Please Share Your Wild Type Livebearers :)

[chrissfishes]

Hi everyone,
just had an idea to make this thread for everyone that keeps wild type livebearers to share pictures of their fish and share information how they keep them. The goal is to share with the public and try to interest others into keeping these beautiful,rare,underrated,and threatened livebearers. Please no hybrids. Wild type only. Please keep updating how your fish are doing,when you get fry, and update when you get new species. Would love this thread to keep going. I will share my fish later when I can get around to it. Thank you! Take care! Chris

 

[chrissfishes]

Here are videos of my livebearer collection. I do weekly 50% water changes on all of my tanks. I keep all of my tanks at room temperature. I feed my fish regular flakes, veggie flakes, and frozen foods (bloodworms,spirlinua brine shrimp,& emerald entree). I alternate foods and give them more veggie then protein. There have been health issue reports surrounding too much protein in Goodeids. 
 
When I have fry from my fish, I remove them to a breeding unit or a growout tank. The only specie I don't have to remove fry is Goodea gracilis. For all of my livebearers, I buy a bunch of plastic plants and cover the tank with them. I let them float in the tank and I put them in the gravel. I also have found putting a dark color background on the tank (deep blue/black) helps them feel secure and aren't as jumpy. The plants help keep them calm, allows them to get away when aggression strikes, and helps hide the fry. 
 
 
Xiphophorus clemenciae "Rio Carolina" Mexico 
 
http/s100.photobucket.com/user/cichlid_lover128/media/WP_20140227_0011_zps0ab6b522.mp4.html
 
http/s100.photobucket.com/user/cichlid_lover128/media/WP_20140227_0051_zps6f26f32a.mp4.html
 
They are in a 75 US gal.  I just obtained the clemenciae in January 2014. Since then I have had two drops of fry. They do seem to chase/eat their own fry. It's divided in half with plexi glass. Plan is to keep two species of Goodeids in the tank with them. One specie of Goodeid on either side. This tank is 65 F in the winter. 
 
Goodea gracilis & Xenoophorus captivus "Illescas" SLP
Rio San Juan Del Rio, Queretaro, Collected by
Miller,M76-25 refers to Dr. Miller's field notes for this collection of
Goodea gracilis
 
http/s100.photobucket.com/user/cichlid_lover128/media/WP_20140227_0021_zps21d83e30.mp4.html
 
 
The graciis and captivus are in a 40 US gal breeder. The tank is divided in half with plexi glass. One specie is on either side. I just obtained the captivus in the fall of last year (2013) and haven't had a drop yet. This location of captivus is considered to be extinct in the wild. From the sounds of it X.captivus is not doing very well in the wild from other locations either. The graclis I have had since 2011. The gracilis breed very well. Gracilis is considered endangered in the wild. This tank is 60 F in the winter.
 
Xenotoca melanosoma Collected by Devin Biggs 18-1-2008,
Achacales,Rio Ayuquila drainage, Municipio El Grullo,Jalisco,
Mexico
 
My adult pair of Melanosoma

 
http/s100.photobucket.com/user/cichlid_lover128/media/WP_20140227_0071_zpsed686c0e.mp4.html
 
A young juvie pair of Melanosoma. I have 7 other juvies that are this size
 
http/s100.photobucket.com/user/cichlid_lover128/media/WP_20140227_0081_zps5e47024b.mp4.html
 
The melanosoma are in a 38 US gal. I obtained some in the early spring last year (2013) and a few more in late spring from the collector. This specie can be very aggressive. Especially during mating. They eat their young and the fry are weak when born and should be removed quickly. They seem to be easy to breed. Sadly, this location is feared to be extinct in the wild or near extinction. They have tried to collect them for the past 3 years and haven't captured a single wild specimen. This tank is also 60 F in winter. 
 
Xenotoca melanosoma fry from last year (2013)
 
http/s100.photobucket.com/user/cichlid_lover128/media/WP_20140211_0011_zpsf547aff1.mp4.html
 
10 US gal. Also, 60 F in winter. 
 
Thanks! Take care!
Chris

 

[*pete*]

Nice fish Chris, here's a link to my wild strain Guppies to save me down loading from Photobucket !!!
 
http/www.fishforums.net/index.php?/topic/403544-jar-of-stars/
 
I keep em in a 3ft colony which has been going for almost two years, 20% weekly water changes and a varied diet but careful not to overfeed, keep em hungry...lol
 
I never cull or select and let them do what guppies do !

 

[looking-glass]

Great looking fish chris What PH have you got your goodeids in 

 

[blueboy1]

Hey *pete* do you have any way of getting your contact email to me please would love to get my hands on some of the guppies! they are the nicest I have seen?!!!

 

[*pete*]

Thank you blueboy1... PM'ed .

 

[chrissfishes]

Thanks everyone
 
Very nice guppies *Pete*! Thanks for sharing . Keep updating on them. 
 
My ph is very high. 8.2 . I haven't had any problems with keeping the Goodeids in it though. 

 

[looking-glass]

Thanks everyone
 
Very nice guppies *Pete*! Thanks for sharing

. Keep updating on them. 
 
My ph is very high. 8.2 . I haven't had any problems with keeping the Goodeids in it though. 

Is this what they naturally live in? i ask as i'm setting up my tank and the water is very hard in my area so im on the look out for fish that would thrive in those conditions  

 

[chrissfishes]

I think Goodeids are naturally found in neutral ph. 7.0-7.5. Goodeids don't seem to be picky on high ph and hard water. I think any specie of Goodeid would thrive. Two members on this forum : Fish48 and Ricefish both have a huge list of Goodeids and a lot of experience keeping them. They would be able to answer this better.  
 
That's great you are considering Goodeids for your new tank

.  

Here are two websites on Goodeids :
 
http/www.goodeiden.de/html/goodeids.html
 
http/www.goodeidworkinggroup.com/
 
Here is the American Livebearer Association and British Livebearer Association
 
http/www.livebearers.org/
 
http/www.britishlivebearerassociation.co.uk/

 

[looking-glass]

I think Goodeids are naturally found in neutral ph. 7.0-7.5. Goodeids don't seem to be picky on high ph and hard water. I think any specie of Goodeid would thrive. Two members on this forum : Fish48 and Ricefish both have a huge list of Goodeids and a lot of experience keeping them. They would be able to answer this better.  
 
That's great you are considering Goodeids for your new tank

.  

Here are two websites on Goodeids :
 
http/www.goodeiden.de/html/goodeids.html
 
http/www.goodeidworkinggroup.com/
 
Here is the American Livebearer Association and British Livebearer Association
 
http/www.livebearers.org/
 
http/www.britishlivebearerassociation.co.uk/

Thanks alot ill take a look at them  

 

[chrissfishes]

Happy to help. Sounds good  

 

[looking-glass]

Have you ever acquired any of your fish by Mail Order? i was browsing my LFS today and as i suspected there was nothing in the way of the scarcer Livebearers i think i may struggle to source some locally so online may have to be an option

 

[ricefish]

If you're in the UK then try this as there will be plenty of rarer livebearers available
British Livebearer Association
Mini Spring Auction
Sunday 23th MARCH 2014
@
D J A Y 3RD OPEN SHOW
Rockingham Centre, Hoyland, South Yorkshire.
Address Sheffield Road, Hoyland, Barnsley, South Yorkshire S74,0PY

 

[looking-glass]

If you're in the UK then try this as there will be plenty of rarer livebearers available
British Livebearer Association
Mini Spring Auction
Sunday 23th MARCH 2014
@
D J A Y 3RD OPEN SHOW
Rockingham Centre, Hoyland, South Yorkshire.
Address Sheffield Road, Hoyland, Barnsley, South Yorkshire S74,0PY

 

If you're in the UK then try this as there will be plenty of rarer livebearers available
British Livebearer Association
Mini Spring Auction
Sunday 23th MARCH 2014
@
D J A Y 3RD OPEN SHOW
Rockingham Centre, Hoyland, South Yorkshire.
Address Sheffield Road, Hoyland, Barnsley, South Yorkshire S74,0PY

Ahhh thanks i think i've seen these events covered in PFK magazine before, they look really good

 

[chrissfishes]

Have you ever acquired any of your fish by Mail Order? i was browsing my LFS today and as i suspected there was nothing in the way of the scarcer Livebearers i think i may struggle to source some locally so online may have to be an option

Looking-glass: Yeah all of my fish came from online through private individuals. There are a few sources online that sell them but the best way to aquire them is like what ricefish pointed out. BLA would be your best bet to find pure fish with location info and you will be able to meet new people and find out who the breeders are. Another great source is at the organization conventions or if you find individuals that have the fish online. One way or another they are connected to the ALA or BLA.You won't find them in the pet store and if you happen to find them there I wouldn't trust the fish being pure.