Growing Out Wilds

[Second Hand Pat]

As many of you know I have kept wilds the better part of three years now and want to showcase how some of my wilds have changed since I have had them. Many of my wilds were acquired as young sub-adults in the 4 to 5 inch range. While most folks like to buy their wilds as adults I prefer to grow them out a bit and feel they may adapt better to captive life and hopefully breed for me as adults.

When I get a sub-adult my best guess is they are from a spawn from the prior wet season so best guess the fish are between six months to a year old. For simplify I am going to go with a year.

[Second Hand Pat]

For up is my breeding female which has paired with my Trombeta male. This fish is from Mark's shipment from Hugo so this fish arrived December 2011

Picture from early 2012.

http://i925.photobucket.com/albums/ad95/Second_Hand_Pat/Cuipeua%20Adult/P1010081.jpg (http://s925.photobucket.com/user/Second_Hand_Pat/media/Cuipeua%20Adult/P1010081.jpg.html)

This is from tonight. This fish has grown the most in the last six to eight months. She is the largest female and one of the larger Cuipeua in my group. Best guess this fish is in her third year.
http://i925.photobucket.com/albums/ad95/Second_Hand_Pat/DSC_4549_zpsbfe104e8.jpg (http://s925.photobucket.com/user/Second_Hand_Pat/media/DSC_4549_zpsbfe104e8.jpg.html)

[Kirbs]

That fish is absolutely stunning! Nice job!

[Second Hand Pat]

That fish is absolutely stunning! Nice job!

Thanks Kirbs, I love this fish and she has meet all my expectations. If I can get some babies from her that will be icing on the cake.

[Second Hand Pat]

Another fish which has make outstanding progress is this Pacoval which I got from Mark in Feb 2012. No only has it colored up but has grown quite a bit and is still not an adult yet.

From Feb 2013
http://i925.photobucket.com/albums/ad95/Second_Hand_Pat/Marks%20Pictures/DSC_1743_zps94ebdb50.jpg

From last night.
http://i925.photobucket.com/albums/ad95/Second_Hand_Pat/DSC_4546_zps6c976254.jpg (http://s925.photobucket.com/user/Second_Hand_Pat/media/DSC_4546_zps6c976254.jpg.html)

[Discus-n00b]

Outstanding Pat! Your collection is very impressive. And they only get better with time! Glad you are showing this, this is why you buy wilds for potential rather than what they look like on the surface when they first arrive. This is also why I take pictures of every fish I can soon after it arrives, the change can be shocking sometimes.

[Second Hand Pat]

Thanks Matt and yes, you are right. I can think of no better way to show the how the potential progresses over time. I also take pictures of all my fish shortly after receiving them and on a regular basis. It also helps to keep track on the age of the fish.

[dirtyplants]

I have four greens, and they seem to be growing, I have no clue as to how they will color up but they always surprise me. I am totally fascinated with their behavior, intelligent, and extremely curious. They are different from Doms. It will be interesting to see these guys in 4 months. For now they remain in QT as they adjust, I hope all will turn out nicely like Pats.

[joanstone]

I didn't realize how much they really developed and changed. Thanks for sharing these photos, stunning and impressive as always.

[Second Hand Pat]

I have four greens, and they seem to be growing, I have no clue as to how they will color up but they always surprise me. I am totally fascinated with their behavior, intelligent, and extremely curious. They are different from Doms. It will be interesting to see these guys in 4 months. For now they remain in QT as they adjust, I hope all will turn out nicely like Pats.

Coree, it takes about a year for wilds to color up so enjoy the ride. Also I think yours are a different type of green from mine.

[Second Hand Pat]

I didn't realize how much they really developed and changed. Thanks for sharing these photos, stunning and impressive as always.

Quite striking isn't it Joan? and wonderful. :D I will showcase one of the heckels tonight.

[joanstone]

It sure is, looking forward to the heckels.

[Nick Klimkowski]

Pat they are gorgeous! It is truly amazing to see a fish blossom into its full potential under the correct care.

[musicmarn1]

Beautiful and can't wait to see more. This is great for those of us starting out with wilds and gives us a peek as to how they might change if we do our husbandry due diligence :o. I'm certainly looking forward to seeing how my 4 greens change and develop also and this gives me a little insight to what changes I should be looking for.

[OC Discus]

Nice thin lines on the female!

[eranio]

Gorgeous fish! How much wild do you have pat?

[dirtyplants]

Coree, it takes about a year for wilds to color up so enjoy the ride. Also I think yours are a different type of green from mine. Will be interesting to compare, mine are very yellow sometimes they actually try to blend into the back ground which is blue, their lines become light with a blueish hint to them. Have you noticed this?

[winn0923]

Yup they do try to blend in w the background


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[OC Discus]

Coree, are yours teffee greens? There was a thread a while back titled "what is the market for teffee greens" by scully. The blue colors in his fish was awesome.


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[DiscusBR]

Terrific job, Pat! Not everyone can make the fish thrive as you do. Amazing change of colors in both the female Cuipeua and the Pacoval. Great that you have documented their development. Keep the pics coming :)

[daffyfish]

Amazing :)

[dirtyplants]

Coree, are yours teffee greens? There was a thread a while back titled "what is the market for teffee greens" by scully. The blue colors in his fish was awesome.

Yes, OC I beleive they are. They are really sweet, very curious, if I place something new in the tank they will inspect it inside and out, even nudge it, stick their little red eyes up to it to take a look at what is inside. I have yet to get a decent picture of them they are very camera shy. Sorry Pat, have not had wilds in such a long time, don't mean to go on about my greens.

[Second Hand Pat]

Pat they are gorgeous! It is truly amazing to see a fish blossom into its full potential under the correct care.

Thanks Nick and it is definitely worth waiting for.


Beautiful and can't wait to see more. This is great for those of us starting out with wilds and gives us a peek as to how they might change if we do our husbandry due diligence :o. I'm certainly looking forward to seeing how my 4 greens change and develop also and this gives me a little insight to what changes I should be looking for.

Thanks Marnie :)


Nice thin lines on the female!

Yes but believe the lines of the Trombeta are equally thin.

[Second Hand Pat]

Gorgeous fish! How much wild do you have pat?

Eranio, I have a group of green Tefes, a group of blue heckels and a group of Cuipeua with two Trombeta and one Pacoval.


Will be interesting to compare, mine are very yellow sometimes they actually try to blend into the back ground which is blue, their lines become light with a blueish hint to them. Have you noticed this?

Coree, sounds like they are reversing their bars.

[Second Hand Pat]

Terrific job, Pat! Not everyone can make the fish thrive as you do. Amazing change of colors in both the female Cuipeua and the Pacoval. Great that you have documented their development. Keep the pics coming :)

Mauro, you have done a pretty good job with your Cuipeua including breeding them. That is pretty awesome.


Amazing :)

Thanks Daffy

[Second Hand Pat]

Yes, OC I beleive they are. They are really sweet, very curious, if I place something new in the tank they will inspect it inside and out, even nudge it, stick their little red eyes up to it to take a look at what is inside. I have yet to get a decent picture of them they are very camera shy. Sorry Pat, have not had wilds in such a long time, don't mean to go on about my greens.

Coree, check with John, I believe yours is a different green.

[dirtyplants]

Coree, sounds like they are reversing their bars.
Is that good or bad, or maybe just normal?


Coree, check with John, I believe yours is a different green. Yes I will because I should really know.

[Second Hand Pat]

This is one of my Demini Heckels. I got them from Mark early 2013 and they were all about four inches.

April 2013
http://i925.photobucket.com/albums/ad95/Second_Hand_Pat/Heckels/DSC_2058_zpsf6b6c34e.jpg

After I moved all the heckels to the 230 this one developed a swollen gill and quit eating. I was not really sure what to do so I observed. After a bit the gill resumed it's normal size and the fish started eating. The period of no eating did set the fish back and it is the smallest of the heckel in the group. It is actually turning into a decent little fish.

Tonight
http://i925.photobucket.com/albums/ad95/Second_Hand_Pat/DSC_4557_zps6b1ceabc.jpg (http://s925.photobucket.com/user/Second_Hand_Pat/media/DSC_4557_zps6b1ceabc.jpg.html)

[Second Hand Pat]

Is that good or bad, or maybe just normal?

Coree, it is normal. Here is one of my Tefe in QT with reversed bars.

http://i925.photobucket.com/albums/ad95/Second_Hand_Pat/DSC_4556_zps03a89f21.jpg (http://s925.photobucket.com/user/Second_Hand_Pat/media/DSC_4556_zps03a89f21.jpg.html)
http://i925.photobucket.com/albums/ad95/Second_Hand_Pat/DSC_4553_zpsb081d472.jpg (http://s925.photobucket.com/user/Second_Hand_Pat/media/DSC_4553_zpsb081d472.jpg.html)

[dirtyplants]

Pretty darn amazing! I love that these fish, they have so many ways to communicate within their environment or use the environment to change their color scheme. Nice Tefes, is this a recent picture? If older how are they now?

[Second Hand Pat]

Coree, this is one of the Tefes in QT which I got from Mark about a week ago.

[dirtyplants]

Sweet!

We have new shipment of Discus coming in next week Nhamunda Blue Moon and Tefe Greens also Cameta Yellow Browns.
That is John's statement for Jan. So will get a verification on the greens.

[OC Discus]

Coree, this link has pics of some mature teffee greens. I'd love to have a tank full of these.

http://forum.simplydiscus.com/showthread.php?111214-What-s-the-market-for-domestically-bred-Tefe-Greens-Thinking-about-breeding

[Second Hand Pat]

Here is my photo album with my adult Tefe's in breeding mode...Pat's Photo Album (http://forum.simplydiscus.com/album.php?albumid=601) and a entire thread full of videos showcasing Tefe breeding, courtship and male fighting. Pat's-Wilds-Videos (http://forum.simplydiscus.com/showthread.php?108374-Pat-s-Wilds-Videos/page1)

[OC Discus]

Those are awesome Pat. Which wilds have you successfully bred and sold fry? Which are you currently breeding and selling? I like the teffes with blue.

[Second Hand Pat]

Those are awesome Pat. Which wilds have you successfully bred and sold fry? Which are you currently breeding and selling? I like the teffes with blue.

OC, I have successfully bred both my Tefes and my Cuipeua. I have pulled fry several times and did give away some from the first Tefe batch. I have not "sold" any and will not until I have the firm handle on the fry rearing aspect. The current pair I am working with are in this thread..Wild-Trombeta-x-Wild-Cuipeua (http://forum.simplydiscus.com/showthread.php?111724-Wild-Trombeta-x-Wild-Cuipeua)

[dirtyplants]

OC thanks for the link, yes my fish look like those pictured in the link, but I know little about identification of sub species other then the location. So as to one green from one location to another I would not know. Perhaps Pat can direct me to such information.

[Second Hand Pat]

Here is one of the Demini Heckels and how it has developed. This guy was bowing that the Cuipeua female so perhaps a male.

From 4-12-2013
http://i925.photobucket.com/albums/ad95/Second_Hand_Pat/Heckels/DSC_2057_zps18bfcfa2.jpg

Tonight
http://i925.photobucket.com/albums/ad95/Second_Hand_Pat/Blue%20Heckels/DSC_4575_zps40a659f1.jpg (http://s925.photobucket.com/user/Second_Hand_Pat/media/Blue%20Heckels/DSC_4575_zps40a659f1.jpg.html)

[OC Discus]

Very nice.

[Second Hand Pat]

Very nice.

Thanks OC :)

[winn0923]

I've decided my next project will be a heckel tank... Now if I can only talk my lady boss into it haha


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[Second Hand Pat]

Best of luck with that Winn ;)

[winn0923]

Lol... One can always hope right?


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[Second Hand Pat]

Lol... One can always hope right?


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Always :D

[Second Hand Pat]

Pacoval from Mark from Feb 2013
http://i925.photobucket.com/albums/ad95/Second_Hand_Pat/Marks%20Pictures/DSC_1743_zps94ebdb50.jpg

From 3-4-2014
http://i925.photobucket.com/albums/ad95/Second_Hand_Pat/DSC_4546_zps6c976254.jpg (http://s925.photobucket.com/user/Second_Hand_Pat/media/DSC_4546_zps6c976254.jpg.html)

and today. This fish is still growing and changing.
http://i925.photobucket.com/albums/ad95/Second_Hand_Pat/DSC_4927_zps6d6d0a9d.jpg (http://s925.photobucket.com/user/Second_Hand_Pat/media/DSC_4927_zps6d6d0a9d.jpg.html)
http://i925.photobucket.com/albums/ad95/Second_Hand_Pat/DSC_4928_zpsc6270595.jpg (http://s925.photobucket.com/user/Second_Hand_Pat/media/DSC_4928_zpsc6270595.jpg.html)
http://i925.photobucket.com/albums/ad95/Second_Hand_Pat/DSC_4932_zps7b6619d2.jpg (http://s925.photobucket.com/user/Second_Hand_Pat/media/DSC_4932_zps7b6619d2.jpg.html)

[Kirbs]

That's the same fish? NICE!

Is he/she in 50% RO/50% Tap?

[Second Hand Pat]

Thanks Kribs and yes, 50% tap to 50% RO.

[Kirbs]

I guess I need to fire up the RO Machine! I'll be in touch with some PM's.

[Second Hand Pat]

Sounds good Kribs :)

[dghby]

Wow, that's a lot of change in a short time, they look great Pat.