PlanetCatfish.com

Would someone give me some advice on my Hoplosternum Littorale as I am having a problem with the female? She goes through the spawning process but does not produce any eggs. This has happened on three occasions where she goes up to the bubble nest with cupped pelvic fins without any eggs. Could anybody give me some ideas on what the problem might be?

How long have you had them? Is is possible that she's still young and inexperienced? Is it possible that she needs a bit more/richer food to produce eggs?

--
Mats

Hi Matt
Thanks for the reply,the female is about six years old and l knowe was tank breed but she still roes up well when l start to feed chopped earth worm and frozen blood worm for conditioning is this what you ment about rich food?May be the female is on the old side what do you think?although she still looks in great condition and is approx 8 inches long.
cheers stuart

Not sure then.. Maybe it's just the "chemistry isn't right" - I have no personal experience with this species.

--
Mats

May be the female is on the old side what do you think?although she still looks in great condition and is approx 8 inches long

These fish grow and can reproduce fast which many times coincides with shorter lifespans but for a fish this size (8-10 inches) they should be able to reproduce for many years and six years is not much.

Birger

Hi theobas,

Are you Stuart that i got some hoplos from years ago?
I'm Vicky from Yorkshire.
I have changed my email address and not been able to email you.

Our have spawned twice so far this year, the 2nd time just today.

1st spawning this year.
All i did was raise the temperature to just over 80f.
They had plenty of Java moss and Java fern in the tank, the male made his nest by putting the plant under the lid.
Andy put the nest into a new tank about 4 days later we had baby's.
Both the females spawned with and the fry are doing ok so far (fingers crossed).

2nd spawning.
All i did was give him (the male) his plant back, 3 days later they have spawned.

How big (long) is your female? and how fat is she? ours are about 6-7" long and both of the are very fat, it looks like could bust.

All i feed ours on is JMC high protein food and the odd JMC pellets.

There tank is 30"x18"x18" and an under grave filter put they are also on the central system.

There is 1 male and 2 female Littorale and a lonely male Thoracatum in the tank.

Hi Vicky
Your right it is Stuart from luton tried to email you about three weeks ago to see if you and Andy were going to the catfish study group auction at darwen but had no reply now l knowe the reason you changed your email address thought l had done something to up set you.My female is approx 8 inches in length and bulging but as l said she goes into the T position with the male; goes down to the bottom of the tank cupps her pelvic fins but no eggs come out then she goes up to the bubble nest and tries to put her make believe eggs in the nest this has happened 3 times now.The male builds a nest no problem after your advice on the big water change you give me.Have you any ideas on this problem?
hers my email address
<REMOVED> please drop me a line
regards Stuart

[Mod edit: If you want to have privat conversatons, please use forum PM functions - these will e-mail you if you set it that way. Do not post your e-mail address - it will undoubtedly lead to masses of e-mails trying to sell you cheap watches, medicines and whatever else the spammers tend to sell these days (I rarely look at my spam filtered mail - but that is certainly what I used to get) --Mats].

Hi Stuart,

I had forgot about this.

Andy says we had this problem in the 80's with one of our females. We were advised (by a very well known auctioneer with years of breeding experience) to place the female in a bucket of cold water (from the tap cold) for about 3 seconds, i know it doesn't sound nice but Andy said it worked for our female.

PLEASE ONLY LEAVE HER IN THE COLD WATER FOR 3 SECONDS ANY LONGER AND SHE COULD DIE.

If you don't feel comfortable doing it, don't do it.

I hope this helps.

Hi Vicky
Thanks for that advice will give that ago.
regards stuart