Germany – Zwickau, March 2008
Peter Günnel from former East Germany is probably the largest ornamental fish breeder in Europe and has his establishment near Zwickau, Germany. Heiko Bleher visited him in March 2008. Peter has come along on one of Heiko’s recent Expedition – see Expedition Aracá – and is already breeding some of the new species discovered in October of 2007. Here some photos of Peter, his establishment and breeding methods in the 3rd generation of this unique German family business.
Peter Günnel in his establishment holding up a glass with his latest discovery in breeding Ancistrus species

Peter in front of his newest plastic lined large building, were he raises millions of ornamental fishes. In back his three story breeding facility
Peter is raising in his facility many different ornamental fish species, but the number one is the neon tetra Paracheirodon innesi. He sets the pairs up every week anew, in thousands of tiny aquariums
The tiny breeding-tanks have a plastic screen in it, were the eggs fall through into the bottom (left). After 3-4 days the baby fish are taken in a tray (right) to the large tanks to grow up, or siphoned down directly into those tanks from the upper floor were he has more tanks set up (not shown)
Peter and his son breed about 2.5 to 3 million neon tetras every year, and they are ready to sell already in one month of intensive feeding. The ones shown here are exactly one month old
Peter developed a new hideaway breeding method for his natural and albino Ancistrus species. He just places a glass into the aquarium and they go into it and lay their eggs into it, as shown
Peter also breeds large quantities of the Congo tetra Phenacogrammus interruptus
Peter has also won several awards for his fishes, some also in Singapore at the Aquarama 1995 where his…
…fantastic breed Apistogramma hongsloi received…
…the first prize for “New Species” developed. Here Peter with his Trophy and the organizers of Aquarama 1995, where Heiko had also lectures see
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