First: He has the real M. misoolensis. The large male of the wild caught
pair had a length of more than 10 cm, the female was somewhat smaller. The
colouration seemed - on the first glance - be very similar to what we call
Melanotaenia spec. "Batanta". However, the latter one is not only much
smaller. M. misoolensis changes its colour during the growth. In the same
tank he had the first fry of about 6 cm length - and you never will mix them
with M. spec. Batanta. The have a totally different look, with red fins and
not similar to any other rainbow.
Second: The distribution of Glossolepis incisus seems to be not restricted
to Lake Sentani! Heiko also found a variety (??) of G. incisus in Lake
Ifanten. He showed two males and told me that these were already very red
when only three cm long. Jerry Allen will have a look on them soon. Then we
will know more as G. incisus has some very characteristic features.
Third: There is a new variety of Chilatherina fasciata available which is
brightly orange-red. Nice fish, will surely find its lovers.
Now some news when these fish will be available (and others). Heiko told me
that some fishes will be released on the market in autumn this year. This
shall be M. misoolensis, G. incisus (?) Lake Ifanten and Melanotaenia angfa.
After two years now, the fully adult males start to turn into their bright
gold colouration. You must be very patient with this fish!
Additionally Melanotaenia parva is as well available as Pseudomugil
reticulatus, although the latter one seems to be difficult to breed.
Pictures of these fishes are already on our website (sorry, only in German
yet) www.irg-online.de. I have tried to make some pictures of the fish in
Belgium and will also show these fish there if possible.
Additionally, Jerry Allen found out that the fish described by Taylor in
1964 as Melanotaenia solata coming from the South Alligator River and until
today seen as Melanotaenia splendida australis local colour variety indeed
is a valid species. I believe this species is kept in the hobby - who has
them?
Last but not least: Last weekend we had our annual conference in Belgium. We
had excellent fish, great lectures (e.g. Gilbert Maebe, Gerd Eggers), some
150 attendants and a good time. You have to know that every (!) Belgian
restaurant offers at least 20 different kinds of beer. We did not try them
all, but everybody found his favourite. The only bad thing: they made me
president (i.e. chairman) again for the next three years ;-)
All the best Harro