Species available this week from Wet Spot

[Ted L. Dutcher]

As posted on the Wet Spot Web Site:

Filament Licorice Gourami Parosphronemus fiamentosa 1.25″

Green Speckled Licorice Gourami Parosphronemus sintangensis WILD 1.25″

Ornate Licorice Gourami Parosphronemus ornaticauda WILD .5″ FEW

Red Spotted Pygmy Licorice Gourami Parosphronemus parvulus WILD .5″

Excuse their spelling and descriptions, this is labeling I believe the exporter uses.

[helene schoubye]

If you could get P.parvulus you should, – it is such a beatiful little fish. 🙂

[Ted L. Dutcher]

Thank you Helene… I am struggling with that decision every day. It shows everywhere I check, that they are difficult to breed. I was thinking of ordering 6 of them this coming week. Saving them from the distributer and the general aquarium trade is not a bad idea either. I would be able to pass them on later to a more experienced keepers if necessary.

I meant thank you for the encouragement!!

[helene schoubye]

First of all, – P. parvulus is one of the species which is not represented in great numbers, and for this reason it is always good to try. As you say, its quite certain that you will be able to provide better for them than where they are now, or where they may accidentially end up.
Second, – yes, they are often described as one of the more difficult. I dont find that actually, – breeding may be more difficult.
I find that they respond really well, in particular with regards to breeding, with a very low ph – 4, – 4.5. This is a challenge, untill you learn it 🙂 It certainly was for me. Untill I discovered this ‘Eichen extract’ (german word), which lowers the ph effectively.
Once there, I dont see any differences between parvulus and most other species. They seem to me to be ‘slower’ in development, it takes a much longer before they are fully grown as f.ex. linkei or nagyi. And I have not a lot of fry, but now and then a batch of 4-5 eggs develop.
If you want to try, take at least 6 or even more, – its not unlikely – as often with wildcaught fish, there may be some deaths, – but some are strong and will maybe thrive.
My parvulus are in 12 liters, and if you have a good deal of hornwood, or javamoss, – you can have 6 in there untill you know males from females, – they dont need a lot of space, 20 liter would probably be max size for 6. And provide good shelter, cave, leaves etc. And keep the water totally soft, and in a low ph, – then I am sure you will be able to keep parvulus as well as any other species. Its worth trying at least 🙂
I find the species extremely charming and interesting.

[Ryan P]

Helene,

What is the best way to introduce new paros to the tank who have been at the store in ph of 7 or so and then to put them in the tank with a ph of 4? Does the drop kill them? Or do you move thrm in stages over time from tank to tank, lowering ph each time?

[Ted L. Dutcher]

I use a very slow drip method.

Also I have 2 tanks waiting at a Ph of approx 6.8 I will introduce the fish to those tanks after the slow drip from pH 7.5 (Wet Spot keeps them at 7.5)

Then I slowly Lower the pH in each of the tanks with the Paros to get a pH of at least 5 if not lower.

My last order was for the Filamentosus and all 6 are well and in a pH of 5 for the time.

They seem to be quite adaptable as young fish, and as they mature, I will adjust for optimum breeding range water parameters. There is more than likely a broad range in their natural enviroment during rainy and dry seasons, that the Paros family has adapted to. Actually I was surprised at 100% survival from the dealers… Better than Apistos and other soft, acid water fish I have ordered in the past.

Just make slow changes and all should be ok!

[Stefanie Rick]

[quote=”helene” post=1692]with a very low ph – 4, – 4.5. This is a challenge, untill you learn it 🙂 It certainly was for me. Untill I discovered this ‘Eichen extract’ (german word), which lowers the ph effectively.[/quote]

From me another question concerning lowering of the pH by using “Eichenextrakt” (maybe it’s worth a new thread?): I made the experience that Eichenextrakt (it’s described as an extract from oak leaves) works very fine in lowering the pH – but at the same time increases the conductivity. The producer of the Eichenextrakt I use says that the increase of conductivity doesn’t come from an increase of the water hardness, e.g. from carbonate hardness. So I suppose the conductivity is increased by hydrochloric acid which is contained in the so called Eichenextrakt.
Have you made the same experience, do you ignore the increase of conductivity because it is not caused by carbonate? Or do you use another brand of Eichenextrakt, which doesn’t increase the conductivity at all?

[Ted L. Dutcher]

I would not use Hydrochloric Acid.

My neighbor is a chemist in the Nuclear business… He recommends Phosphoric Acid as also mentioned by Peter from his early days of adjusting pH.(it has no affect on the TDS) According to my neighbor, Phosphoric is a good organinc acid that will not harm fish, plants etc. as long as used with great caution ie: just a drop or 2. It can crash your pH if not not used by the drops (small drops) He has been very helpful in explaining ph and possible ways to adjust it safely. He brought some to me to try.. it works well.

As to using tannins, my technique of percolating peat moss is working wondefully. I keep the peatmoss in a large container soaked in RO water. After about 3 weeks “perc” it thru an old electric coffee maker thru the filter… mix it into RO water to get he darkness you want. The neighbor is really into, the Paros Project but unable to keep any fish due to time constraints so is helping me in anyway he can outside of the actual fish keeping.

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