OP
OP
15 reached about 2cm living with the adults, when velvet (oodinium), the curse of Microctenopoma hit. I don't know why, but external parasites slaughter this group - I've seen it with importations of other species. Because they are so shy, the parasite got a head start before I spotted it. I tried all my remedies, but I lost all but one, a male who lives on in a community.
I liked them a lot, and soon after had a chance to buy Microctenopoma congigum. I gave them the same sort of set up and they bred, this time with no parasites lurking. So I have been able to learn about the group. I also picked up M. ansorgii, the most commonly available member of the group. The two species I have now are from the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
I have a group of around 20 of various sizes in a 150lr/40 gall, 1.3m/4ft tank. They haven't bred again because I haven't made it easy for them - the water flow disrupts nest building. No one around here wants them as they are grey outside of breeding season, and they aren't well known. What used to be a hobby of explorers of diversity has become a hobby that fears the unknown, alas.
I think they're great, and intend to keep them for as long as I can, but I had to accept losses of fry because they outgrew their space, and the ones I saved seem to be staying here. I will breed them in a year or two.
The photo is a male congicum showing off.
I liked them a lot, and soon after had a chance to buy Microctenopoma congigum. I gave them the same sort of set up and they bred, this time with no parasites lurking. So I have been able to learn about the group. I also picked up M. ansorgii, the most commonly available member of the group. The two species I have now are from the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
I have a group of around 20 of various sizes in a 150lr/40 gall, 1.3m/4ft tank. They haven't bred again because I haven't made it easy for them - the water flow disrupts nest building. No one around here wants them as they are grey outside of breeding season, and they aren't well known. What used to be a hobby of explorers of diversity has become a hobby that fears the unknown, alas.
I think they're great, and intend to keep them for as long as I can, but I had to accept losses of fry because they outgrew their space, and the ones I saved seem to be staying here. I will breed them in a year or two.
The photo is a male congicum showing off.
