Question on lifespan of Microglanis Iheringi

Sasquatch · Post by **Sasquatch** » 18 Nov 2007, 03:56

Hi,
A while ago we acquired a cute microglanis iheringi

...
At first he(she) was very fat, and we're wondering if we overfed him... (once per day, carnivore pellets, fish, artemia, calf's heart)
Now he's a little skiny... And so we are wondering if he's sick or something else or.. if he's getting old...Because since we've had him, he hasn't grown much...
So my question : what is the lifespan of this fish?

Post by **Shane** » 18 Nov 2007, 08:28

I have never seen any studies on this topic, but I would expect them to live over 5 years and would not be surprised if someone said they had an older specimen.
What you are describing sounds more like a female that was gravid and either absorbed her eggs or just released them unfertilized.
How are the rest of the fishes in the tank? Internal parasites are another possibility.
-Shane

Sasquatch · Post by **Sasquatch** » 18 Nov 2007, 14:11

Thank's a lot!
Actually my boyfriend was suspecting the same thing (gravid female)... But we don't know much about this species so better to ask a specialist!!

As for the other fishes, they are well (3 platies)... No problems on this side of the submarine life!

Again thank's!

grokefish · Post by **grokefish** » 18 Nov 2007, 15:24

I have two definite pairs of these fish and this happens quite regularly to the females I have had some of mine for many years I would guess that they are about 5 yrs old.
Once this pattern resulted in more microglanis, I say it like this because I never saw any eggs or baby fish I just found more microglanis when I stripped the tank down to move it than what I had put in there in the first place.
Matt
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