Macrostoma Questions

[Aus]

Has anyone got experience with keeping macrostoma?

I've only seen a single male with a few fry, and that was enough to make me want one. What a gloriously cranky face! And the colours are stunning.

I've looked them up for basic info, but I'd really like to hear from anyone who's kept them, for beginner's advice, pitfalls, preferences, etc.

 

[OldMan47]

I have never had a B. macrostoma but can give you one hint. I lost my B. simplex when I was a new breeder because the female would entice him to breed every time he spit fry. He ended up starving to death. The male and female should really be separated when the male is carrying fry so that he will not be induced to breed again until he has fully recovered. After all, he has not eaten the whole time he was carrying those eggs and fry.

 

[lloyd]

With a bit oif luck the fish hut in scotland might have some and the guy who runs it will certanly answer any questions you have. just google fish hut

 

[Fishball7]

Re simplex mouth brooder .

Mouth brooders can eat while carrying fry. Depends on the male.

Macs grow big. Expensive to get at first. Apparently everyone wants them but it seems few actually buy one cos it's at least 200 dollars per pair and that's cheap. So getting rid of fry may be a problem.

 

[BigTom]

Speak to Colin Dunlop (http/www.thefishhut.co.uk/), he's successfully bred these guys and regularly sells F1 at reasonable prices. I saw his adults and fry in the flesh and they're quite simply the most beautiful fish I've ever seen.

Also good reading over at SF -

http/www.seriouslyfish.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=2983&hl=macrostoma
http/www.seriouslyfish.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=4146&hl=macrostoma

 

[OldMan47]

Get real Fishball. If they routinely sell for huge dollars, you can easily sell off all of your surplus. If I had fish that routinely sold for $200 and wanted to be rid of a few dozen, I would advertise them for a mere $50 each. I bet the ad would only run for a very few days before I ran out of fish to sell. Most of my own fish sell for far less, but anything demanding that much would be a gold mine for me.