Heterandria Formosa

[dwarfgourami]

These are usually said to be easy-going, but one site I saw recently described them as fin-nippers. What do you reckon? Would they be nice enough to live with my corys? Smallish tank, planted, lots of hiding places. And can they cope with current at all?

 

[Darkmoon Bettas]

It's possible the "fin-nipper" review showed up due to an overlap of common names? Het. formosa are often called "mosquito fish" but so are up to half a dozen other species, including the notoriously agressive gambusia affinis.

Het formosa are very, very peaceful, in fact SHY--mine still dart away to hide when I go to flip the tank lights or feed them. They're housed with dwarf cories roughly as tiny as they are, and have never made an agressive move towards them. They're the most peaceful, timid livebearers I've ever worked with--they make guppies look like cichlids in personality!

 

[dwarfgourami]

Thanks, that's good to know.

 

[helterskelter]

I've keppent and breed many 100's of the little formosa and their not a problem at all, like Darkmoon Bettas said G.affinis is also called the mosquito fish and H. formosa are also called the least mosquito fish.

These fish are also very different in the breeding mannor to other livebearers as in that the female will produse the odd fry every few days, where most livebeares drop all their fry in 1 go.

Helter

 

[dwarfgourami]

I've keppent and breed many 100's of the little formosa and their not a problem at all, like Darkmoon Bettas said G.affinis is also called the mosquito fish and H. formosa are also called the least mosquito fish.

These fish are also very different in the breeding mannor to other livebearers as in that the female will produse the odd fry every few days, where most livebeares drop all their fry in 1 go.

Helter

Thanks, I was surprised to see this description of them as fin-nippers as it didn't seem to tally with anything I thought I knew, but I think Darkmoon's explanation is probably right, that the author had got them mixed up with the gambusia, which of course are notorious nippers.

Superfetation also seems to be what my portholes do (though not what the Baensch atlas claims they do)- every so often I find a couple of new fry in the tank. I find this method a lot more relaxing than suddenly being saddled with 50 babies!

 

[helterskelter]

You got the Porthole!!!!

I got a friend in southampton looking for them, i last had them about 10 years ago.

Do have any spair?

 

[dwarfgourami]

You got the Porthole!!!!

I got a friend in southampton looking for them, i last had them about 10 years ago.

Do have any spair?

Certainly, certainly, your friend is welcome. I've just been thinking that my tank could do with thinning out- indeed that was the main reason I wanted to go to Basingstoke. This is assuming you mean the poeciliopsis gracilis, not the porthole molly.

 

[helterskelter]

i think quite a few people may be looking for poeciliopsis gracilis. loverly fish