Re: Werneri

Cary Hostrawser (caryho at ix.netcom.com)
Sun, 30 Jun 1996 14:04:02 GMT

On Sun, 30 Jun 1996 07:57:00 +-1000, Bruce Hansen wrote:
><<I understand that a continual breeding programme is necessary to maintain
>these wonderful fish over a period of time, is this correct?>>
>
>Because they fit somewhere between Rainbows and Blue-eyes they seem to have
>a life span of around 2-3 years so a regular replacement program is needed
>but it is not as imperative as with pseudomugils.
>
>
><<Also believe that many people have a problem keeping the fry alive.>>
>
>With the advent of the ultra tiny micro-encapsulated foods such as APR this
>is much less of a problem. In QLD an outside pond and a summer breeding
>stint outside is a lazy way to keep them going. You may have to consider a
>heater even outdoors if the latitude warrants it. I recommend you check
>Adrian Tappin's Home Page for a good overview.

I never had much luck with APR with werneri. If I'm pulling a mop I
find putting it in a tank with of green water works great. Lately I"ve
been raisng them in tanks loaded with rikkia. The young fry seem to
find enough food grazing off the plants. A recent experiement with a
green water tank at 90 degrees F, resulted in all the fry missing a
significant amount of finage. In another tank I'm raising a batch in
an established tank with just rikkia (no supplemental feedings for the
fry until they can eat baby brine) at 72 degrees F. They're growing
very slowly but the survival percentages are great and no deformities
are present.

I'm beginning to wonder if rikkia makes a better spawning medium than
java moss. It stays at the surface (with the hatched fry) and provides
a natural source of micro food.

Cary Hostrawser

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