Phallocerus Caudimaculatus Or Blue Limias

[dwarfgourami]

Re-doing my plans for the big tank reshuffle once more.

Now I'm thinking of getting two types of livebearer. One will be heterandria formosa, or possibly neoheterandria elegans, if I can get hold of a breeder. These will go in a small species tank and not bother anyone (hopefully).

The other trio would either go in the Rio 240 with the main community (peaceful, things like platys, bristlenoses, pearl gouramis) or on their own/with one suitable species in a Rekord 60. Basically, I want to expand my experience of livebearers (have done the four common ones), with a view to eventually setting up a small breeding programme for something that needs breeding. But at the moment I'm only practising- don't want anything rare and precious to become extinct in my tanks!- so this lot don't need to be rare, just slightly unusual. I first thought of blue (black-bellied) limias, then of phallocerus caudimaculatus, also of girardinus metallicus- though they do grow a bit bigger by tbe looks of it. My water is hard and alkaline and I do weekly water changes. I did also think of ameca splendens, but they're a bit bigger than I was really planning for. Have ruled out endlers as everybody else seems to be doing them at the moment.

Any suggestions? Would you go for the plain heterandria first, or aim straight at the "special one"? And what medium-sized livebearer would you go for in the other tank?

 

[neon_platy]

personally Ameca Splendens are Butterfly Goodeids and I've always liked they're coloring...Although you're other ideas sound good too! I wanted to start with Ameca splendens, but ended up getting the super rare ones...if you wanna do something real different to me Ameca splendens would be a good stepping stone to some of the more rare fish...although your other ideas sound cool too


Is this the Phallocerus Caudimaculatus?? If it is, this one get's my vote!!

 

[dwarfgourami]

Yes I do like the butterfly goodeids, the only thing that puts them further down the list is that my local aquarium (Portsmouth) has a breeding programme of them already, so I feel I can go and look at them any time I like anyway.

That was a lovely photograph of the caudis. Though apparently they're not all as spectactular as those two.

Very hard to get a good quality picture of the limias, though there are lots of pics around. Apparently they're incredibly fast movers.

Oh dear, I'll just keep on chopping and changing until the day comes. Getting closer, my husband has finished decorating the living room, once the floorboard man has done his bit, we can move in the tank, then cycle it, then mature it with our own fish.

What did you reckon about the heterandrias/neoheterandrias? I am just really excited at the thought of breeding something tiny. I don't know why, but I have a thing about small fish.

 

[neon_platy]

I think I like the neoheterandria elegans

and here's the heterandria formosa

Actually after looking at both pictures they're both cool looking fish...hehehe then you probably like my idea about dwarf puffers that i saw at the store although from what i've read on here they might be a little advanced/fussy for me....and yeah I agree about the butterflys...there are no aquariums left open in Detroit since Belle Isle closed last year, and I really wanted to start with Ameca splendens as they are not super rare or extinct in the wild...


Also, just to add more since I'm bored here's pics I found of Girardinus metallicus

It's pretty cool too...


and the blue bellied limia

 

[Annastasia]

and here's the heterandria formosa

Most look like this though....at least, all mine do:

 

[neon_platy]

Hope you can make up your mind with all the pics...to me it's hard to pick one to vote for, for you...and I'm sure i'd do the same as you and keep thinking about it and changing my mind for weeks until I'm ready to actually put the fish in...good luck and let us know what you end up with