Wondering About Rare Livebearers

[the_lock_man]

I am wondering about setting up a second tank as a breeding project for a rarer livebearer, and would appreciate any advice that could be offered.

I only have space for about a 45l tank, so I really only want a single species, with perhaps a couple of Amano Shrimp to help out with the housekeeping. My current tank has relatively hardwater, with a pH of 7.8, so it's reasonable to assume that this would replicated in a second tank.

The species I'm considering are Endler's (preferably a rarer colouring), Humpback Limia or Phalloceros Caudomaculatus - I believe these are relatively hardy fish, and reasonably easy to breed. Any advice on which of these would be the most suitable species?

Also, how easy is it to move on the juveniles? I've only seen Endler's in one shop locally, and never the other 2 mentioned - is this becauase they don't get offered them, or because they don't think they'd be able to sell them?

TIA!

 

[nmonks]

Limia nigrofasciata would work in 45 l, but the males do squabble in small tanks, so you'd be limited to a single male and two or more females. They get along well with cherry shrimps, both species breeding merrily when kept together.

I've not had any problems selling on juveniles. To some degree it depends on the relationship you have with your retailer. Limia nigrofasciata at least is fairly widely sold in England now, so provided you're selling a reasonably large group containing both males and females, these won't be difficult to sell on. I've not kept Phalloceros caudimaculatus, but I have seen it on sale a couple of times in the last year or so, so again, shouldn't be too difficult to rehome.

Retailers generally don't want fish they can't sell, and they're less likely to take fish from hobbyists they don't know compared to ones who visit them regularly. Small pet shops that trade mostly in guppies and goldfish probably won't want oddball livebearers, but retailers who cater to the serious hobbyists, like Wildwoods for example, or BAS in Bolton, should be a good deal more accommodating. I mention those two shops because both of them regularly stock oddball fish you won't see anywhere else.

Fish clubs are an alternative route for selling and obtaining rarer livebearers, but there never seem to be any such auctions near where I live so I can't say anything useful about the British fish club scene. I've been to several fish auctions in the US though, and those ones at least were fun and good value.

Cheers, Neale

 

[OldMan47]

Endlers are really not at all rare in the hobby. They are really some of the more common fish, although the LFS will seldom carry them. If you want rarer but easy care fish have a look at the group called goodeids. I have several single species tanks of them and each one is less than 80 litres in size. If you stay with the smaller fish among them, you should find your small tank is up to the challenge. How about some nice Characodon lateralis or similar relatively small fish for a breeding colony in your little tank?

 

[the_lock_man]

Thank you both for your input.

OM, I take your point about the rarity (or otherwise) of Endlers. I was taking the view that since most LFSs don't stock them, they are rare in that sense.

 

[OldMan47]

They are as rare as hen's teeth at the LFS but are really quite easy to find for a hobbyist willing to bid at a local club auction. Mine often go for next to nothing at a club auction although I can provide evidence that my own endlers are traceable back to specific wild collections. It is a fact of life that endlers, the wild type, are quite easy to find in any location that livebearer breeders exist. My own club and many nearby ones are only too aware that I exist as a livebearer breeder and they will pay almost nothing for my endlers. On the other hand, I get a decent price for pet shop quality mollies and guppies.

 

[the_lock_man]

There ya go then! Sell the endlers to the pet shops

 

[OldMan47]

The reason that pet shops don't carry endlers is simple. It is not that they could not get any, it is because they can't make any money selling them. I once thought that endlers were worth something as rare fish and bought a few on line. When I went out to sell my surplus I found that my best LFS had tried some in the past and they simply did not sell. The only market I have seen for endlers is really for the guppy/endler hybrids called tiger endlers. They seem to do well at most local auctions. I have sold some of my own wilds at a nice price when the right person showed up and really wanted them, but more often they go for next to nothing.

 

[keimak]

Why don't you try halfbeaks?

 

[the_lock_man]

Why don't you try halfbeaks?

I did consider them, but it seemed that they needed a bigger tank than I had room for. As it goes, we had a bit more of a think, put the new tank in a different position, which meant it had to be smaller than I'd originally thought. We now have a 34l, with some Limia Tridens, and currently have a single survivor from the first drop, and am awaiting the second drop any time now.

 

[OldMan47]

Have you come to any conclusions on what to stock since you first posted? I have never had any tank empty that long in my own home.

 

[the_lock_man]

Have you come to any conclusions on what to stock since you first posted? I have never had any tank empty that long in my own home.

Yes, went with Limia Tridens and Giradinus Falcatus, although 2 of the G. Falcatus died within a week or two.