Breeding Fact Sheet No. 12

Brachyraphis roseni. Bussing 1988

These fish were obtained during a club visit to Wholesale Tropicals in August 2003. These little more than fry were in a small tank marked up as a small rasbora. It did not take a lot of skill in identifying them as Brachyraphis roseni. Dave Nice of SLADAS immediately caught four and I had another four. When they were taken up to the counter for payment, Terry issued a few choice words to the effect 'that we had nicked his roseni which he was keeping to breed'. (All expletives have been deleted!) It did appear however that all eight fish were females. It was several months before I was able to get a male fish (having left the four fish in a 24 x 15 x 12inch tank more or less undisturbed). Then having got the male, I looked closely at the four 'females'. My mistake, I already had a male.

This one was growing well and had already had his 'wicked way' with each of the three females. After about three weeks, the females were looking quite gravid so two of them were placed in a separate tank that contained masses of java moss since it is well known that the adults are often cannibalistic. Most literature states that the fry are usually born during the night or in the early morning. This indeed was the case with both females. Fry were born overnight and the females were removed the next morning. The newly born fry are quite large and consume large quantities of newly hatched brine shrimp. Within a week, chopped tubifex worms and white worm are taken. As with all of my livebearers, I separate males and females as soon as they can be sexed. The fry grow reasonably fast. As ever, water changes are essential to remove waste products of the fry. This is a nice fish that deports well. John Smith of Mid Sussex A.S. gained Fourth place in the 2003 'Champion of Champions' show with one of this species. An extremely nice fish. Well-done John!

723