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I have ten of these in a mixed community tank, they are only about 3-4 inches long, but I spotted two of the males were guarding spawns last night.
Ihad read that they need caves or tubes to incourage them to spawn, so i have these dotted througout the tank, however the fish had other ideas and one spawned on the underside of an amazon sword leaf and the other on the side of a piece of wood.
below are two pics, any advice would be appreciated.
regards
joe mc


Ihave a couple of other pics on photobucket account is joemcjoemc, feel free to check it out.

Congratulations to the spawn, and good luck to bringing the fry up.

Do you have any clear photos of the parents, and if so could you post those in the "ID" section?

I don't think we have them in the Cat-eLog, but I'm not certain, as I'm not quite sure what species you actually have. Loricaria filamentosa is not a currently valid name according to Catalog of Fishes - it may be Dasyloricaria filamentosa, but it's also possible that it is a Lamontichthys filamentosus, or something else.

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Mats

Hi,

that should be a Rineloricaria sp. of some kind ("filamentosa" is probably just the trade name.
I don´t believe that it is a Dasyloricaria (shouldn´t they be lip brooders..?), and according to the picture I am sure it is not Lamontichthys (doesn´t "fit the bill").

Cheers, Sandor

when I originally bought them they were labeled as whiptail cats and about 1 and a quater inches long, I bought 10 as Iwas afraid I might lose some they looked so delicate.
I thought then after a bit of research that they were a rhinolocaria species maybe lima? but I met the shop owner and got him to go through his list of stock ordered , and they came in as 'Loricaria filamentosa', not that that really means anything! so I.D.is still in question.
Iwill try to take some more pics, they are quite secretive and are not a species that hang about in full view allowing for a photo!
the colouring and markings vary on all fish ,some being more mottled brown and some grey / black.
give me time on the photos.
after looking at the eggs again Iwould say they are 2-3 days old at the moment.

What is stated on a exporter or wholesalers list is not always a very good ID - it is some name that sort of describes the fish sold, at least usually.

I suggest you get a "photo tank" - you can use one of those small plastic ones available in most pet shops, and put a layer of gravel/sand in it to keep the fish up from the bent corners at the bottom.

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Mats

Hi,

It would be a Hemiloricaria species, what ever - H.filamentosa/us a trade name - nothing more.
Rineloricaria don't have long filamentous extensions.
Dasyloricaria filamentosa is a cage brooder, with a size of more than 25cm.
Lamontichthys filamentosus is a very nice, rare fish with extremely long extensions. It is hard getting them to spawn.

cheers
Norman

At this point in time Hemiloricaria in the Cat-eLog are listed as Rineloricaria - I think Jools has agreed to change them, but that's certainly not happened yet.

Normal, do you have any suggestion as to what species of Hemiloricaria this could be? Or are we best waiting for some pictures to turn up?

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Mats

Hi Mats,

Now I am at home and so I can see the pictures. My last post where just some suggestions for the name "Loricaria filamentosa" without seeing the pictures at the office.
I am very sure that this will be a Hemiloricaria species.
But now it's impossible to say what species this could be. We should wait for some better pictures.

cheers
Norman

Hi again,
thanks for showing such interest, it will prob a week or so till I am organised to take photos in a clear container, but here a couple more of the fish which may help.
the first is one of the darker paterened fish




I have some other fish that could do with aid in identifying namely what subspecies of Farowella s I have, one in particular. buts that's another day!!
I will post on the cory section a fish I would like your thoughts on in a minute.
again tks
joe mc

Can I suggest that we keep this thread to discuss the breeding of the fish, and start a new one in "What's my catfish?" for the identification.

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Mats

Can I suggest that we keep this thread to discuss the breeding of the fish

Its uncommon that species of this group (whole Rineloricaria-group) spawn at a leaf. For spawn mostly they prefer long tubes with open ends. After hatching the fry feed brine shrimps and also small dry food. But they don't feed well at the first - but important - days.

and start a new one in "What's my catfish?" for the identification

I think it is nearly impossible to say exactly what species this could be. It isn't a species with a specific pattern like H. melini, H. lanceolata or some other.
If it is a wildcaught the location of the caught would be interesting. But even with locality it would be very hard localising the species.

cheers
Norman

here are two pics from today of the eggs, the metal thingy in the pics is a nitting needle used to turn the leaves to take the pictures



the eggs seem darker and Ican make out what i think are eyes and a spine?

the eggs have been hatching throughout the day one by one and the fry move away from egg clutch onto the leaves of the sword plant, ............... to become food for the penguin tetras and the apistos! I just cannot remove all the other fish without causing chaos in the tank, also today the pair of discus spawned on the filter intake and a female apisto borellii moved out a swarm of fry from one of the clay pots , i did not notice she was guarding the eggs here are a couple of photos to test your eyesight, see if you can spot the lone fry on the leaf!, you can also see how the eggs have darkened as they get ready to hatch, one other thing, notice the full belly on the penguin that is lurking in the plants.
maybe some will survive, maybe they will spawn again.. I plan on removing the apistos and the tetras once the tank settles back to normal.

Congratulations on all the spawns/fry.. David