Location code: Afan Essokie HLM 99-28

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

Spawning Method: Peat (or similar) spawning substrate

Sex ratio: Somewhat male heavy

Breeding difficulty: Average

Success: Average

Other Comments: For breeding I used an aquarium of 20x20x30 cm. It is tight covered and equipped with an internal filter. The water should have about 200 to 300 ìS (not more than 6° DGH) pH 6,5 and water temperature approximately 22 to 24°C. In case the tap water has higher values one can mix it with soft water like this from an osmose apparatus. Working with fiber peat moss is recommended and if using soft water the pH value will decrease. It is possible to work also with a top mop. But using fiber peat I had better success. Before breeding the females were kept separately and fed with heavy food. The breeding set exists of one male and two females. The fish will be brought into an optimal spawning mood with a result of water change of 1/3 and changing the fiber moss. So the pH- value will be lowered. After an other week a 1/3 of the water should be changed. It does not matter if the peat moss whirls up. A further week later the breeding pair and 2/3 of the water I remove from this aquarium. This water can be used for a new breeding set. The rest of the water and the peat moss with the eggs will be given into a dish. Then I pourr 2 liter soft water of approximately 100 ìs to the peat with the eggs. Several days later you can see the small fishes on the surface of the water. They will fed with vinegar eels and new hatched Artemia nauplii immediately. Dead food must be removed daily and a mouldy skin on the water surface, too. After 3 weeks it is recommended to pousr the fish with the water into a bigger aquarium. To prevent Oodinium it is useful to add tap water in the course of a week in small portions into this aquarium. Feeding sifted Cyclops nauplii and regularly changing of water is necessary for good growth. When the youngster are large enough one can install an interior filter.

Breeder: Rudolf Pohlmann, DKG-study group Chromaphyosemion