Aphyosemion Hera Ark 96/1-2

[Gabriel]

Hi,

I was wondering, did anyone have an experience in Aphyosemion hera ARK 96/1-2?

Thanks

 

[BigC]

I have kept Aph. hera in the past G but I haven't had any experience with Schioetzi. I can give you details on Hera but I'll have to look up my literature on the Schioetzi.
Its my sons birthday this evening so I'll be scarce. I'll get back to you as soon as I can
Regards
BigC

 

[Gabriel]

Many thanks BigC that's great!

Happy birthday to your son! nice sunny in the last hours today hope he enjoys!

 

[BigC]

We're just getting ready to do a spot of Ten Pin Bowling LOL
As I said I'll get back to you when I can
Regards
C

 

[BigC]

Hi,
Well as promised here are some notes on Aph. hera. albeit a bit belated.
Aph hera come from Northwest Gabon in Africa.
They are a stunning little fish and the females can be quite colourful (for a female killifish anyway)
The males reach a length of around 5cms and the female slightly smaller.
I gave them a tank of around 12x8x8 for breeding and as with all breeding intentions a varied diet of predominately live food is essential for conditioning a pair/trio
I furnished the tank with 3 spawning mops and a sponge filter. The water temp should be around 22'C, soft acidic water is recommended for sucessful breeding and should have a pH of around 6.5.
These fish I found to be a shy species and they dive for cover if they see movement outside the tank. Very skittish. You should expect to get about 15 eggs per day. ( the highest I ever got was 18 from a pair) Pick the eggs daily if you want but I found that in this species you can leave the fry with the parents with no great noticeable reduction in numbers.
The eggs will hatch in around 21 days and the have a speckled appearance, unlike most killifish fry. The fry will take BBS from the outset. One thing I noticed is that the fry grow rather slowly at first. At a size of around 1cm you will notice the dark band from snout to tail in both sexes but you will also notice brighter colour in the finnage of the males.
I hope this was of some help
Regards
BigC

 

[Gabriel]

thanks I got a trio really nice
I have a 70Liter fully planted to offer them, I didn't put any mop because of the overwhelming plants I guess I will leave the fry with adults.
PH is around 6-6,5, soft, temp 22-23°C,
unfortunately at the moment except microworms and brine shrimp newly hatched I've only frozen food.

 

[BigC]

That setup will be fine... pretty large for a trio of fish. They will spawn in the plant matter and will get infusoria anf paramecium from that, but still feed your BBS and micro. Be careful not to over feed if using a substrate, probably a small shoal of dwarf corydoras sp. to do the mopping up if a substrate is to be used
ATB
C

 

[Gabriel]

what is BBS?

well I have a dark black gravel yes I will try not to overfeed.
I gave a small piece of a frozen cube but well they didn't understood that it was food. Will try tomorrow again...
I 'll keep an eye on nitrites nitrates as well...

I hope they will lay eggs I think that the male with one of the girlie already do their business in the back of the tank !
I have quite a lot of snails (planorbes in french, don't know the english name )

Many thanks BigC

 

[Gabriel]

Baby brine shrimp!!! got it!!

Do adults do feed on just newly hatched BBS ? I've always heard they are far to small to be noticed (same for microworms)
I'm just preparing some new saltwater.

 

[BigC]

Young adults will take BBS but probably wont bother with Microworm, you should persist with flake and other types of live food.
They'll eat when hungry, Keep the tank clean, any uneaten food remove.
Any problems, just ask
Regards
C

 

[Gabriel]

all three of them ate frozen bloodworm this evening.
I will try to vary the diet quite often and get live culture started.

saw them having fun together. good news in a month I should have fry if nothing go wrong as it is the second evening I see the boy with each girlie a dozen of minutes.

Male is a little shy, but he hides in a place where I can often see him very clearly

one girlie is really shy always in background behind plants, difficult to see except in mating episodes and feeding time

last girlie is really curious and got the feeding fact to the point she eats out of the seringue ( I find it the easiest way to feed one by one bloodworm and to remove the uneaten ones) and becomes angry if bloodworm don't get out of it fast enough( in this case she pulls it herself out)

Have just to find names now!!!
and find a way to distinguish girlies

 

[BigC]

I thought you were Female.

 

[Gabriel]

Why this?

 

[BigC]

Naming fish

Have just to find names now!!!

I have a marine tank and some female associates do the exact same, Call their fish a name.
Maybe its just me as I do find this practice odd.
Dont worry I meant nothing by the comment, just associated with some mates thats all
Regards
BigC

 

[Gabriel]

well no problem I was just surprised

good news they do well on eating and seem to enjoy mating...