Buy Endlers and Least Killifish locally on Craigslist:
Blue Start Endlers fish have very pleasant appearance.
Energetic and bright colored males moves swiftly exploring entire aquarium.
Males always follow females trying to get females attention.
Competing for females attention is a never ending dance party for them :)
Endlers males compete even against their own mirror reflections.
Energetic and very persistent they are.
Endlers males stay close to the female most of the time.
Noticeably, all this dancing around happens without any physical body contacts.
Endlers are colorful peaceful livebearers fish in the same family with Guppy, Molly, Ploty and Sword fish.
Endlers prefer to stay in groups.
We have to step closer to the aquarium to see the Least Killifsh (Heterandria formosa).
Least Killifish is much less known and the smallest fish within the same Poeciliidae family as Endlers fish.
Less than a coin sized fish colored to match its natural environment.
Least Killifish males also are very competitive.
Though, instead of dancing around they physically attack opponents.
Least Killifish males explore every corner of the aquarium tracking competitors while keeping close eye on the female.
Least Killifish and Endlers have very different appearances, swimming styles and behaviors compared to each other.
I wonder how Least Killifish males would interact with Endlers males placed in one aquarium.
There is only one way to find it out.
I moved all fish out of my more than one year old sustaining cube aquarium.
Let it sit for two months to boost a population of scuds.
January 7th, 2025.
I pick 3 Least Killifish males and 3 Endlers males all of about the same size and age.
You can see Endlers males stay in one group even in the transportation container.
And the Least Killifish males stay each in separate corner.
Let's put them in the prepared cube aquarium for observations.
Remember, each of this males see new for them type of fish for the first time in their lives.
And it is a new aquarium for all of them too.
Everything is new for each of them!
The Endlers quickly gathered together in one group.
The Least Killifish males move on exploring the aquarium each on its own.
This one moves cautiously checking on Endlers.
No one is attacking - all seems to be safe for swimming by.
All the same behavior patterns so far for each type of fish.
The Endlers males look lost without females that they used to follow and to compete for.
Smaller sized Least Killifish males moves with easy next to Endlers.
The next day.
Let's watch how all the males will behave during feeding.
I give them a generous amount of Grindal worms this time.
Least Killifish males rush to grab delicious worms right away.
Yes, all 3 Least Killifish males are snacking on worms as they usually do.
Oh boys... all 3 Endlers males seem to be on a hunger strike now.
Or perhaps Endlers are politely allow smaller Least Killifish eat first...
I am really not sure what's going on with Endlers males at this moment.
It could be that they are not hungry - there are plenty of scuds for snacks available at any time.
This one... seems to be angry.
I don't think it's about the food.
The food is easy to get here and everywhere in this aquarium.
I think he is missing on females.
And again, the Endlers males stay in a group most of the time.
The next day I feed them with homemade fish food flakes as I usually do.
Except, this time I also give a very generous amount.
My Least Killifish always prefer live food (Grindal worms and small scuds).
They show at least some interest in flakes food here now.
The Endlers males...stay on the hunger strike.
Snails and scuds are already enjoying the food - nothing get wasted in my aquariums.
This Endlers male finally nibbled on tiny food flake.
And back to the group he goes.
Eventually all Endlers males start eating.
And also they keep staying in the group most of the time.
It's fascinating how differ behaviors of two species in the same family.
I kept all 6 males in this aquarium for a couple more days under observations.
They all keep behaving in the same ways.
Endlers males stay together while Least killifish keep roaming the aquarium each on its own.
The Endlers males certainly lost their cheerfulness without any females presented in the tank.
On the bright note, there was no confrontation or any fights between Endlers and Least Killifish.
And this is great! As it lays the base for the next experiments I've been planning for them 😊
I will keep you updated.
Have Fun and Happy Aquariums 😊
No comments:
Post a Comment