Bristlenose Has Eggs!

[waysgoose]

Hi guys,

I'm really excited. I have 2 Bristlenose I got together, but keep in separate tanks. Recently I put them in together, hoping they would breed. And they have! The male was hiding inside an ornament, and I know they do this when there are eggs, and I checked. There are about 20 nice big orange eggs in there!

My question is, the tank is a 2 foot community tank. Obviously there is the mother and father bristlenose, three juvenile platy and 6 lemon tetra.

Do you think the fry will be safe when they hatch? As I understand the dad usually takes pretty good care of the fry. He is much larger than any of the other fish in the tank. I would hate for the fry to get eaten.

Thanks for any advice.

Justin.

 

[SchottayB]

No fry are ever safe sadly. Even if in a tank with just the mum/dad some might be eat.

They will only be safe if they are moved into their own tank I belive?

 

[lock77]

Don't know about the fry. Just wanted to say congratulations!

 

[Gilli]

Dad will look after them well but soon they will leave the cave and be eaten im afraid

 

[waysgoose]

Dad will look after them well but soon they will leave the cave and be eaten im afraid

OK, I guess I better set up my hospital tank as a new home for them, before they hatch. Too late tonight here now. I will do it tomorrow.

Very excited. Thanks.

 

[tribalbrit]

I would move the tetra's leave the parents to raise their young, it's great to watch and most will survive.

 

[Dieses Madchen]

I had a 10g tank that I used for my bristlenose pair. When they would spawn, I would lift the hollow log out of the main tank (with daddy) and move the eggs and daddy to the 10g. Had some okay survival.

 

[waysgoose]

I had a 10g tank that I used for my bristlenose pair. When they would spawn, I would lift the hollow log out of the main tank (with daddy) and move the eggs and daddy to the 10g. Had some okay survival.

Yes, that's what I plan to do today, once I get home from work. Unfortunately it isn't practical to move the tetras and platies, as my hospital tank is only about 15 litres. I'll be happy if just a few survive.

I'll keep you all posted.

 

[Lockhart]

Congratulations

I'd move them to a small fry tank, and then run a air-driven filter of some sort.

 

[waysgoose]

OK, time for an update.

I went out and bought some new gear for the tank, including a new air-driven fry-safe sponge filter.

I set up my 15 litre hospital tank, then moved the ornament and dad into the new tank. I stuffed a bit of mature filter media into the new filter. After a little while of swimming around dad went back into his cave to tend to the eggs and hasn't come out, so all is good there

Now I guess I just wait.

Oh, I have another question. Should I put any food in the tank?

 

[Dieses Madchen]

Put food in for dad, definitely. When the eggs hatch, you will need to add a little more food so the babies can eat too. THey eat the same thing daddy does.

 

[Lorne]

Having bred Ancistrus many times, I recommend you have some Cucumber ready for when the little darlings have used up their egg sacks, simply cut a large piece off, slice it in half and put a stainless steel butter knife through the 2 pieces, place the whole thing gently in the tank, leave it there for 1 day and refresh.

Make sure the tank floor is kept pretty clean, I would remove the dad as soon as you can after the babies emerge, it just makes it easier to look after the fry without him eating all the cucumber to himself, just be careful to avoid damaging any babies whilst catching him

And remember regular water changes, all the best

 

[Dieses Madchen]

Having bred Ancistrus many times, I recommend you have some Cucumber ready for when the little darlings have used up their egg sacks, simply cut a large piece off, slice it in half and put a stainless steel butter knife through the 2 pieces, place the whole thing gently in the tank, leave it there for 1 day and refresh.

Make sure the tank floor is kept pretty clean, I would remove the dad as soon as you can after the babies emerge, it just makes it easier to look after the fry without him eating all the cucumber to himself, just be careful to avoid damaging any babies whilst catching him

And remember regular water changes, all the best

Cucumber? I'll have to remember that for the next time mine breed...

 

[Lorne]

Yep, they go absolutely nuts for it

Also ensure you have a small piece of genuine bogwood in the tank (Not Mopani) as it contains a chemical which is beneficial to their digestion

 

[Dieses Madchen]

That has got to be the cutest picture I have ever seen!