jvision Posted April 4, 2006 Report Share Posted April 4, 2006 (edited) After a couple years of frustration, they finally came through for me! Here's how I managed to coax them: The "Hump Tank" - my wife's nickname for my breeding tank - is one of the old Aqua Giant tanks filled 3/4, which makes it about 40 gal. The substrate is Target Play Sand - the best way to get this not to cloud is to add it before your water.... I just dumped in a whole 50lb bag, then added water - no cloudiness at all! To filter the tank, I have a powerhead (AC 201)driven sponge in one corner, and on the opposite side of the tank, I have an internal canister filter (Fluval 1). There is a chunk of driftwood with various ferns and Anubias growing on it placed in one corner, and a 2-strip 24" shop light only over the plants. I used terra cotta pots, shells, rocks and PVC pipe as caves. I had a trio in a heavily planted tank for at least a year, but nothing happened. They would eat heavily and often, even coming out during the day to munch on the NLS pellets I fed the community. I always had a piece of zuccini in there for them - the skin was the male's favorite part! After a year of 0 spawns, I moved them into the tank described above. Still nothing for a couple of months! I have developed a habit of 50%/week WCs, so they always got the big changes that is recommended for spawning these guys. I heard from our old friend Oxquo that his only spawned when there were larger fish in the tank with them. Well, I don't have larger fish, but I do have mbuna - so in went a breeding group of M. cyanerohabods. After 2 of 4 females were holding, I thought it best to move them, so the 2 males don't beat the remaining females to death. In frustration, I took out almost all of the water - easily an 80% WC. I also set up some vertical caves right in the flow from both filters. That afternoon, the male took up residence in one of the vertical PVC caves, and invited the largest female in with him. The next day I noticed a mound of golden eggs! The eggs were guarded by the male, and hatched about 4 days post spawn. The egg yolks have just now been absorbed - 4 days post hatching. They're now in a grow-out tank and will be fed zuccini and NLS wafers and Grow Pellets. One thing to note. I added a third female about 3 weeks before spawning took place, and it was with this 3rd female that he spawned with. She was about 1" bigger than the other two; so, as I suspect, age is a major factor in breeding. I did not have any special water parameters. WCs were done with treated tap water. Temp was kept at 75-78F. Edited April 4, 2006 by jvision Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vallisneria Posted April 4, 2006 Report Share Posted April 4, 2006 Congrats :beer: Oh and I"ll take some of those babies off your hands Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jvision Posted April 4, 2006 Author Report Share Posted April 4, 2006 I counted 45 last night, so when they get to be around 3/4" I'll be letting them go! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Oneiroid Posted April 4, 2006 Report Share Posted April 4, 2006 Congrats! We want to see pictures! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jvision Posted April 4, 2006 Author Report Share Posted April 4, 2006 Here ya go! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vallisneria Posted April 4, 2006 Report Share Posted April 4, 2006 Man, they are bigger then I thought they'd be. Very cool! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vapor Posted April 4, 2006 Report Share Posted April 4, 2006 Congratulations :thumbs: . Notice you put them to work allready cleaning the glass. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Murminator Posted April 5, 2006 Report Share Posted April 5, 2006 :bow: wow they are pretty big Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jvision Posted April 5, 2006 Author Report Share Posted April 5, 2006 Yeah, they hatch out at about 1/2"! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jvision Posted April 5, 2006 Author Report Share Posted April 5, 2006 Here are some pics of the "Hump Tank" It holds up my African Cichlid tank - you can see it under it here It rests right on the floor. It's on the 2nd floor, and I drain it all down to the main floor, so I don't have to worry about lack of suction for the syphon This is the area on the right, under the light The middle of the tank And the far right. You can see the Big Daddy hanging out under the filter Current inhabitants are 7 N. ocellatus, 7 White Cloud Minnows, 4 BN Plecos, 1 female Krib Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Earthgirl Posted April 7, 2006 Report Share Posted April 7, 2006 Well congrats!!!!!!!!!!! I am so happy that the female helped in the Hump tank (lol!) Put me on the list for 2 please!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jvision Posted April 7, 2006 Author Report Share Posted April 7, 2006 Absolutely!! Thanks, so much for that female - the bigguy thinks she's hott! Earthgirl, you definitely get 1st pick! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Earthgirl Posted April 7, 2006 Report Share Posted April 7, 2006 LOL, thinks she is hot! WoHO, I love them plecs! -roll- Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Leon71 Posted May 3, 2006 Report Share Posted May 3, 2006 Do you have any left? I would like a couple. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jvision Posted May 3, 2006 Author Report Share Posted May 3, 2006 I haven't sold/given away any yet. The biggest ones are just reaching 1". I'll post on the site when they're ready for new homes... probably close to the May Long Weekend. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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