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Whilst looking for a new livebearer to try, I was fortunate enough to be given two pairs of F1 Poecilia caucana each about 2 cms long. They were young pairs that had been separated early, so that they were from a single sex group. One of the males was more eyecatching, as he had a nicer, bolder, black and yellow pattern on his dorsal fin.  Tank provision I put them in a 24" planted tank with my usual early "settling in" treat of some daphnia. It wasn't long before one of the males was performing a darting "dance" in front of one of the females and tupping her vent area! He was very attentive and persistent and it was very obvious that in 4 weeks or so there would be some fry appear. I always give the first brood the chance to survive with the parents unless I am warned beforehand. In this case I wasn't forewarned and I had read in books that the fry could be left with the adults. Not true for me! - it seems that fry are ignored when there are already broods existing in a "busy" tank. Isolate the female. When the second female was quite gravid I isolated her in a divided half tank with plenty of Java Fern crammed in. The divider had slightly larger holes drilled in so fry could easily escape to the other half. In due course she dropped 16 fry. I then removed her and gave her a few days rest, before returning her to the main tank, where the males' attentions would certainly be resumed!  I gave the fry some small powder food and Microworms. I lost a couple of weak looking fry which just lay on the bottom but the rest grew on well. By the time they were three weeks old I could clearly see the black and yellow markings on the dorsal beginning to appear. At this age they were about 7 mms in length. Next generation.... I kept them as a group and by the time they were just over 4 months old and a little over 2 cms long they had given birth to my next generation of fry. I only saw 3 fry in the tank and managed to move 2 out of harm's way. Surprise survivors... A few weeks later and I realised that 2 fry which I had overlooked, had grown on in the tank and had also been joined by 3 newly born fry. As they were fine, I saw no reason to intervene. At this point the fry were darted towards but I saw none taken. The newest fry were quite crafty and spent much of their time underneath a domed clump of Java Moss which was too dense for the adults to be bothered trying to enter. Even at an early stage, the black mark can just be seen on the dorsal fin of this fry which is still only around 4mm in length.  I have no doubt that some new fry were probably snatched early on, but after 5 or more days they seem to be virtually ignored. Perhaps as my numbers build up, more will survive and I can leave all new fry in with the adults? Especially as the males have a similar "drive" as the Black Chinned Livebearer and constantly pursue the females;- certainly to the extent of not chasing the fry and almost to the exclusion of food put in the tank! The dominant male also drives off at high speed any other males who he considers as rivals, which makes a very active, interesting tank! Summary An attractive little Livebearer which, in a well planted tank, will thrive and as the colony increase will ensure that there is always some activity to keep your attention! No complications to report, so if you have a spare small tank, give them a go! Copyright Text and photos; Ivor Hilton. |
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