litsrchart.htm>
Does it have a name?
<Probably... but I don't know it, yet>
Do any other species do this?
<Assuredly yes... many species young that have slow neural development... neoteny... "faint" with certain types of stimulation...>
What could be its advantage in nature?
<Imagine being a snake, coming up on a palatable meal/organism, having it, instead of "running away", faint on the spot... you might well "leave it alone", continue in search of other prey... Or, imagine circumstances that might "scare to death" an individual Ameca splendens or likely cause its demise from struggling (like scraping its skin in a net...). The individuals, species that "pass out" might be more likely to survive, pass on their genes, including the disposition to hard wire behavior stated... than ones without>
I would like to add more info. to my article. I posed the question in
the newsgroup alt.aquaria but got no satisfactory answers.
Sincerely, Howard Norfolk, Aquarticles.com
<Be chatting. Bob Fenner> | |
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