Hi, here are a few notes based on my keeping of these fish,
tank details
6x2x2 with 30 gallon sump tenp approx. 25c going up or down a degree summer / winter
regular large water changes
décor
silica sand substrate, rocks, wood and a few plants in the tank
tankmates
has varied over the last few years, other eartheaters,angels tetras and catfish
water params kh under 2 ph around 6.5 straight from my tap, unheated and no water conditioners as I have my own well and there are no additives in the water.
the wild caught fish were bought at about an inch in total length, (12 week old fish, based on the growth of my offspring ) and took 2 years to reach maturity and spawn
the fry I held back from different spawnings reached sexual maturity and spawned at approx. 1 year of age
they fish are few a mix of all sorts of food, flake, pellets crumb, live and occasionally frozen foods, the fry are fed the same foods crushed down and also decapsulated brine shrimp eggs.
the captive bred fish show none of the skittishness that the wild caught fish are occasionally prone to if startled.
spawning
female darkens and cleans the chosen surface, usually the side of a rock (they don't span in a pit in the sand as some people suggest)
female lays all her eggs while male looks on, then he is allowed in to fertilize them in one passing, the female then moves in and vigorously fans the eggs
the eggs are attached to the surface with a thin filament and as the female fans the eggs they lift from the rock
hatching about 4 days later and free swimming around day 8
fry take powdered tetra prima, b.b.s, micro worms, banana worm, walter worm from day one and grow quickly
I will double check my notes in case there are any errors in what I wrote, if you have ay questions type away and I will try to answer.
anyone looking or some of these fish, just give me a shout
joe
tank details
6x2x2 with 30 gallon sump tenp approx. 25c going up or down a degree summer / winter
regular large water changes
décor
silica sand substrate, rocks, wood and a few plants in the tank
tankmates
has varied over the last few years, other eartheaters,angels tetras and catfish
water params kh under 2 ph around 6.5 straight from my tap, unheated and no water conditioners as I have my own well and there are no additives in the water.
the wild caught fish were bought at about an inch in total length, (12 week old fish, based on the growth of my offspring ) and took 2 years to reach maturity and spawn
the fry I held back from different spawnings reached sexual maturity and spawned at approx. 1 year of age
they fish are few a mix of all sorts of food, flake, pellets crumb, live and occasionally frozen foods, the fry are fed the same foods crushed down and also decapsulated brine shrimp eggs.
the captive bred fish show none of the skittishness that the wild caught fish are occasionally prone to if startled.
spawning
female darkens and cleans the chosen surface, usually the side of a rock (they don't span in a pit in the sand as some people suggest)
female lays all her eggs while male looks on, then he is allowed in to fertilize them in one passing, the female then moves in and vigorously fans the eggs
the eggs are attached to the surface with a thin filament and as the female fans the eggs they lift from the rock
hatching about 4 days later and free swimming around day 8
fry take powdered tetra prima, b.b.s, micro worms, banana worm, walter worm from day one and grow quickly
I will double check my notes in case there are any errors in what I wrote, if you have ay questions type away and I will try to answer.
anyone looking or some of these fish, just give me a shout
joe