Topic: afra/zebra interbreeding

[Stormbringer]

lovely fish good job with them 

[iwade4fish]

The seller says this group is rather unique, in that the sub-dom male does the holding for the females 80% of the time and the dominant male pretty much leaves him alone. Weird. Has anyone else experienced similar behavior. Also, any, and I mean ANY, advice on rearing and/or keeping fry is GREATLY appreciated. They are rather dashing, aren't they!?

[altaaffe]

Haven't seen anything similar to that.

As for rearing them, if they are anything like other mbuna - new fry released could well be munchies for other adults unless there are plenty of small hiding places or you take the holding fish out to a safe tank to spit the babies when they are ready.  I did this only once with Acei Ngara, then realised with numerous cracks a sufficient number survived from each brood in the main tank. 

As for feeding they were big enough once released from the parents that they fended for themsleves and ate from the same feeding as the parents.  But those raised in a fry tank were fed on a mix of crushed spirulina style flakes, peas, courgette, melon.

[iwade4fish]

Your experiance is greatly appreciated. Courgette, that is what us Americans call cucumber? I prefer zuchinni, and just ordered spirulina flake. Gonna try and raise these in a fry tank for retail sale.

[Stormbringer]

courgette is zuchini

[iwade4fish]

I stand corrected. Nice to know I wasn't screwing up feeding them something wrong. Any chance on the Crabro(bumblebee) croosing with the afras? Look dis-similar enough to where I think it won't pose a problem. Anyone else have an opinion?

[altaaffe]

If you are after breeding them for sale, I would have them in a species only tank to remove all the possibility of cross breeding.

[Katt]

If you are after breeding them for sale, I would have them in a species only tank to remove all the possibility of cross breeding.

agree.

[iwade4fish]

Done! They are now the sole residents of my 40show(high).Thank you all.

[iwade4fish]

Got two small clutches from the mom, and the sub-dom I think is a girl. Working on a wild-caught Ps. Saulosi group, they aren't easy to find.

[Katt]

Cool, post some picture`s if ya can.
And good luck on finding them.

[Gerry]

congrats on the fry and good luck hunting down some wilds 

[iwade4fish]

pics will b hard to do... the 6y/o ran off with the USB cord for the camera.
Got one wild male Saulosi last week but his swim bladder was damaged in transit and died three days later; seller offered partial credit on a future order .