Pseudacanthicus sp L25 "Scarlet" : another breeding tale

[Haavard Stoere]

You should move them or otherwise resolve the heating problem. If you want to move to breeder box to another warmer tank you just lift it out of the water in a large bowl. The slow metabolism in cold water can have ill effects on digestion and maybe even development. I would aim for around 28-30 degrees and a lot of aeration.

[ElTofi]

I thought about it yesterday, and I finally took a decision... Instead of moving them, I will simply cover the tank with a glass cover... it will help me to keep a decent temperature in this tank. It's not that 26° isn't decent, but I can see it's not enough for larvae.

[Haavard Stoere]

An increase of just 2 degrees is a lot when it comes to metabolism. I bet they will start eating very soon.

[ElTofi]

the temperature raised from 26 to 28-29 in a day (12 hours)... It seems that the fry inside the tank developped a suddenly "moving attitude"; they get out in the wild even during the light time... I put 3 small Hypancisturs caves and they begun to set them as a new territory...

the ones in the nursery are as usual moving up and down the box...

I'm gonna check it those 2 next days and I'll try to feed tomorrow...

[ElTofi]

fascinating changes in 24 hours... they get out of their hiding places, they come into the air pump stream, much easier to take pictures...





and I saw today the first prooves they eat... (micro shits ) good news...

[Haavard Stoere]

This is so exiting

[husky_jim]

Great News!

We all learning valuable things from your experience with them!

Keep us updated!

[ElTofi]

It has been a while since I last posted a few pictures...

Just because I drop the floating nursery into the nursery tank with a few hiding caves. So it's much more difficult to capture a few good picts... This morning (day 30), I went "fishing" and took out 8 fry into a plate... here are the shooting session's results :







I counted them in the tank : 32 fry

At least I know what I would do better next time :

1. leaving them with the father (if not possible, prepare a nursery long time before)
2. setting a nude bottom nursery with at least 30°C and a heavy filtration
3. day to day water changes of 15-20%

I plan to realise a more performing rain water collector installation in this spring... I will use it to stimulate the adults in the big tank from April-May till June... Let's see what it will come to.

[Cristoffer Forssander]

Perhaps a small aqarium is the best way to rais them when they are that old!? Then you have control over their feeding and so on.
I understand that you're sad about the losses but you still have 32 (probably a few more!?) beautiful fry and you will succed better next time, learning from the last misstakes I think! I'm sure I will see over 200 fry in you're next breeding tale!

Have you seen any red color yet?
Perhaps it will take a few more weeks!

Cristoffer

[ElTofi]

37th day... I went fishing again...

[Haavard Stoere]

Very nice They look healthy

Do you think they are difficult to feed? What are you feeding them?

[ElTofi]

Hi you all,

No, they are not difficult to feed... Even if you can see some differences in the growing speed...

The only difficulty I had, till then, was to keep the fry alive from the hatching till the resorbed yolk sack I guess there is something about temperature, handling, sand bottom of the tank, bacterias and so on... But from the moment they begun to eat by themselves, it has been ok...

All my Lxxx fry are raised in the first weeks with Sera Viformo... it works very well, even if sometimes, I "cook" for my babies... a kind of "red mosquito larvae pilled with Viformo" paste... that stinks, that sticks like glue on your fingers, but they seem to love it...

[Champ-BKK]

Cool!! congrat.
Happy with you

[ElTofi]

Day 45 :











On going daily routine : 30% tap water change (Gh 14)
Feeding : Sera Viformo with crushed red mosquito larvae
countdown : 31 fry

[Cristoffer Forssander]

Hi

I'm just waiting for the red color! Perhaps in a few weeks! They are just great!!!! I really like this tread!
Hows the parents? Du you think that you have 1 male and 2 females?

Is the male agressive towards the female?

Are you planning another breeding attempt soon?

Cristoffer

[ElTofi]

I sure have 2 males and 1 female... After a few hours spent in the front of my tank, I'm at least sure about that

Considering another attempt of breeding, I have first to safe the fry from the 2 last spawnings (L320 and L25), to get room in my nurseries. Moreover, I'll be out in the South (Toulon - Monaco) during a whole week in May, so it would be impossible to start another breeding story in the few next weeks. I won't do anything for it...

but I have no control on it, as I actually have a Leporacanthicus galaxias L007 "natural" tentative on going and a Pseudacanthicus L320 too.

Let's wait and see...

[Cristoffer Forssander]

Any update????? We cant wait for more news!!!

Regards
Cristoffer

[nvcichlids]

I love them! seeing the adult pattern at such a young age is awesome. I am considering getting a group of L25 since you have had breeding sucess and they are so darn adorable.
Cannot wait to see an update.

[ElTofi]

Day 60... it goes on growing... especially in thickness, I guess





My favorite on this shooting session... right after the return into the nursery tank, they stucked a while on the internal filter... I tried to catch them at this very moment...



On this last one, a malaysian snail choosed this very moment to cross the place


One day, I may be a good photograph... but it won't be in the coming years Sorry for that...

[Cristoffer Forssander]

HiT

Amazing! They looks soooo fine!!!!
I've always felt strong for L025. I think it's one of the most beautiful plecos!!! It's just great to be able to follow this tread!

Thanks for all the sharing!!!


Cristoffer

[ElTofi]

day 75...









in about 2 weeks, I will bring 20 of them in a shop in my area... the guy is a catfish addicted too. I'm sure he will do a great job for the following months... I'll keep a dozen of them for my own...

[Rinaag]

What an amazing story, sensational fish, and ... what-a-great 'keeper'.
Someday I want one of these guys.
Maurina

[ElTofi]

just to compare, using the same scale :

day 45 :


day 75 :

[MatsP]

Not very fast growing, are they?

--
Mats

[ElTofi]

I agree the pictures aren't so good... I will make another shooting session this week-end to have better comparison. In fact, the smaller youngsters are around 2.5 cm TL and the bigger are at 3.5 cm TL which is not that bad, when you think they only are 75 days old...

Comparatively, the L320 reached 3 cm when they were 3 months old... And don't forget that I wasn't perfect on water temperature during the 7 first weeks... This certainly had an impact on growing rate.

[ElTofi]

Day 82, almost 3 months old...

I've kept 10 of them to go on with the pictures of growing. I sold the 20 others to a local shop where I trust the guy (and the boss)... good money to pay the electricity bill (part of it at least)

I've tried to put the fry on a darker background, to obtain better colour, which are closer to the real colour they wear...




what do you think (exept this one is enormous and fat) ?

[DutchFry]

beautiful! the red tail is coming through now!

[Lloydy]

Really lovely, I would love to get hold of some L25s in the future once I have a bit more space

[andywoolloo]

beautiful pictures, thanks for posting them. Amazing job with the spawning and babies.

[Jools]

Any chance I can get some pics for the catelog? Anyone else out there like to see an accumulative article???

Jools