Hemichromis Elongatus

[cornbread_5]

I have a pair of these guys , they have spawned finally , not sure if the eggs are going to hatch here are some pics

 

[tjudy]

The eggs will hatch after about 72 hours. The larvae will be on the bottom for about three more days before the cloud of fry starts to swim. The fry are surpisingly fragile and need food ASAP after they are free swimming. I had a huge spawn from my pair, but missed feeding for three days due to being away... most of the fry died. I would start a batch of baby brine two days after the eggs hatch to be ready to feed as soon as they are free swimming.

 

[cornbread_5]

is there any alterative besides brine shrimp

 

[tjudy]

Any fry food will work. Golden Pearls is a good dry option. An excellent frozen food would be Cyclops-Eze. You can also buy frozen baby brine. THe fry really are not picky about food... but after they are free swimming they have no energy reserves.

 

[cornbread_5]

oh ok thanks alot so mine should be free swimming today or tommrrow

 

[freshwaterfishfan]

H. elongatus

Out of curiosity, how many fish did you start out with to get a pair?
I gave H. fasciatus (group of 6) a try and they were some of the nastiest fish I've ever seen and I had to give them away because they would beat on each other and every other fish relentlessly. They got decent sized, no where near yours, but I never saw any pair action.
Steve

 

[tjudy]

I bought an established pair. My experience with wil H. fasciatus, H. elongatus and H. frempongi (and F1 H. frempongi) was teh same as yours. Lots of death, no breeding. I would still like to get both H. fasciatus and H. frempongi, but I need more tank space to accomodate one fish per tank just to grow them out.

 

[cornbread_5]

i bought an established pair also from the same guy as well and also where did u get the fasciatus from and do you have any more , i have been looking for these guys for a while now

 

[cornbread_5]

here are some pics of the fry , hey ted how long did you leave your fry with the parent before you removed them

 

[tjudy]

I pulled about 25 fry three days after they became free swimming. I left the rest and used them to feed some other fish (including a lone H. fasciatus I do nto have a mate for). After about two weeks most of the fry are gone and the pair is about to spawn again.

 

[freshwaterfishfan]

Hemichromis fasciatus

Here are some for sale:
http://www.aquabid.com/cgi-bin/auction/auction.cgi?fwcichlidsw&1221440935

 

[tjudy]

I just saw that auction too. I sent the seller an email asking him to clarify his shipping. Is it 'actual cost' or is it $25 for Priority Mail? The auction suggests both!

 

[cornbread_5]

isn't a 1/2 inch to small to buy fry

 

[cornbread_5]

also that same guy is on mfk , they are 2 dollars a piece and 25 dollars for shipping

 

[freshwaterfishfan]

I ship 1 cm juvies all the time with no problems and lots of satisfied customers. Check out my aquabid feedback (freshwaterfishfan). So, no 1/2 isn't too small. Smaller fish ship better than larger ones, anyways.
Steve

 

[tjudy]

Apparently the shipping is a flat $25 for Priority from this person. Seems steep in my opinion, but he does guarantee live arrival and use breater bags with one fish per bag (probably overkill with 1/2" fry).

I prefer fry that size with this species... maybe they will settle in together a bit better. I have not decided if I will get any, but he is the only person with them advertising right now, and they are F1.

 

[cornbread_5]

well i decide to purchase some fry from the guy and he is sending me 12 and once i get a pair i can send you some ted you just got to school me how to package and ship

 

[cornbread_5]

update of my fry

 

[tjudy]

My elongatus pair spawned again this week. I am growing about 25 fry up from the first batch, so I do not knwo if I will hold any back from thsi batch.

Thanks for the offer on the H. fasciatus. They grow pretty fast, so it will nto be long until you have them pairing off... or killing each other . My lone H. fasciatus is almost as large as my H. elongatus male. I did not realize there is such a body shape difference. The H. elongatus is very sleek compared to the blockiness of the H. fasciatus.

 

[cornbread_5]

The fasciatus is suppose to be the brute of them all being the most aggressive