Honduran Red Points Cichlids Breeding - Free Swimming Fry :)

[kaivalagi]

Hi All,

Just wondered is it normal for fish exhibiting breeding behaviour not to be that bothered about eating? I have tried flakes, blood worm and pellets but am having to remove the food after a bit as it doesn't really get touched...a mouthful once and that's it...

Thanks for your input

 

[star4]

I gather its the HRP, my cons were the same, quick mouthfull of food and back to it. You may find the same while they once they have spawned, I just fed mine the tiniest amount of food but 3 times a day rather than the normal amount once. Once the fry had hatched they went back to being normal greedy guts

 

[kaivalagi]

Great, I did suspected their minds were on other things...threw me a bit though as they're normally, as you say, such greedy guts

They won't leave each others side for anything! No eggs yet but I guess they're just courting for now and forming a nice bond *fingers crossed*

Thanks

 

[kaivalagi]

I thought I'd upload a short video of their behaviour, I've setup a couple of places where I hope they're find refuge...any suggestions please say

[media]http/www.youtube.c...h?v=U6eYrqfBWY8[/media]


I think they've decided on the pot/slate arrangement in the corner, lots of sand getting spat out

 

[kaivalagi]

Eggs Laid I think...

Okay, so I think they've done the business but cannot see the eggs, I can see the female working hard inside the clay pot, as if the eggs are on an upper side in the pot so I suspect they've laid and begun the caretaker fanning role.

What food do you think would be best for the varying stages of the fry once they've hatched? Do I feed anything before they are free swimming? It might be a little difficult depending on where the parents move them to. It does look like the male has prepared a deep pit under where the internal filter at the other end of the tank as this is likely to be the least turbulent...

I have frozen brine shrimp, daphnia, bloodworm and floating pellets, catfish sinking pellets and some Nutrafin Max flakes left over also....would these be okay if I made sure I broke them down / mushed them into very small bits? I assume I'll have to fed several times in the day, with the filtration off to stop it flying everywhere?

I intend on leaving the parents in with the fry, there are no other fish in there other than parents or hopefully babies


Also, do I carry on with regular water changes? I should I wait until I have free swimmers? Ammonia 0, Nitrate 0, Nitrite 20 on the tests right now...

Please bear in mind this is the first time I have had any breeding cichlids so would appreciate any and all advice!

Thanks

 

[star4]

If you are leaving the parents to it then do just that, feed the parents as normal dont worry about the fry, they will pick at microscopic stuff in the tank, I saw my convicts taking flake food and spitting it into the pit for the fry. Use a food that the parents can do this with while they are young, they wont really feed till the eggs sacks are fully gone. If its their first spawn dont be suprised if they eat the fry after a couple of days, its normal, however as they are on their own they should feel safe enough to continue. I would advice removing the fry after around 10-14 days, it was around this time my male convict started to eat the fry. I have not bred HRP before just using my convicts as an example.

 

[kaivalagi]

Thanks for that Star, I should have realised the parents would sort out the fry feeding too flake and frozen foods it will be for a while I think, the pellets might prove a little difficult for the parents to sort out for the fry...

I am surprised that the fry will be vulnerable though, I was expecting to leave them with the parents until they get to atleast 1"....I don't have a tank for the fry to be moved into (working on it, negotiations under way with the mrs)...and my divider will not stop fry going through it I doubt. Maybe I should get a some form of net to move them into? I can't think of the name for it right now which is really annoying

 

[bullit]

well that didnt take l0ng l0l

 

[kaivalagi]

well that didnt take l0ng l0l

I think the male was being such a git in the other tank just because he wanted this

Not seen the eggs though...could be mistaken but I think by all accounts the female is getting busy in a way that surely means there are eggs...whether they're fertilized I am unsure as yet...fingers crossed

 

[kaivalagi]

The parents (hopefully) are still tending to something....Mum and Dad but mostly mum had a quick scoff of less than a quarter of a bloodworm cube...Dad doesn't seem to do much, I guess there is nothing to defend against...

The parallels with us humans make me laugh

 

[PDSimon]

What're you going to do with the fry/baby fish

 

[kaivalagi]

What're you going to do with the fry/baby fish

No idea yet, probably pass some on for P&P only (it has to be cheaper than a visit to an LFS, they cost £5 each when I bought them) and try and sell the rest (if there's lots) to an LFS somewhere...maybe I'll keep a single female for my main tank...

The main thing is I want to see cichlids going through the motions that are easier to breed now, so I can deal with more difficult more wanted cichlid breeding later on and know what to expect, i.e. Tapajos and Rotkeils

 

[PDSimon]

awesome

 

[star4]

See anything yet! dying to know if you have fry

 

[kaivalagi]

No nothing yet, I daren't disturb them, the mum is staying in the pot so something is going on...even if it might be a false start....

How long do you think I should wait before doing anything? Leave it be? I assume if the eggs (if there are some) are no fertilized then they'll eat them?

The mum has been eating, and dad has been leaving food for her mostly, I am hoping these are good signs