Albimarginata Spawned!

[Andie]

Ahh, he's just gorgeous! All puffed out like he's got the mumps. Heehee, he looks like my Matilda when she's got her cheeks full of her food

 

[Synirr]

I was just dreaming of macrostoma in another thread, and thought of your boy who is still holding. They say that macrostoma pretty much refuse to spit out fry (hence the price tag) and they usually have to be stripped much like a cichlid. Ya think that could be whats going on wth your guy whos still holding?

You know, that might be the case! I tried harassing him a little today because I'm ready for him to just swallow them already so he can eat, poor guy, but nothing came out of it. I'm almost certain he's holding, but it makes me uneasy that he hasn't released yet... I keep thinking "well what if he's really just sick?" . He keeps mouthing though, so if he is holding they're definitely still in there. How would I go about trying to strip them from him, do you think (if that's an option at all)? He's so tiny I wouldn't know where to begin!

 

[wuvmybetta]

I know, that's the scary part. If I remember correctly you just net/hold the fish and try to pry his mouth open while holding him under water like in a breeder net.. A toothpick was recommended to me by a trustworthy source but holy bejeepers does that sound scary. I think I would try to find something blunt and long...the first thing that springs to mind in one of those safety needles you can buy at craft stores. They're long plastic needles for kids...? Or something like a pick up stick with a rounded edge.

Buuut, I saw one breeder on an Asian board who said he lost one while trying to strip it AND they swallowed a few other times while he was stripping, so now he just leaves them be and hopes for the best. Surely he's got to spit them sometime...

 

[Synirr]

Surely he's got to spit them sometime...

You'd think so, but as weak as he seems to be getting, I'm having my doubts
I don't really care if I lose the fry anymore, just as long as he EATS! It has been so long... I think I may try to strip the fry very tentatively tonight. I'm not going to harass him until he's forced to spit them out, just try it very gently and see what happens. I think using my fingernail would work to force his mouth open, yes? I have long nails and I've got more precise control over those than I would with a toothpick or something like that.

 

[wuvmybetta]

Fingernail should work too...ooOh, now this is getting dramatic! Do post about whats going on, I wish I could watch!

By the way, I remember once Wally told me he feeds his pugnax bbs and the dad spits the fry out so they can eat....? Maybe drop some microworms in and see what happens if nothing else?

 

[Synirr]

I tried it. It was surprisingly easy, but troublingly, I didn't see any fry in that mouth of his. Either he swallowed while I was trying to get a good grip on him, or he's just sick
I popped him back in his tank and put in some Maracyn II because I don't really know what else to do, hah. If he is sick I have no idea what I should be treating for, since the absolute only symptoms are not eating and lethagy. I tried a white worm on him once I put him back in the tank and he refused.

 

[wuvmybetta]

hmmm, I wonder whats up with him
What's your PH at? If it's too high there are some species whose eggs will calcify and not hatch out, I wonder if they swallow them after that happens. I think William (siamct not TFF's William ) has a PH of 5.?, it's very low. It might be worth emailing him for advice.

 

[jollysue]

Remember my depressed Samson? Could he be depressed? I know it's silly. ) What about calling the supplier to get to the breeder for info?

Poor little boy

 

[Synirr]

Too lazy to test the pH at the moment, but it's 6.8 coming straight out of the tap and the albimarginata tank has some IAL extract in it, so I know it's definitely below 6.8. That tank has been running for 3 years or so and is very stable. The female was perfectly fine in that tank, so that makes me think this is a problem specifically with this male, not with the water... Maybe he just swallowed when I tried to strip him and isn't interested in food yet (can you tell I'm trying to be optimistic here? lol) I read that it generally takes them half a day to become interested in food again after releasing fry or swallowing, so we'll see tomorrow I guess. I reeeally hope he doesn't give up on me, he's such a little treasure!

 

[fishykisses]

are there any guarantee's on these little guys?
Besides the fact that they are great little critters - they were really expensive...No?!
If he's sick can you get some money back or a replacement?

 

[jollysue]

I absolutely think William would want you to contact him regarding the fish. Maybe he knows something to help. He would want to help, I'm sure.

 

[slamster17]

yea i tried stripping my simplex male once. i hated it i was scared id open his mouth too much. well it didnt work and i didnt feel comfortable doing it again. you have to somehow hold thme underwater hold their mouth open and shake them back and forth to get the eggs/fry out. not a fun process.

hope he starts eating for you again tho.

 

[wuvmybetta]

I absolutely think William would want you to contact him regarding the fish. Maybe he knows something to help. He would want to help, I'm sure.

I agree.
I was talking to Wally about a Thai breeder I've been corresponding with, I remarked that "He's such an absolute doll, I just want to hug him and roll him in a ball and put him in my pocket" and Wally said he feels the same way about William, so I assume he's pretty easy going He might just have the perfect answer. These are tank bred from him, correct?

 

[Synirr]

Unfortunately the little guy didn't make it through the night
I have no idea what was wrong with him... I assume he starved himself, but why is a mystery.

The other two are still doing great, which confuses me even more since they all lived in the same tank together for several weeks

Anyway, yes wuv, they were tank bred by William. I'll have to email him and ask if he might know what the problem was.

fishykisses -- I wouldn't even try to get my money back or anything like that... it's not William's fault, after all. The fish was healthy when he arrived. It's just one of those things, I guess. I do still have a pair left.

 

[jollysue]