Parosphromenus Crossbreeding

[Anonymous]

Anyone here has any information, experience, knowledge on crossbreding between parosphromenus anjunganensis and deissneri?

I have an opportunity to order few anjunganensis but since the breeding is the main goal here I have concerns regarding keeping them in one tank.

Is crossbreeding possible?

[Peter Finke]

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.

[Vlad]

My setup is 500L tank housing 20 chocolate gouramis, 6 parosphromenus (I was told not deissneri) 10 loricaria/strurisoma and large, unknown amount of RC shrims.

Breeding takes place (hopefully in foreseeablefuture) in 10l tank as I don’t belive it will possible for young to survive.

I was planning to add 15 anjunganensis and a pair of betta rutilans. personally I doubt possibility of successful breeding in such a large tank.

Any coments on the will be much appreciated

[helene schoubye]

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 🙂 ..

[Vlad]

I’m well aware that the perfect conditions would be to setup a tank for each species but unfortunately I don’t have space to do so (apartment) 🙁

I already had a large plantedtank set for some time. So it was only sensible choice.

What it does provide are rock solid sustainable conditions for the delicate fish that would be considerably harder to maintain in the smaller tanks.

As mentioned before – I do have separate breeding tanks.

From my observations it is worth noting that the behaviour of the parosphromenus in 10l, 100l, and 500l tank are very different.
For the first time they are not secluded and do not remain hidden.

Feeding so far seems to go well and they have no trouble competing for food with gouramis.

[Vlad]

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:

[helene schoubye]

That is a very interesting construction 🙂 …
I am really curious as to the specifics of how it is going to work ? Where will you lead the water which accumulates in the lowest tank ? Or circulate it . ?

Oh .. I see, you will have one external filter on it, – taking in in the lower tank, and out in the upper ??

[Benjamin Wilden]

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.

[Author]

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