I have been lucky enough to find some of these, but am wondering if I can get any tips to succeed with them. I am keeping them in a planted tank with good filtration, moderately hard water and a temp of 21C.
Gary

Hi,

It seems you are doing a good job already. Your tank setup sounds pretty good. The longer you can keep them alive the better are your chances of breeding them. I would try regular mops top and bottom, first. I wish we could get some of these beauties in the USA but Oliver won't ship.

Sincerely,

Sandy

Hi Gary,

I got a few of my brichardis to survive. I can't believe it! It shows how tough they really are. I think the problem is that they are so small that they can't go long periods without feeding. Not that they are particularly sensitive. The ones that survived came in barely able to move. They were on the bottom of the container upside down and then they started to feeding. The whole time not not being able to right themselves. It took feeding them just a few brine shrimp at a time every few hours. After 5 days they started swimming correctly and at 7 days they laid some eggs! I would suggest soft water not hard and the eggs are fairly easy to hatch and raise.
Here's a picture of a male and female that survived. It has always been my favorite fish and having them again has only increased my appreciation of this little jewel. For those unfamiliar with this fish...these are young ones that are not fully developed in color and finnage yet. Hard to believe they get better looking.

Gary have you been doing okay with yours? I would love to exchange eggs to increase the gene pool.

Chuck

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Well, a huge storm and a tree down on my power line in August did my brichardis in. It was very hot, and I had just moved so everything was poorly set up in the fishroom. I spent years trying to get them, and this is frustrating. Best of luck with them - they are beautiful.

Gary,
Sorry to hear about the loss of your brichardi due to a power outage. Was it lack of aeration, too high temperature or what? One of the extra benefits of the way my system is set up is that the smaller tanks do not rely on power line electricity for water changing and I can readily introduce fresh water if needed by activating the battery operated timers. I have done that a few times when the power goes out. For the larger tanks a hose to the water line does the same thing but manually one tank at a time. I have saved some fish that way, I am sure. Obviously chlorine must be removed by filtration or by addituves.

Hi Gary,

Sorry to hear of your power troubles. It must have been particularly difficult since you had just made a move. Hopefully at some point in the very near future, I can get some eggs to you. They are producing eggs regularly and I am trying to build up a large school. My earlier experience with brichardi was a sad and frustrating one as I couldn't produce any females. I am hoping by breeding a lot, I will have an advantage in numbers. It will also give me an opportunity to experiment a little. I'm confident I will get them to you, hopefully with some direction on how to raise up females.

Take care.

BTW, I don't know if it maters to you, but I think it is correctly Poropanchax brichardi now. Too bad, I've always liked the name Congopanchax.

Dear Chuck,

I hope you have done will with. P. brichardi in building up a spawning group. Anytime near that you might have at least some eggs for sale?

Sincerely,

Sandy Binder