You are bidding on 15+ hand-picked fertilized eggs of amazing killifish - Aphyosemion australe «Port-Gentil BSWG 1997-24». The fish originates from the vicinity of Port-Gentil (Mandji), Cap Estérias Department, Estuaire Province, Akanda National Park, Gabon. The original specimens have been collected by T. Blum, P. Sewer, H. Weder and R. Gluggenbuehl in July and August 1997.
Breeding is relatively easy, employing a spawning method known amongst hobbyists as «egg scattering». There exists several different methods of spawning it, and much is down to personal preference. A pair can easily be spawned in a tank as small as 12" x 8" x 8". It's often recommended that it should be spawned in trios, but brood sizes tend to be lower when it's bred this way. This is perhaps due to the fish that is not involved in the spawning activity eating some of the eggs.
Many breeders do not use filtration in killi breeding setups but the addition of a small, air-driven sponge filter is useful to prevent stagnation. The water should be soft and acidic with a pH of 6.0 - 6.5 (although there are instances of this species being bred in water of up to pH 8.0), and a temperature of 21°C - 24°C. Peat filtration is very useful, and also keeping the tank unlit.
The fish should be conditioned on a varied diet of live and frozen foods. Many top breeders recommend keeping the sexes apart in separate conditioning tanks and selecting the best looking male and plumpest female before placing them in the spawning tank. This method allows females to recover between spawnings. Eggs will be deposited either in the substrate or in clumps of vegetation in nature, and the spawning medium can therefore either be a layer of peat moss on the base of the tank, clumps of fine-leaved plants such as java moss or spawning mops. If you're not using peat moss, a bare-bottomed setup is best, for both ease of maintenance and egg collection.
If water conditions are good and the fish are well conditioned, spawning should present no problems. The eggs can be left in the aquarium to hatch with the parents but some may be eaten. If you want to raise a good-sized group, the eggs should be removed. 10 - 20 eggs are deposited daily for around 2 weeks and these should be removed gently as they are noticed. Each pair should only be allowed to spawn for a week or so before being returned to the conditioning tanks, as the spawning process is hard on the fish (particularly the female) and they can become fatigued and weak if left for too long.
Once removed the eggs can be incubated either in water or by placing them on a damp layer of peat moss in a small container (margarine tubs are ideal). In our experience less eggs tend to fungus using the latter method. Whichever you choose, always remove any fungussed eggs as you notice them to prevent the infection spreading to others.
If incubating in water the eggs can be transferred to a small aquarium containing water from the spawning tank to a depth of 1-2 inches to which has been added 1-3 drops of methylene blue, depending on volume. This container should be kept under darkness (the eggs are very sensitive to light) and checked daily for fungussed eggs, which can be easily removed using a pipette. They will hatch in 10 - 20 days depending on temperature.
If incubating on peat moss place the container in a warm, dark place and simply leave it for 18 days, after which the eggs will be ready to hatch. If you are spawning several species or multiple broods it is a good idea to label each container with the date, hatching date, species and number of eggs to prevent any disasters. Hatching can usually be induced by simply placing the eggs in the raising aquarium after 18 days, as the wetting of the eggs generally stimulates hatching. If this fails, blowing gently into the water through a straw or piece of airline can trigger hatching.
The fry are tiny and initial food should be infusoria. If using the peat moss incubation method, the raising tank can be 'seeded' a few days prior to hatching by adding a couple of drops of liquifry or green water. Otherwise add small amounts as required. After 2 days they can be fed brine shrimp nauplii or microworm with the introduction of larger and frozen varieties after 2 weeks or so. The water must initially be kept very shallow but the level can be raised as the fry grow.
Extreme care must be taken regarding water quality in the raising tank as the fry are very susceptible to velvet disease. They should be fed twice a day with small water changes every 2 - 3 days for the best growth.
Species Summary:
| Scientific Name: | Aphyosemion australe (Rachow, 1921) |
| Population Code: | Port-Gentil BSWG 1997-24 |
| Collectors: | T. Blum, P. Sewer, H. Weder and R. Gluggenbuehl in July and August 1997 |
| Location: | The vicinity of Port-Gentil (Mandji), Cap Estérias Department, Estuaire Province, Akanda National Park, Gabon |
| Subgenus: | Mesoaphyosemion |
| Species Complex: | Calliurum Group |
| Subfamily: | Nothobranchiinae |
| Family: | Nothobranchiidae |
| Disposition: | Active, Peaceful |
| Total Length: | 50 - 60 mm |
| Spawning Method: | Egg Scatterer |
| Breeding Proportion: | 1M : 1F / 2F |
| Breeding Difficulty: | Less Demanding |
| Incubation Period: | 10 - 15 Days at 22°C - 23°C (water incubation) and 15 - 20 Days at 22°C - 23°C (semi-dry peat moss incubation) |
| Fry Size: | Small (require Infusoria as first food) |
| Sexual Maturity: | 6 - 8 Months |
| Life Span: | up to 3 years (depends on food and keeping conditions) |
| Filtration: | Moderate |
| Water Changes: | 1/3 Biweekly |
| General Hardness: | 5 - 12 dGH |
| pH: | 5.5 - 6.5 |
| Temperatrure Range: | 21°C - 24°C |
| Lighting: | Moderate Light |
| Diet: | Live and Frozen Food |
| Keeping Difficulty: | Less Demanding |
The eggs are posted in a peat moss enclosed in a plastic bag which is placed in a padded bubble envelope. Unfortunately I can't guarantee the hatch rate, sex ratio, etc. The storage conditions during transportation is out of my control. Please make sure before bidding that the temperature is not too cold at your area. Important: I don't refund money or re-send another pack of eggs if the package is lost in the post, seized by customs of your country, the eggs are dissolved in peat moss for whatever reason, or you did something wrong and couldn't manage to hatch the fry. Ordering eggs from me you completely agree with all my statements. Please check the eggs on arrival so that if they dissolve later due to wrong incubation conditions or any other reason, you don't tell me that there were no eggs. It's not my responsibility, you deal with mother nature! Please read appropriate literature, study various Internet sources dedicated to killifishes before ordering the eggs. Apart from all other things I am a very busy person and I can not physically give instructions to everyone on how to hatch, keep and breed killifishes. I hope on your understanding. Thanks for looking, happy bidding and enjoy your hobby!
The eggs are sent from Glasgow (Scotland). All prices are listed in British Pounds (GBP). Delivery within the UK is 3.00 GBP, Europe - 7.00 GBP, other countries - 8.00 GBP. Thanks for looking, happy bidding and enjoy your hobby!
