Neptun
Aphyosemion Buforta as it is easy to guess belongs to the family of Aphyosemion. These fish are not very widespread in our country. This is due to the fact that it is relatively difficult to get offspring from representatives of the genus Aphyosemion. Nevertheless, for a true lover of these beautiful fish there are no barriers that he would not overcome for the sake of preserving in his aquarium these beauties.
Bufort’s Aphiosemion is distributed in southwestern Nigeria where the rainy and dry seasons are distinct. It inhabits shallow water bodies that dry up completely during the rainy season. The water in these water bodies is soft and slightly acidic. Water temperature in the rainy season ranges from 18 to 22 ºC. And as drought approaches, its temperature rises to 24-26 ºC. This increase in temperature is a signal for aphiosemions that it is time to take care of the preservation of the species and spawning begins.
Bufort’s Aphiosemion has a rounded head, passing into an oblong spindle-shaped body, somewhat flattened at the caudal fin. Males of this species reach a length of 7 – 10 centimeters. females are somewhat shallower. color in males light brown with a predominance of reddish shades on the back and bluish whitish on the abdomen. Dorsal and anal fins have elongated first rays. The caudal fin is lyre-shaped.
To keep these fish do not need a large aquarium. as well as plants can be picked up to your liking. In captivity, where excluded period of drought fish live about three years. With good nutrition they are quite peaceful and can get along with other species with similar conditions of content and size. but with a lack of food they are prone to cannibalism. To spawn fish are ready to spawn at the age of six months. To do this, select fish over five centimeters in size.
Aphiosemion beauforta breeding
To obtain offspring will have to simulate the onset of drought. Any all-glass vessel with a capacity of three to ten liters is suitable for the role of spawning tank. The bottom of the vessel should be lined with a layer of peat. Water should be old, soft, slightly acidic.
The water temperature is gradually raised to 26-27 ºC after replanting the producers.
The spawning period lasts about a week. per day the female hatches from 20 to 40 light yellow eggs with a diameter of about one and a half centimeters. The male fertilizes the eggs and hits the substrate on the bottom with his tail. This way he shakes it so that settling it covered the eggs. After spawning producers should be removed. Peat with eggs deposited in it should be removed from the water slightly squeezed and wrapped in paper to place in a darkened cool place with good air access. The temperature should be about 19 – 21 º C. In this state substrate with eggs should be stored for 9-10 weeks. In this case, you should make sure that the peat does not dry out and in it did not get mold. Thus we imitate diapause in nature without which it is impossible to further development of eggs.
The peat is then removed from the paper and placed in a container with soft, preferably distilled water. The peat will initially float to the surface, but after a couple of minutes it will be saturated with water and sink to the bottom. The water temperature is gradually raised to 26-27 ºC. After a while, from the eggs will begin to appear quite large fry their size can vary from three to five millimeters.The peat is then removed from the paper and placed in a container with soft, preferably distilled water. The peat will initially float to the surface, but after a couple of minutes it will be saturated with water and sink to the bottom. The water temperature is gradually raised to 26-27 ºC. After a while, from the eggs will begin to appear quite large fry their size can vary from three to five millimeters.
Aphyosemion Buforta Feeding of fry
By this time, you should have already prepared food of suitable size. The best in this case will be nauplii cyclops or Artemia. However, it should be remembered that overfeeding fry should also not be as it can lead to their death.
Fry grow quickly and at the age of four weeks already reach the size of 2 centimeters. And by three months with a body length of five centimeters fish become sexually mature and ready to continue the family. It should be borne in mind that although they live in the aquarium up to three years avoiding drought killing them in nature, but spawn after a year of life, they can not practically. Therefore, once again remind that for spawning should be selected fish 3 – 5 months from birth and reached the size of 5 centimeters.
If you were able to get offspring from Bufort’s Aphiosemion, you have something to be proud of and may want to share your experience with the readers of our site.
