How to get Farlowellas in the mood ;)

[Mol_PMB]

Thanks They all seem to be finding enough food in the tank to keep their bellies full and produce those satisfying long curly poops!
The parents haven't shown any signs of wanting to spawn again since their pre-Christmas marathon.

[Mol_PMB]

Another update (I do love my twiglets...)

There are definitely at least 19 fry - I've just seen that many all at once. They're mostly acting like a plague of caterpillars on the spring greens!

And after my comments yesterday, their parents are getting ready to spawn again...

[pleconut]

Congrats, now 19 maybe some still hiding somewhere, hope the parents do what they've been doing so well, I have just received my pleco cave delivery, I think my ABNs are about to put it to good use. Just as well it came on time.

[Mol_PMB]

Thanks! Fingers crossed for the BNs

[pleconut]

All my plecos got a large water change today, except the Mustard spots - trying to keep things as stable as possible for these. ABNs got 50% cooler water they've not been eating much lately, minds are on spawning, the last couple of days they've filled their bellies particularly the male and are getting quite active now as they did before, female is very gravid. I ordered a smaller cave put it in, they became more interested in it, and I'm now leaving them in peace for the night.

[Mol_PMB]

It's slightly disconcerting to be sitting here eating my evenng meal while two catfish have sex just two feet to my right...

[bekateen]

Think about the poor fish! They're trying to have sex, and you're sitting there eating and watching them! Where's your sense of privacy and dignity?

Besides, better that than the other way around.

[Mol_PMB]

It's definitely a game for all the family, because they're brother and sister, and their younger brother and about 20 of their previous offspring are watching too. Only grandma has the decency to keep out of the way...

[pleconut]

True, but last time they spawned I'd left them alone for 24 hrs. I'm sure I can find something else to do:-)

[NCE12940]

It's slightly disconcerting to be sitting here eating my evenng meal while two catfish have sex just two feet to my right...

Much better though than breeding purebred dogs where one usually has to get more intimately involved . Particularly Basset Hounds who're really not constructed for such activities. There's even a poem, which I can't find, about a Basset Romeo who can't get up the stairs to his Juliet

[Mol_PMB]

Haha! That's a wonderful mental image... ;)

[pleconut]

Where there's a will there's a way!

[NCE12940]

Haha! That's a wonderful mental image... ;)

Being *low slung* is definitely an impediment in this case I once took a reproduction class (pre-vet, large animal, no humans ) in college.... Lots of *interesting* stories there

[Mol_PMB]

With apologies to those from the wrong continent and/or century:

"Nine out of ten cats prefer Whiskas"

Oh, hang on, that's not Whiskas, and there's 10 cats loving it...

[pleconut]

Cool picture, and good to see theyre all doing really well.

[Mol_PMB]

Ooooh - so cute, a new baby brother or sister!

[Mol_PMB]

I think I need a family planning consultant.
Both the adults and the yearlings have been spawning recently, both pairs spawned last night only 12 days after they last spawned; the previous twiglets had only just finished hatching.

The nursery is crammed full of this Spring's crop of youngsters and there are still more roaming free in their parents' tanks. Plus I have about 15 remaining from spawns last autumn.

[bekateen]

You've created a real farlowella love nest!

Cheers, Eric