Nothobranchius furzeri

Turquoise killifish ( Nothobranchius furzeri )

The Turquoise killifish ( Nothobranchius furzeri ) is a Zahnkärpfling of the genus Nothobranchius.

History

W. R. Warne and fart were the first that found some copies of this Prachtgrundkärpflinge. In March 1968, and again later in December 1968, they collected some specimens. These were then by R.A. Described Jubb 1971. The species name is dedicated to the co-discoverer and U.S. aquarist Richard fart. 1973 succeeded Dr. Walter Foersch in Munich, from some eggs to raise a healthy couple Nothobranchius furzeri. It is believed that almost all held in aquarium specimens are descended from this couple.

It was only in 1999 specimens of this species were specialized on killifish hobbyists again found in nature, these data show a different color pattern. Between 2004 and 2007 more copies were found and propagated by killifish - lovers and scientists.

Locations:

Appearance

The males can be 6 cm long, females stay smaller. Since this species is very variable color, a general description for all site types is not possible.

The following description refers to the first discovered variant. The males have a turquoise body base coloring on the scales are edged with crimson, thereby resulting in a grid pattern like appearance. The gill covers are white above, downwards yellow. The anal fin is spotted red; some points together form a net-like pattern. The base of the dorsal fin is dark blue to dark turquoise and also has dark brown to dark red dots. At the top of these points form a stripe pattern. The caudal fin is bluish. On this surface are dark rust-red stripes. This is followed by a yellow, then a black hem.

The females are colored monochrome silvery beige.

Habitat

The first specimens were discovered in Gonarezhou National Park in Zimbabwe today. It is a non- populated region of people who only occasionally entered by park rangers or poachers. There is a sparse shrub vegetation.

The first locality were two water holes called Sazale and Malugwe that lay along the temporary water-bearing river Guluene. Other localities were in similar regions in Mozambique. The fish will stay in ponds and water channels, only temporarily lead the water. In adaptation to the short and unproductive rainy season in the region, through which the water holes dry out quickly, Nothobranchius furzeri is one of the season fishing.

The air temperature at the day 30-35 ° C, so that the water temperature in shallow ponds and water channels is correspondingly high. Since many wild animals, including elephants, drink from the pools, the water is heavily populated with zooplankton. As feed the fish is also insect larvae and approach food available. As more higher organisms live occasionally lungfish and frog larvae together with Nothobranchius furzeri.

Science

Nothobranchius furzeri until recently as the species having the lowest life expectancy and was replaced by the Grundelart Eviota sigillata in 2005. In the aquarium is easy to see that the animals with about 3 months to show significant signs of aging, at the age of 3 to 4 months they die. Therefore, the type has become an object of research. In various research groups in particular biological factors of prolonging life and the genetic dispositions of early aging are explored.

According to studies of Italian researchers to a substance in red wine, resveratrol, the life of these fish around 30 - 60 percent increase when it is added to the feed. In addition, the scientists from the Leibniz Institute for Age Research have already deciphered several million blocks of the genome. At the same time Browsing for genes that control the aging process. Crossing experiments with longer-lived subspecies of Prachtgrundkärpflings as well as in the laboratory experiment triggered changes in the genetic material (mutations ) are designed to beyond to track down the aging genes the researchers. 2012 were identified by crossing experiments on four chromosomes areas are where old -determining genes. However, the ranges are relatively large.

Research Group:

Reproduction and fighting dogs

The male impressed before the female and umschwimmt it. Is this ready to mate, so it follows to a spawning ground. For spawning, the female clings closely to the male, and both dig up the soil 1-2 inches deep, there is spawned. In the wild, the habitat dries out. The eggs remain moist but rest in the earth, there to develop the young fish. In the next rainy season they hatch then.

In the aquarium, you can fish in a layer of peat or sand spawn .. The peat is dried to residual moisture and then stored in a plastic bag. It is important that the Torfansatz not moldy or verpilzt. After up to 9 months you are the peat in the breeding tank where the fry hatch after a few hours. Since the parents have died at this point for a long time, may for the storage of peat, hatching and rearing the young fish go wrong. Therefore, the propagation of Nothobranchius furzeri is considered difficult.

When breeding is to make sure the fish to feed substantial, since these have little time to grow. Best achievements arise when feeding midge larvae.