Parosphromenus Crossbreeding

1. Crossbreeding in Parosphromenus is generally possible since the genetic interrelations between the “species” are widely unknown.
2. Many forms are probably related on a subspecies- or semispecies-level, and here crossbreeding is highly probable. In nature, this is mainly prevented by exclusive ocurrence.
3. In aquaria, it is generally recommended to keep different “species” apart, especially since the distinction of females is often nearly impossible (at least for the aquarist).
4. The differentiation between the “species” is often executed rather carelessly, especially in the international trade and additionally in cases of hitherto undescribed forms. It is highly probable that there are some (or even many) crossbred fish existing in our aquarium stock.
5. But: There are clear cases of species differentiation, especially when structural properties are clearly to be identified in both sexes, one is between the two you mentioned: anjunganensis and deissneri. Both are easily to be identified.
6. The problem is with the latter. I doubt that the fish you are offered as to be “deissneri” really is deissneri. (Look for the description of this species in our species accounts to know why). Most fish offered in the trade under this name are misidentified. Therefore, the fish offerd to you is probably equally a round-tailed form of the harveyi-bintan-group. If it were real deissnerithat is endemic from Bangka, it would be clearly discernible by man (and fish) from anjunganensis at the first sight. But since it is probably a different form, it may be not.
7. Since anjunganensis is not belongig to the narrower harveyi-bintan-group, crossbreeding is not as probable as in other cases. But think of the unnatural closeness of the aquarium-situation; I would give no guarantee.
8.Conclusion: If the fish you are offered would be really anjunganensis and really deissneri, in a tank big enough would be hardly a risk of crossbreeding. But since the latter is probably a different form, there is. I should not keep them together.
9. It is generally very important to take this problem seriously. As long as we have no clear genetic data, we should be very careful with mixing different forms, even the same form from differnet locations.

I think even adding 12 more paros 500 liter it is far too big a tank to keep parosphromenus species, – they would do really well in much much less – and as you say the chance of any fry to survive is a lot bigger.
Chocolate gouramies and betta rutilans would certainly make it difficult for fry to survive.

In my opinion 500 liter is too big for parosphromenus, – if you have the opportunity to have large flocks of one species, – then a tank of 50 or 60 liter could do well also.
In nature I think parosphromenus males, though they are territorial, but the territory they occupy is really small and concentrated around a tiny place where they have found a suitable place to make a nest. The male will come out looking for females in a small area around this place.
The bigger the place the more difficult it becomes for the male to attact the females to this place he has found.
Feeding in such a big tank could become a problem as well, as the parosphromenus will have to be fast – and chocolate gouramies are very fast on food too 🙂 ..

well..

because of you people I setting yet another tank.. only for paros :woohoo:

My idea is to setup a tank 140x40x30 with divided into 3 with with cascade seperators so only one external filter can be used.

In this setup each chamber would have around 55L

or divided into 5 sections it would be around 33L/ chamber

Now if someone could help finding some nice shop with the fish that would sent it to Warsaw, Poland.. :whistle:

Hello,

I have also no problems in a 160l tank, but for breeding I would prefer a smaller one.

Your construction is intresting, but your overflow-system have one problem: the fry. They will be blown in the next tank and you have no control especially when there are different species inside. I wouldn´t use a kaskade I would use da normal tank with “Edelstahlgase oder Edelstahlgewebe”, Maschenweite im µ-Bereich (sorry I don´t know how to say that). That is like an static net which only allowes water to pass. Than it is also so much easier to construct.

Have fun while informing 😉

Bennie

PS: Maybe I will post a tutorial to build tanks by e.g. wood where it is much easier to create individual.