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Tips after spawning

danbb

Member
Messages
150
Location
Romania
Tonight I found some eggs on the tank decor, for sure yesterday wasn't there, and the female becomes extremely territorial.
What tips do you have for me?
- should I change water these days (how much) or not?
- it's better if I let the "moonlight" leds on, during the night? (I have only cockatoo in the tank)
Any tips from you guys are welcome.
 

regani

Active Member
5 Year Member
Messages
429
Location
Brisbane, Australia
In my experience there is no need to deviate from your normal water changing schedule. Just avoid having a strong current around the breeding site when adding the fresh water.
Same goes for the lighting, if they are used to a certain pattern there, no need to change it.
Start hatching some brine shrimp if you can as they make excellent first food for apisto fry.
 

danbb

Member
Messages
150
Location
Romania
Thanks Regani. Some recommend to change 10-15 % water every day, I will change only within 7 days, let see what happen (today is day no 7). The water flow is not big, but I didn't add extra aeration. I need to do that?
I just ordered some brine shrimp but I don't know when they will arrive.
 

danbb

Member
Messages
150
Location
Romania
For first week or two, should not use infusoria? Can they eat baby brine shrimp from the beginning?
 

regani

Active Member
5 Year Member
Messages
429
Location
Brisbane, Australia
I don't think extra aeration or filtration is really necessary if there is sufficient surface movement and filtration. If you want to keep the fry in the same tank as the parents after the first couple of weeks you want to think about increasing the water changes then. because of the larger number of of fish (when the fry grow up) more waste is produced. I usually remove the fry after 2-3 weeks into separate tank and again a month or two later into a larger grow- out tank. I find it easier to keep up the water quality this way.

Once the fry are free swimming they will be able to eat freshly hatched brine shrimp but I am sure they will eat infusoria as well if you have those available. I also leave all my breeding tanks fairly 'dirty', that is I do leave most of the mulm from decaying leaves etc in the tank as this is an excellent breeding ground for all sorts of micro organisms that the very young fry will feed on as well.
 

danbb

Member
Messages
150
Location
Romania
Bad news... today I found out that there is no eggs, the female is coming back to the place where the eggs was, so she didn't move them, maybe eat them... There are just 3-4 eggs, fallen off the decor. That is the second spawn for this female, maybe she is young or maybe she was stressed.
 

regani

Active Member
5 Year Member
Messages
429
Location
Brisbane, Australia
It can happen with some of the spawns that the female decides to eat them, either because of inexperience, or maybe because she felt it wasn't safe enough for the fry. But if the pair has spawned, they will spawn again.
Maybe add some additional decorations to make her feel moe secure?
 

danbb

Member
Messages
150
Location
Romania
I will start a new tank next days, this one will be full of wood and leaves, I think they will love it. What are your suggestions for a 100 L tank: one pair or 1 male and 2 females?
 

regani

Active Member
5 Year Member
Messages
429
Location
Brisbane, Australia
Depends on the size of the bottom area. Females need about 30x30cm for their territory with a cave/hideout in the centre, males 2-3x that space. Some species are also more aggressive than others. A pair of cacatuoides will work fine, if the individuals are not too aggressive you can also get a trio in if there are enough hiding places and structures to break line-of-sight
 

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