Honduran Red Points spawning

[Wackinator]

Hey well last night when I was feeding the fish I noticed that the Hondurans color was a bit darker and the female seemed bluer, not only that but the 5 other cichlids in with them were being chased out of a certain corner so I turned on the lights and noticed that they were guarding eggs.

The eggs seem to have been there for some time as you can see black dots in most of them, which might be the eyes but I don't know as the eggs are at the back of the tank. The 26 gallon tank was supposed to be a temporary tank so has no substrate, and no decoration.

I quickly made a DIY Brine shrimp hatchery and put in some BS eggs to hatch this morning, really hope that they hatch before the babies starve or something.

The main question I had was that I always thought that Hondurans were supposed to be different from Convicts as they only had 60-80 eggs in contrast to Convicts that had around 200, but these have somewhere between 150-200 eggs. Is there a chance that these could be a mix between the two?

Also how long before the fry hatch? How long do they start wrigglers and how long before they are free swimmers? Also do I only feed them when they are free swimming or right after they hatch?

Thanks

Here is an old picture of them and then a very bad quality one where you can make out the eggs.

Edited October 15, 2010 by Wackinator

[medhatnoobee]

they don't need feed till the egg yolk is absorbed though they will take food earlier than that

[Wackinator]

Thanks medhat, that ends my worry of them starving before the shrimps are ready for them.

Anyone know how long before the eggs hatch?

[jvision]

Depending on temperature, you have between 5-10 days (80's will be quicker, mid 70's longer), so your shrimp may go bad by then, unless you feed those too! Your pair look like HRPs - most mature egg layers from CA/SA will lay over 100 eggs if they've been conditioned well.

[Wackinator]

Thanks Jason and damn but no worries about the shrimp going bad as I am sure my baby white clouds won't mind a BBS snack but I have always wondered, what do you feed Brine shrimp?

And sweet but to be honest I havent conditioned them at all, in fact I was feeling guilty for the condition I thought they were in, they are in a bare tank, I think they are just stretching their fins since they have more room in the tank now.

Thanks again!

[Wackinator]

I see at least 5 wrigglers!!!!!!!

How long do they stay wrigglers for?

Edited September 29, 2010 by Wackinator

[Wackinator]

Some were free swimming last night but all are swimming a bit, not much as the parents are keeping them in one corner even though now they have the whole tank to themselves.

Managed to snap some shots of the fry though the quality is not very good.

Enjoy

Edited October 5, 2010 by Wackinator

[AvianAquatics]

Cuties Reminds me of a long time ago when I had baby fish.

The tank looks pretty bare maybe consider adding some plants/wood so the parent feel more secure? And best of luck

[Wackinator]

Thanks, and the tank is 100% bare, I had some fish that I was wanted to put in the auction so I was waiting for that and was going to set up the tank just for them after that but they apparently didnt mind it but yea no worries the tank will be decorated in the coming weeks.

[Wackinator]

Only hsve around 50 fry left now, and curious as to when I should separate them from the parents?

[medhatnoobee]

I'm pretty sure they can be separated at any time. the parents are there to protect them but if there are no others, then no point in the parents being there either.

[JLake]

Congrats on the free swimmers! Looks like fun times :thumbs:

[Wackinator]

Thanks medhatnoobee, I think I will probably separate them in a week or so as I will have to move some fish around first and thanks JLake and it is fun lol but having issues with not enough tank space or not enough heaters so cant wait till they grow up as I really wanna see the stages of their growth and find good homes for them.

[Wackinator]

ah so frustrated, dont even understand what took place overnight but woke up to the female dying, she was upside down, eyes were covered with something slimy, whole body looked like it had shrunk or something but gills were slowly moving.

Couldnt find any fry either and the male was hiding behind the heater on the other side of the tank, when I started removing the female, I noticed that 3 fry were following the body as if she was still alive.

Very discouraging but will be trying to keep the 3 fry alive as the female one of my favorite cichlids, offering the male up for sale, please PM me if interested.

[Wackinator]

Woke up to 2 dead and one survivor >.<