Water conditions: Very soft and acidic, 20-23^oC

Spawning Method: Spawning Mops

Sex ratio: Roughly equal

Breeding difficulty: Very easy

Success: Very successful

Other Comments: Trio bought at Manchester auction Mch 02.Kept in 16x8x8 tank with peat bottom & clump of java moss.No artificial light or direct sunlight.Ph between 6.5 & 5.0[lower seems better] & water very soft[below 50ms].Rain water used.Temp 70f or a little below.Initially fish were quite timid & and no eggs seen.Rainwater with lower Ph added & eggs collected as follows, w/e 20/4-11,sub weeks-24,15,10,9,62,23,n/c,25 & 29 as at w/e 4/7.The 62 collected on 26/5 coincided with thundery weather.Eggs placed on very wet peat in air tight tubs.At 75f eggs ready for hatching after 20 days.Place into water from parents tank cooled to 66f & float container in tank bringing temp to about 70f. Feed with newly hatched brine shrimps.Very few eggs fungus & nearly all eggs hatch into viable fry.Parents fed mostly on frozen blood worm & brine shrimp with occasional live mosquito lava & have become very tame. First young fish sexed out by early Sept & taken to Weybridge auction.

Breeder: Bob Merritt 371.08, Weston-S-Mare (1 years experience with this species)

Location code: GJS 00-3 Massika

Water conditions: Moderately soft and acidic, 20-23^oC

Spawning Method: Long term (fry appear with adults)

Sex ratio: Roughly equal

Breeding difficulty: Average

Success: Very successful

Breeder: Peter V., Belgium (14 years experience with this species)

Location code: BSWG 97-22 Ekembele

Water conditions: Very soft and acidic, 16-19^oC

Spawning Method: Spawning Mops

Sex ratio: Roughly equal

Breeding difficulty: Very easy

Success: Very successful

Other Comments: Further observation to report dated 6/10/2002. Spawning set-up the same but with floating Bladder-wort as well as java moss as egg collecters. Preference seen in laying near top part of tank as of 34 eggs collected week ending 22/10, 32 were in floating Bladder-wort.

Breeder: Bob Merritt , W-S-M. Som. UK (3 years experience with this species)

Water conditions: Neutral, 20-23^oC

Spawning Method: Long term (fry appear with adults)

Breeding problems: Poor egg production

Breeding difficulty: Difficult

Success: Very unsuccessful

Other Comments: I have experienced enormous difficulty with these fish. They are very easy to keep, yet seem to be very poor egg layers.

Breeder: (1 years experience with this species)

Water conditions: Moderately soft and acidic, 20-23^oC

Spawning Method: Long term (fry appear with adults)

Breeding problems: Poor egg production

Breeding difficulty: Average

Success: Very unsuccessful

Other Comments: Whilst easy to maintain the fish, I've experienced great difficulty in obtaining any meaningful spawning from these fish. Only very occasional single eggs have been induced using mops, and no greater success has been obtained by long-term maintenance in densely planted tanks. The one thing which did induce a brief spawning activity was a freak thunderstorm lasting no more than one hour, which resulted in collection of four eggs. The water temperature was relatively cool at 17C, and subsequent storms have not induced any similar spawning but I have noticed that the water temperature has been higher at 19/20C during these later storms. Perhaps a combination of very low pressure and low temperatures is required to get meaningful results. I'd appreciate anyone experiencing success with this species to please share the secret. I'd have to rate this fish as "difficult" to breed, whilst easy to maintain.

Breeder: Ian Allcroft BKA 157-06, Harrogate, North Yorkshire (2 years experience with this species)