Central African blackwater biotope
- Thread starter Margit
- Start date
Hi,
just managed to capture one of the Polypterus on video... he's actually one of the smaller ones, about 20-22cm... the big female is about 30cm and three times the girth...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2JdVcKQvcq0
Greetings from Nairobi
Margit
just managed to capture one of the Polypterus on video... he's actually one of the smaller ones, about 20-22cm... the big female is about 30cm and three times the girth...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2JdVcKQvcq0
Greetings from Nairobi
Margit
Hi,
just a quick update: After more than 2 weeks, 14 out of the 15 Congo Tetras remain (one may have just died... always a possibility with store-bought fish). Never had fish that shoaled so tightly; they love swimming wherever the current is strongest (when the Polypterus come out of their caves, however, they scatter). They are growing and slowly start showing colour; especially in sunlight, the blue shimmer begins to show.
I've never kept Polypterus or Congo Tetras before, so I don't know what's typical behaviour for them... but my pollies seem to prefer life as scavengers. When I feed the tetras, they come out and search the sbstrate for those pieces of dried fish that were just too big for the tetras. That's not to say they can't make a kill, but the prey would need to be pretty immobile (injured or asleep). And my Polypterus aren't exactly small... big mama is about 30cm... the largest tetra isn't quite 5cm, the smallest just about 2cm.
I'll try to post new pics or video soon.
Greetings from Nairobi
Margit
just a quick update: After more than 2 weeks, 14 out of the 15 Congo Tetras remain (one may have just died... always a possibility with store-bought fish). Never had fish that shoaled so tightly; they love swimming wherever the current is strongest (when the Polypterus come out of their caves, however, they scatter). They are growing and slowly start showing colour; especially in sunlight, the blue shimmer begins to show.
I've never kept Polypterus or Congo Tetras before, so I don't know what's typical behaviour for them... but my pollies seem to prefer life as scavengers. When I feed the tetras, they come out and search the sbstrate for those pieces of dried fish that were just too big for the tetras. That's not to say they can't make a kill, but the prey would need to be pretty immobile (injured or asleep). And my Polypterus aren't exactly small... big mama is about 30cm... the largest tetra isn't quite 5cm, the smallest just about 2cm.
I'll try to post new pics or video soon.
Greetings from Nairobi
Margit
Only one word can describe your tank: AWESOME. That's gotta be the nicest tank I've ever seen, and I love the tetras! Love all the fish too, I can't wait for more videos and pics!
Looks like the tetras really enjoy the flow. I would be leery of the hemichromis. In my experience they tend to be super aggressive, especially when breeding. For cichlids I would be more inclined towards steatocranus. They seem to threaten but not hurt any other fish.
Your tank setup looks spectactular!
Your tank setup looks spectactular!
Hi,
thanks for all the positive comments.
The flow really seems to get the tetras to shoal. Unfortunately, however, the polypterus have decimated their numbers... they may be totally inept as predators, but given enough time and opportunity...
I'm left with just the biggest four...
Getting the right fish is a major headache. The store only imports from Asia; no chance to get fish directly from West Africa... if I could get my hands on mid-size tetras instead of tank-raised fry. the combination of polypterus and tetras would work.
Steatocranus are not even on the stock list from Malaysia; even the hemichromis would be inauthentic mongrels ("neon"). :wall:
So, it's not like I have a lot of stocking options, if I want to stick with my theme...
Greetings from Nairobi
Margit
thanks for all the positive comments.
The flow really seems to get the tetras to shoal. Unfortunately, however, the polypterus have decimated their numbers... they may be totally inept as predators, but given enough time and opportunity...
I'm left with just the biggest four...Getting the right fish is a major headache. The store only imports from Asia; no chance to get fish directly from West Africa... if I could get my hands on mid-size tetras instead of tank-raised fry. the combination of polypterus and tetras would work.
Steatocranus are not even on the stock list from Malaysia; even the hemichromis would be inauthentic mongrels ("neon"). :wall:
So, it's not like I have a lot of stocking options, if I want to stick with my theme...
Greetings from Nairobi
Margit
I am a huge polypterus fan and have several of the lower jawed species myself. I have not found many fish that do well with them long term. As you mentioned, they are not always voracious predators, but certainly efficient when they make the choice to hunt.
Love the tank!
Love the tank!
