Javascript Disabled Detected

You currently have javascript disabled. Several functions may not work. Please re-enable javascript to access full functionality.

Heterandria formosa - how prolific are they?

Started by Guest_RichardSFL_* , May 23 2011 01:57 PM

Reply to this topic

9 replies to this topic

#1 Guest_RichardSFL_*

Guests

Posted 23 May 2011 - 01:57 PM

I have always liked the look of them, but after my experience of dealing with over-population with tropical livebearers, I am leery of H. formosa. On here I see references to colonies in 2.5 and 5 gallon tanks. So I am wondering if their reproduction rate is low enough that over-population is not much of an issue.

Thanks.

#2 Guest_Drew_*

Guests

Posted 23 May 2011 - 03:40 PM

Due to their smaller size, they don't pop out as many young as the larger livebearers. I believe this is why people can keep them in smaller tanks. If it becomes an issue, keep them with other species such as Elassoma spp. or Lucania goodei. They seem to do a good job keeping the population down.

#3 Guest_RichardSFL_*

Guests

Posted 23 May 2011 - 06:16 PM

Thanks, Drew. I know eventually I will break down and give them a try. Once the appropriate tank becomes available a combo of formosa and goodei sounds nice.

#4 Guest_gzeiger_*

Guests

Posted 23 May 2011 - 10:43 PM

Although I encounter them in the wild in close association with Lucania goodei, Elassoma zonatum and especially Gambusia, I haven't had them breed in a tank that contained any of those. Maybe in a bigger tank with lots of plants and only a few fish? The males just aren't big enough to have a high survival rate in a community tank in my experience.

#5 Guest_EricaWieser_*

Guests

Posted 24 May 2011 - 12:22 AM

I never understood why a fish being prolific in the aquarium was a bad thing. It just means you're doing a good job. Think of the babies as proof that your fish are happy, go on aquabid, and sell them to other fish lovers. That's what I do; my live plants and fish offspring reproduce enough to pay for my whole aquarium setup. Gotta love it when your hobby pays for itself.

#6 Guest_RichardSFL_*

Guests

Posted 24 May 2011 - 11:38 AM

Thanks, all, for the further advice. The idea of Elassoma and goodei sounds like a good way to control population, but I find I am more and more interested in species tanks for natives. Not ruling out a community, just need to give it more thought.

I agree that having my fish reproduce is a good thing in terms of telling me the fish are happy and healthy. But selling the excess is not really doable right now with a full time job as well as being a free lance copywriter/editor, a shared responsibility for a 9 year old involved in three sports, a large garden, as well as a number of other involvements and activities. But you do make it sound tempting with the possibility of paying for my fish habit. In three years I will semi-retire, and it is actually something I have thought doing when that happens.

#7 Guest_schambers_*

Guests

Posted 24 May 2011 - 05:47 PM

I give away the excess, or use them as feeders if I must.

#8 Guest_RichardSFL_*

Guests

Posted 25 May 2011 - 11:30 AM

Thanks Susan, I did both with platies back when I had those. A fellow I work with has a predatory catfish that I helped fatten up but I prefered giving them to people who wanted to keep them. One of these days I am definitely going to have to keep formosas - probably sooner than later.

#9 Guest_lampeye_*

Guests

Posted 06 June 2011 - 08:56 AM

You're not going to have top worry about overpopulation. You're talking about a fish that pops out a baby every day for a week or two, and then takes a little rest. The largest females will sometimes get cannibalistic. In my decades of keeping formosas, I've found them to be at the "just right" end of things: Properly cared for, you'll get enough that your colony will slowly grow, but you'll never be buried alive in them. I wouldn't keep them with any kind of fry predator.

Photoperiod seems to be very important, IME.

#10 Guest_RichardSFL_*

Guests

Posted 06 June 2011 - 12:00 PM

You're not going to have top worry about overpopulation. You're talking about a fish that pops out a baby every day for a week or two, and then takes a little rest. The largest females will sometimes get cannibalistic. In my decades of keeping formosas, I've found them to be at the "just right" end of things: Properly cared for, you'll get enough that your colony will slowly grow, but you'll never be buried alive in them. I wouldn't keep them with any kind of fry predator.

Photoperiod seems to be very important, IME.

Thanks, lampeye - That was what I was hoping. Right now I am focusing on my ommatas, but formosas are still in the running for a new tank some time this summer. I assume, by the way, that you mean the longer the photoperiod, the more fry(?)as that simulates summer.