Any idea how to spawn nanobagrus?

[Jon]

I've had a colony of stellatus for forever now, and I have at least two (the two swimming in the pic) very heavily gravid females. Any idea about how courtship goes down in the wild?

[Shane]

Jon,
I have not worked with any of the Nanobagrus, but based on my work with other bagrids this is what I would try:

1) Set up two small tanks (10-15 gallons). Cover the substrates of both with small (.5-1") rounded stones and finish each with a heavy dose of java moss. If you are not worried about "natural" surroundings the same effect can be achieved with marbles and spawning mops. Make sure the filter intake is protected or use a sponge type filter.

2) When the females are clearly ripe (gravid) hit the tank with a large (70%) water change with rain or RO water that is slightly cooler than the tank's normal temp.

3) Watch females closely. The second they appear to have shed some body mass transfer all adults to the second tank. As you fatten the adults up again in the 2nd tank, watch the first tank closely for at least 2 weeks for any signs of fry.

If no fry, repeat the above. If you have 2-3 unsuccessful attempts start manipulating additional factors such as the percentage of water changed, larger drop in temperature and the addition of extra aeration with each attempt.

I believe that most of us have frequent successful spawnings of egg scatterers that we are never aware of. The egg guarders (like cichlids and loricariids) give us clear visual clues when they have spawned. It is much more difficult with egg scatterers and the unprotected eggs are often consumed before we ever knew they were there.
-Shane