Fundulopanchax gardneri .

[GaryE]

Murphy, who wrote a famous law, is also a deranged sniper. You dodged his work getting the other gardneri.

You'll have to watch because cause of death is unknown. It sounds like a small tank problem, with an aggressive male. You might want to separate the group into two or three tanks, maybe with females on their own. I have had large groups of sexable gardneri live together in peace, but not in bare 5 gallons.

 

[Back in the fold]

Murphy, who wrote a famous law, is also a deranged sniper. You dodged his work getting the other gardneri.

You'll have to watch because cause of death is unknown. It sounds like a small tank problem, with an aggressive male. You might want to separate the group into two or three tanks, maybe with females on their own. I have had large groups of sexable gardneri live together in peace, but not in bare 5 gallons.

I think you’re right about that . What you say about large groups living together peaceably is right too . I have read other guys say the same thing and my own observations tell me it’s right . I have already separated the sexes and won’t put them together until the females are ripe and then I will separate them again after I see that the females are slimmed down . That gives me time to pick eggs and get ready to go again . I think back on the gardneri that I had in 2019 and the picture forms as to everything I did wrong . Knowing the outcome of actions from personal experience is a good teacher .

 

[fish48]

Another one that I had but no success with . I will definitely have a rematch with them . The pair I had just would not put on size and I had a feeling that they had not been fed properly as fry . The female died first and didn’t get over an inch long in the six months or so I had them . Then the male died at about two inches or so . These are fish that get to four inches . Not a particularly colorful Killie but very interesting in appearance . They have a kind of reptilian look to them with their blunt nose and broad head . I found that appealing .

yes they're not very colourful i kept them many years ago over the years they seemed to become a rarity in the fish hobby I recently found someone online who will send me some eggs when available,

 

[fish48]

Have you guys kept Epiplatys dageti? They're often available, breed like guppies and are fun killies to keep. Peaceful, not too big and really adaptable. If you like Aplocheilus, you'll like these too.

as you mentioned breed like guppies , easy to keep spawn regularly , I pick the eggs off the mop and put them in a container , once hatched I grow them on for a few weeks before removing them to a tank.

 

[Back in the fold]

My six young gardneri have put on weight and size . The females are plump and robust and eat voraciously . I feed them twice a day . One male is still in his planted ten gallon and the other male is with the four females . All he does is hide in the mops and only comes out to eat . Now that they've fattened up it’s time to set up a pair and start picking eggs .

 

[OldFishKeeper]

I am new to the "Killifish Fix" mainly due to wanting to down-size the larger fish I have kept along with the larger tank sizes and larger water changes. Just getting old and lazy.

I have two pair of a. Funge and a trio of steel blue Gardneri that I am conditioning for breeding. These were purchased online and both sets are from mixed lines as I will try to minimize inbred siblings. The same goes for a trio of Makurdi that will be coming in a month or so, from a local breeder. These will come in a trade for Long Fin White Clouds I have been breeding (also from mixed lines).

Finally putting to use all the ten gallon tanks I have been storing for my retirement!

 

[GaryE]

In my view, Makurdi is the nicest colour form in the gardneri/nigerianus group. My daughter has a male that's well over 3 years old, the last of my old line of them.

 

[OldFishKeeper]

In my view, Makurdi is the nicest colour form in the gardneri/nigerianus group. My daughter has a male that's well over 3 years old, the last of my old line of them.

I agree 100%, @GaryE! A new Killi Friend of mine turned me on to these and they will become my favourite (or favorite as they say where I live ). Being a displaced Canadian, I use both spellings and frequently say "eh?) after making a statement .

I recently joined the American Killifish Association (AKA) because I wanted to learn more about these fish and the people who keep them.

Initially, it was because I wasn't able to communicate with my local Chapter. They only communicate with Facebook and I will never be associated with any Meta operation...especially after they insisted I send them a selfie and then learned their intent to target ads to all members.

The first thing I noticed about the AKA is the lack of member participation in their website. If you look at the most recent posts on AKA, you will see my frustration with how they do not seem to care about that.

Anyway, all of my efforts seem to be more "Jousting with Windmills" but I am pleased to be able to communicate with this Forum and hope to share my experiences.

 

[GaryE]

Honestly, my AKA days are done. I was a member for a number of years. I see signs of new growth in the group, but while I can get killie eggs from Europe with ease, my last 4 or 5 packages from AKA friends haven't made it to the Canadian border. I'm assuming the electronic customs declaration gets them tagged by the US before they even leave the country.

There used to be a lively cross border exchange of fish and eggs (back when there was a lively AKA), but that's been shut down. I think that makes the AKA more important than ever for US members, because the European groups, who are the ones going in to Africa for new species and new blood for old species can no longer easily send fish in to you guys. What you have, you have to treasure and conserve.

I'm now a KCF (France) member because even with the ocean between us, it's an easier border for fish and eggs than the crossing an hour south of me. We live in interesting times.

 

[gwand]

That is a sad story. I hope this a temporary blip.

 

[OldFishKeeper]

Honestly, my AKA days are done. I was a member for a number of years. I see signs of new growth in the group, but while I can get killie eggs from Europe with ease, my last 4 or 5 packages from AKA friends haven't made it to the Canadian border. I'm assuming the electronic customs declaration gets them tagged by the US before they even leave the country.

There used to be a lively cross border exchange of fish and eggs (back when there was a lively AKA), but that's been shut down. I think that makes the AKA more important than ever for US members, because the European groups, who are the ones going in to Africa for new species and new blood for old species can no longer easily send fish in to you guys. What you have, you have to treasure and conserve.

I'm now a KCF (France) member because even with the ocean between us, it's an easier border for fish and eggs than the crossing an hour south of me. We live in interesting times.

Interesting is one word for it...I call it extremely unfortunate.

The US AKA just sent me their most recent "Journal", in color and encased in a clear, plastic mailer. They appear to be concerned about losing membership but, wouldn't they be better off spending that time and money to secure the members they have and attracting new ones and dealing with the issues you detailed?

In my recent discussions with them, it became apparent to me that this group is run by volunteers who would prefer to keep things "as is" rather than work to maintain and improve membership. If that is the case, wouldn't they be better off to take some of the money they spend on Journals and hire some professional(s) who can solve this problem?

Maybe this issue would have been best dealt with in PM's but, after a fairly successful career in sales, my level of frustration does not allow for that. Maybe I have missed some points here but I believe I wasted the money for an annual membership. I do not understand their direction!

 

[Back in the fold]

The AKA is now in the process of redesigning the website . The forums are very underutilized but if you want a studied answer to a question that’s the place to go . I have found most AKA members to be , how can I put this delicately , stodgy and too serious . I like getting the Journal and the BNL is useful as well . I have no local chapter and live light years from the nearest one . The biggest benefit to AKA membership is the ability to find fish and access to people who make odd things available . One fellow member makes his own dry food and sells it and I would be lost without it . www.fishguysplace.com

 

[OldFishKeeper]

The AKA is now in the process of redesigning the website . The forums are very underutilized but if you want a studied answer to a question that’s the place to go . I have found most AKA members to be , how can I put this delicately , stodgy and too serious . I like getting the Journal and the BNL is useful as well . I have no local chapter and live light years from the nearest one . The biggest benefit to AKA membership is the ability to find fish and access to people who make odd things available . One fellow member makes his own dry food and sells it and I would be lost without it . www.fishguysplace.com

Could you tell me how you "find fish and access to people who make odd things available"?

 

[Back in the fold]

Could you tell me how you "find fish and access to people who make odd things available"?

The Fish and Egg Listing in the Business Newsletter is your starting point . I have also found fish on the members forum . The members list on the AKA website has every members email address and if you read something somewhere that interests you you can email the author and inquire about availability of fish . A guy has to get involved and network with people . The best thing I have found with my AKA membership is www.jehmco.com I didn't know about this place until I joined the AKA because they dont seem to advertise . They have things you just can’t find anywhere else and that’s not just killifish related items . Another thing I did was join The Wisconsin Area Killifish Organization ( WAKO ) . That’s the club closest to me and they have a website with a lot of informative articles on it . They send out a monthly email with things members have for sale and I got a grindal worm culture from a WAKO member to replace mine which dried out due to my neglect when my wife passed away earlier this year . The guy only charged me postage when other cultures I found online were quite expensive . It might seem that belonging to these groups doesn’t get you much but that has not been my experience . I like the AKA .

 

[OldFishKeeper]

The Fish and Egg Listing in the Business Newsletter is your starting point . I have also found fish on the members forum . The members list on the AKA website has every members email address and if you read something somewhere that interests you you can email the author and inquire about availability of fish . A guy has to get involved and network with people . The best thing I have found with my AKA membership is www.jehmco.com I didn't know about this place until I joined the AKA because they dont seem to advertise . They have things you just can’t find anywhere else and that’s not just killifish related items . Another thing I did was join The Wisconsin Area Killifish Organization ( WAKO ) . That’s the club closest to me and they have a website with a lot of informative articles on it . They send out a monthly email with things members have for sale and I got a grindal worm culture from a WAKO member to replace mine which dried out due to my neglect when my wife passed away earlier this year . The guy only charged me postage when other cultures I found online were quite expensive . It might seem that belonging to these groups doesn’t get you much but that has not been my experience . I like the AKA .

I will try out the fish and egg listings. I found Jehmco years ago. I have a linear air pump from them that has served me for many years.

As I have mentioned, I tried to join my local clubs but they only communicate through Facebook and I will have nothing to do with Facebook or Meta. I have to rely upon my local friends and contacts who are members.

I am sorry to hear of the loss of your wife...mine is a soul mate and keeps me going...