Congo Killies - PageSuite

6.0–6.5. The water temperature in the tank fluctuated
between 77 and 81°F (25–27°C). The fish
were fed Artemia nauplii and frozen food and also
enjoyed frequent feeds of live water fleas and Cyclops.
Mosquito larvae proved to be the ideal food
for getting the female to ripen with eggs.
First spawning
At the end of July the first spawning took place.
The red eggs were clearly visible on the ceiling of
the cave. I hadn’t noticed any courtship at all, as I
had been traveling a lot and had had little time to
observe the fish. The formerly dirty-gray female was
now resplendent in bright yellow. In brood-care
coloration the species-typical black cheek spot contrasted
boldly with the bright-yellow lower half of
the body. The dorsal fin and the rounded caudal fin
were now yellow as well. The base of the pectoral
fins was a splendid orange color in both the male
and the female in brood-care coloration.
Above: Female
Apistogramma
playayacu in
brood-care
coloration. A
fresh clutch
has just been
laid in the clay
pipe.
The larvae
continue to
bear their red
yolk sacs for
a number of
days.
AMAZONAS
81