lmsmith Posted October 19, 2008 Report Share Posted October 19, 2008 So, I just discovered killies today. I've never seen one in real life, and until I say cichlid7's pics, I seem to have been totally oblivious. Is there someone who can give me a basic overview of killies? Where they come from? Where can you buy them from? How many types/species/colours are there? What they eat? Ideal tank size? pH and other water perimeters? Breeding - ease, where they lay their eggs (I guess they lay eggs?) etc Any other information that's pertinent to them? Pics are always good Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Olly Posted October 19, 2008 Report Share Posted October 19, 2008 I'm interested in killies too All I know is that they are bad jumpers Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TM Posted October 19, 2008 Report Share Posted October 19, 2008 Each of those questions would have a different answer depending on the species. Take a look at http://www.fnzas.org.nz/fishroom/killie ... 28518.html heaps of great info there. Are limited to what is in NZ but still some pretty cool types.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Barrie Posted October 19, 2008 Report Share Posted October 19, 2008 Where they come from? all over the world are different forms and specie Where can you buy them from? Not too many shops have Killis as not many shops know much about them and the choose to only hear the lesser things How many types/species/colours are there? Thousands.... and I do mean thousands What they eat? Prefer live foods as a lot of fish do but I feed mine mainly live white worm and frozen blood worm. Others feed flake but as I breed all the time, prefer livies and bloods Ideal tank size? I know of some that keep them in AG jars (overseas). I keep mine in 250 x 250 x 280high and 300 x 300 x 300 tanks. For my spare males, I keep them in 600 (L) x 300 x 300 pH and other water perimeters? They are pretty easy to be honest... I do prefer mine to be kept at 6.5 to 7 though Breeding - ease, where they lay their eggs (I guess they lay eggs?) etc Not too many are hard to breed (gesh, I can breed them so they must be easy) and will breed in mops and peat. In general mop spawners hatch in 10 to 21 days but peat spawners can take up to 26 weeks. Just think, you put in some dirt (boiled peat) and a couple of weeks later remove the peat and dry it. 3 to 6 months down the track you wet the peat and fry arrive 3 to 48 hours later Any other information that's pertinent to them? ask away Pics are always good as TM said, look at the links. Here in NZ we have about 30 specie but at the moment, Im contacting some old breeders to see if they have any old peat around as the eggs can often hatch well over 3 years after they have been laid Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Barrie Posted October 19, 2008 Report Share Posted October 19, 2008 Be warned. Killis can be very addictive.... :oops: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lmsmith Posted October 19, 2008 Author Report Share Posted October 19, 2008 Thanks TM and Barrie. How big are they and how long do they live? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted October 19, 2008 Report Share Posted October 19, 2008 I saw some at hutt pets today. They were the same type as the ones in the 2nd pic of this link. http://www.fnzas.org.nz/fishroom/some-p ... 34468.html Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
firefish Posted October 19, 2008 Report Share Posted October 19, 2008 I've seen some in wetpets (palmy) before and golden wonder killies in hutt pets 8) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cichlid7 Posted October 19, 2008 Report Share Posted October 19, 2008 I saw some at hutt pets today. They were the same type as the ones in the 2nd pic of this link. http://www.fnzas.org.nz/fishroom/some-p ... 34468.html They are Gardneri Albino. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cichlid7 Posted October 19, 2008 Report Share Posted October 19, 2008 Oh and don't forget to join the NZKA Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted October 19, 2008 Report Share Posted October 19, 2008 I knew they were albino something :roll: . Yeah they also have golden wonders at hutt pets. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Barrie Posted October 19, 2008 Report Share Posted October 19, 2008 How big are they The smallest I have is the clown Killi (P. Annulatus) which grows to about 25mm long and the largest I have is about 110mm long. The King Killi (Sjo)( I can get you the scientific name if you want but cant remember the spelling here at work) and how long do they live? Killis that we have here in NZ can very in life span. Some live from 3 to 18 moths and other to 3 or 4 years. In general, the more you feed the quicker they grow and breed but also dont live as long. Peat spawners are in general shorter lived as in the wild, the pools they live in dry up totally in summer and the dont breath air These are called annuals. They are prone to velvert and you should add salt to the water at a rate of 1teaspoon per 4 letres which helps in the prevention. I have had these peat spawners (Nothos) breeding in 4 weeks so I always have plenty of eggs ready to wet if I need them. Quite a few shops have the wrong idea about killis and think they are all short lived but I have a lot that are 18 months and older. There are huge verations in colour and shapes of different specie. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lmsmith Posted October 19, 2008 Author Report Share Posted October 19, 2008 Thanks so much for all the information guys - I might have to see if I can get some!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alanmin4304 Posted October 19, 2008 Report Share Posted October 19, 2008 The other way would be to join NZKA and get some eggs to hatch, as they can be easily sent through the mail. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jaide Posted October 23, 2008 Report Share Posted October 23, 2008 they are bad jumpers You can say that again :roll: I had one male who tried to leave the tank....twice. Both times he was discovered in time luckily! But if there's a gap in the tank lid - they find it and out the hop. Great fish though - the male always "attacked" me whenever I put him hand/arm into the tank - I'm sure he couldn't have mistaken me for food....but I'd certainly get a fright each time - little rascal. They're neat fish with great personalities Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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