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killifish as tankmate

raymond82

Member
Messages
345
Location
Amsterdam
Funny, I had the same question in mind (especially after I recently saw some pictures of Laimosemion xiphidus :)).
However, wouldn't the killies pose a serious threat to apisto fry?
 

Danny Barker

New Member
Messages
6
done a bit of research since the post, and from what i can gather, if i get surface dwelling killi's then there should be no problems as they wont come down for the fry's, i maybe wrong tho what you think
 

Mike Wise

Moderator
Staff member
5 Year Member
Messages
11,202
Location
Denver, Colorado, U.S.A.
TomC & I collected Rivulus species with apistos in Peru, so they do live together naturally. Some to the top dwelling killies with upturned mouths work well as dither/target fish.
 

dw1305

Well-Known Member
5 Year Member
Messages
2,755
Location
Wiltshire UK
Hi all,
I've used Pseudepiplatys annulatus and Poropanchax normanii, and they are both good dithers (although from the wrong continent).

cheers Darrel
 

raymond82

Member
Messages
345
Location
Amsterdam
Which species would fit the category of having upturned mouths, being top-dwelling and originating from South-America? (species formerly known as) Rivulus species are not exclusively top-dwelling or am I wrong? My girlfriend is a member of the dutch killifish association so she has access to lots of different species. I would love to try using some killi species as dithers but I wouldn't want to endanger the fry. From what I've seen killis can be quite voracious, I've seen some killifish eat other fish half their size.
 

Ben Rhau

Apisto Club
Messages
566
Location
San Francisco
Hi all,
I've used Pseudepiplatys annulatus and Poropanchax normanii, and they are both good dithers (although from the wrong continent).

cheers Darrel
Hi Darrel, I’m considering an option like this, as I can’t find any South American killifish in the states. How many of these did you keep together? It looks like both are schooling fish, but if it’s a breeding tank, 6+ dithers seems like too many fish.
 

dw1305

Well-Known Member
5 Year Member
Messages
2,755
Location
Wiltshire UK
Hi all,
It looks like both are schooling fish, but if it’s a breeding tank, 6+ dithers seems like too many fish.
I had variable numbers, Poropanchax normanii breeds really easily so I used to fish them out on a regular basis. I was considering keeping them again, but now I can't find any. I stopped keeping them because there was no market for them locally and I ended up giving them away. I would guess that a trio would do, but the males harass the females fairly relentlessly (and any other fish that are approximately female shaped).

Epiplatys annulatus is a smaller fish, but you may find you can only get them as pairs, I don't think six would be problem in bioload terms. They are quite active swimmers so I'm not sure a very small tank will suit them.

cheers Darrel
 

Ben Rhau

Apisto Club
Messages
566
Location
San Francisco
The tank I'm thinking of is a 15g, and I'd like to try them with a pair of Dicrossus filamentosus. I like raising fry, but I don't like constantly having to think about where to place them. Epiplatys annulatus might the way to go, since it sounds like they aren't as prolific as Poropanchax normanii.

Though the bioload (~6 killies, 2 Dicrossus) seems fine at the outset, do you think it it's still fine once either species spawns?
 

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