kokopu id please

[nativelover]

i am just wanting to see if anyone can identify my kokopu. As i am unsure how to load them could i send them to someone please.

thanks so much

[Stella]

email away

(I think my address is attached to this thing)

[nativelover]

email has bein sent thank you so much

[Stella]

Absolutely, unquestionably banded kokopu :bounce:

I could be cheeky and say 'note the bands', but all kokopu of that size have vertical yellowish stripes, the trick is knowing what to look for.

Banded kokopu: the stripes fade out top and bottom.

Giant kokopu: the stripes have a definite 'edge' between the strip and the body colour all the way around.

Shortjaw kokopu: the stripes have no definite edge anywhere.

OK, so banded-specific info:

This is the best kokopu for the aquarium as they don't get as big as giants, are not as habitat-specific as shortjaws, and not as threatened as either of them. They will grow to 20-25cm and become really stocky - need a big tank. When they get to 2 years old they may start having massive fights. This tears shreds off their sides but doesn't cause serious damage (usually), you just have to be careful that they can escape each other (lots of hiding places) and have plenty of room. You will find as they get bigger that they hide a lot during the day and come out at night.

They don't like much current.

They do like caves to lurk in, and patrolling near the surface.

Natural habitat: very slow tannined streams, up to 2m wide, with lots of bank undercuts, overhanging vegetation and wood or rocks to hide under. They tend to lurk in pools, patrol under vegetation and feed on invertebrates that fall in.

That cray looks a little big for the size of the fish. Watch carefully for any signs of him trying to stalk or threaten the fish, or causing any fin or nose injuries. The fish are also quite at risk from crays when hiding during the day. A lot depends on the personality of the cray and the size of the aquarium.

:bounce: :bounce: :bounce:

[nativelover]

cool thank you so much once i get him a couple of friends i want to move them in to a species tank as i had three in a big tank before but all they did was hide so have moved them in with the inanga and they have changed so much.

[Stella]

Well, partly their behaviour does change a lot as they grow, and he is still quite little, but also the behaviour of the inanga change affect things - possibly like a dither fish. Though inanga are best in a school, and the non-schooling behaviour of the kokopu can break that up.

If they are fed during they day they can become more active then, but that depends on when you are around. Most natives are nocturnal.

Just remember to think of each kokopu you get as a fish that is 25cm long, 5cm deep and 5cm wide, not a 6cm skinny fish. Fed right, they will be 10cm long and really chunky in a year. And they will start to fight. They are solitary fish in the wild, or have many fin scars if found in high densities.

With a fish like that it can be good to plan the tank as a long term project. Short-lived inanga or smelt (~3 years) can be useful to pad out a large empty tank while the kokopu grow. The inanga will die off as the kokopu get to a good size to need the tank to themselves. Kokopu can learn to deal with each other if they grow up together, but the fighting will happen and can get messy.

(I had five 2 year old kokopu together and it was carnage! The banded was by far the worst perpetrator.)

[nativelover]

thanks for all the help how long do bandeds live for ?

[Stella]

no idea. Possibly to ten years, maybe more.

answer>

This paper looked into the otoliths of banded kokopu:

http://www.informaworld.com/smpp/conten ... a920503805

(I can email you a .pdf if you can't access it)

Otoliths are their ear bones, like thin flat disks, all fish have a pair. They grow concentrically and show growth rings like trees. Really useful little things!

Anyway, in this paper the oldest was 9, but most were age 6 or younger. (And it is only one paper, based on fish in two streams in the South Island.)

But well-looked after animals in captivity can usually live longer.

answer>

:lol:

[preacher]

So can we see the pictures... HINT HINT!

P.

[nativelover]

cool thanks stella

[Stella]

Shall I put them up, Nativelover?

Though learning how to do it yourself is useful I use photobucket to store mine, then copy the 'IMG code' below the pic and paste it into a message here and bingo!

[nativelover]

haha it sounds so easy but i have failed several times soo they might wait a while to see them but you can load them if you wish :bounce: :bounce: :bounce:

[Stella]

bingo

[Stella]

Ok, second pic, I can see letters in the stripes: XS'AYI

hmm, maybe I need to get out more....

[nativelover]

thank you stella

[preacher]

Cool

One day I will manage to get a small glass tank so I can catch one of mine and actually get a decent look at it lol (I suspect my wife would not be impressed if I put it in the glass kettle bowl just so I could take a peek).

P.