I.werneri are best kept on their own and a small 50 litre aquarium is ideal
for maintaining a dozen or so
inhabitants. Java Moss can provide a perfect habitat for breeding. An
effective biological filtration system is essential as I.werneri need fresh,
very clean, filtered water. Water temperature can be maintained between 23
- 28C. Water hardness around 50 - 150 ppm and a pH of 7.0 to 7.8. Regular
waterchanges are a must.
I maintained and bred them for over twelve years in water of the following
parameters - temperature 23 to 31C, pH 6.0 to 8.2 and a water hardness up to
230 ppm. However, I found that old acidic (low pH) water is detrimental to
their long-term health.
I.werneri are not extremely demanding as to the food that is offered,
although they have very small mouths. They seem to prefer live brine shrimp
nauplii, daphnia and worms such as grindle and microworm. The challenge of
attacking larger live foods is usually declined. Finely powdered, floating
dry foods are acceptable as they will not normally eat food that has fallen
to the bottom of the aquarium.
Spawning can be attempted in a number of ways. They can be placed in a
specially set up breeding tank with a 1 male - 2 females ratio. A bunch of
Java Moss or artificial spawning medium is placed in the tank, on which the
fish will spawn readily. The spawning medium, with attached eggs, can be
removed each day, and place in a special hatching container. Alternatively,
in a permanent aquarium environment purposely set up for I.werneri a
self-sustaining population can be maintained. In fact, this is probably the
most reliable method of production for the general hobbyist.
During the spawning ritual the male will court the female with all fins held
erect. Later, the display will progress to flicking the fins rapidly in an
up and down movement. If the female is responsive, she will look for a
suitable site for egg laying. Once the female remains in the same spot, the
male with follow and together they will swim among the Java Moss and leave
behind a small cluster of eggs. The eggs will take around five to seven
days to hatch.
The fry are very small and remain at the water surface. This is where the
difficult part begins - raising the fry. They are only capable of eating
infusorians, (protozoans, rotifers etc.). However, it is possible to
procure micro encapsulated feeds from Aquaculture suppliers. Alternatively,
you will have to raise your own infusorians, which isn't that difficult. If
the fry do not simply disappear, they will eventually reach a sufficient
size to consume newly-hatched brine shrimp. In a permanently established
aquarium some of the fry will find sufficient edible particles or
infusorians to survive. In several weeks if properly cared for their growth
rate will increase and at around eight weeks should be around 20 mm long.
If you want any specific questions answered - please ask.
Adrian.
Adrian R. Tappin
Brisbane, Australia.
"Home of the Rainbowfish"
http://www.ecn.net.au/~atappin/home.htm