Basics |
Overview | The first spawn was on Sunday 18th of September 2016. The breeding group consisted of 3 males and 1 female. The smallest male was at least 130mm SL and the smallest female was at least 110mm SL. The individuals were obtained from Rare Aquatics, and MA Binfield. |
Feeding | 1. | Courgettes (live) few times a week | | 2. | Tetra Prima (dry / prepared) daily | | 3. | Various pellets (dry / prepared) daily | | 4. | Repashy bottom scratcher (dry / prepared) daily | |
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Water Parameters (at time of spawning) |
pH | 6.40 to 6.60 |
Conductivity | 100µs to 200µs |
Temperature | 26.0°C to 30.0°C |
Current | Medium |
Other Water Params | 50% water change every week with 80-90% RO remainder tap water.
Temperature has been higher than normal around 30c for several weeks this summer. |
Aquarium |
Dimensions | The aquarium dimensions were 864mm x 457mm x 457mm (34" x 18" x 18") all Length x Width x Height. |
Furniture | Lots of slate, 5 home made slate caves of various sizes.
Limpopo black sand.
One large piece of root effect bogwood. |
Filtration | Fluval FX5, homemade power head filter, two small tunze power heads on timers for 4 hours per day. |
Lighting | Arcadia stretch LED, on for a couple hours each evening for viewing, longer at weekends. |
Heating | Eheim heater 150w
Turned off over the past few months as we've had a warm summer. |
Breeding |
Behaviour | First sign was no sand by the cave with eggs. I was away for a week and came back to eggs. The females fins seem torn but otherwise looks good. |
Eggs | There were 40 yellow/orange eggs laid which were 4.0mm in diameter. |
Segregation | A few wrigglers kicked out of the cave, one survived and has been put in a floating breeder box. This is the fry in the 7 days old picture. |
Fry sizes | 7 days: 8mm 14 days: 12mm 21 days: 25mm |
7 days | |
14 days | |
21 days | |
Juvenile sizes | 1 month: 30mm 3 months: 35mm 6 months: 40mm |
1 month | |
3 months | |
Fry and juvenile feeding | Same as adults, Courgette, Repashy Soilent Green mixed with Bottom Scratcher, Vitalis Plec Pellets. They may also snack on some food for the other inhabitents, Tetra Prima, Hikari Algae Wafers, Tetra Pleco Tablets, and JBL Novo Fect/Tabs. |