My Curviceps Spawning Journal

[chrismr]

Ok, so my curvi's are on attempt number 6....

I am just wondering, if I can see the eggs clearly, will I actually be able to see the fry hatching? Will the parents only move them once they have hatched?

I am not sure if the parents are currently eating the eggs, because they are being so methodical in what they are doing. The will nudge at some eggs, and then go to what looks like a little excavated ditch amongst some plants.

I can not be sure if they are spitting anything out.

But they keep doing the same thing over and over. Nudge at eggs, and then go to ditch.

Do they move the eggs prior to them hatching, or would I be able to see the eggs actually hatching?

 

[chrismr]

I can see them!

At least I think I can! If I go really close to the glass and block off all reflections I can make out a lot of wriggling things down there... incredibly tiny.

And the parents are still guarding that section like there was not tomorrow...

I think I finally have fry!!!!!!

Am so happy!

 

[chrismr]

Several days in now...

Eggs hatched Friday, and can still make out lots of little wrigglers in the ditch under whichever parent is doing the guarding at that point.

Can't wait until they are out in the open so I can get an idea as to how many.

On another note, my keyholes have spawned (Saturday) in their tank. I have to say, that despite readin that they are peaceful even when spawning, I am beginning to have my doubts.

The male is quite calm, but ole Dotty can go psycho from time to time. She even had a go at her man - but i think it was her bitching about him leaving the eggs unguarded to go get food.

All in all, fish are being very productive for me

 

[chrismr]

Well, not sure if anyone is listening, but thought I would keep this updated in case anyone ever has any questions that about issues I may address...

A brief recap...

Wednesday 1st February:
Eggs are laid on flattish stone. Parents chasing the other fish a bit, but nothing major. Mom and dad are taking turns in fanning the eggs.

Friday 3rd Feb:
The parents start picking at the eggs. Initially thought the eggs were beaing eaten, but were being moved to a small pit excavated amongst plants by the parents.
Eventually caught site of something really tiny and wriggling which confirmed the eggs had been moved to hatch. The parents take turns guarding the newly hatched fry. Still chasing the other fish, but still nothing major.

Monday 5th Feb:
The male is really having a go at the harlequin rasboras, but pretty much ignoring the ottos and ancistrus. The harlequins will need to be removed if the aggression continues. My research into these fish has suggested that they become disruptive during spawning, but nothing indicated that they may be quite this aggressive towards certain fish.

Tuesday 6th Feb:
The fry are clearly visible through the plants the plants. It is impossible to determine how many though. The male is still rambunctious.

Wedenesday 7th Feb:
This morning the fry have started coming out from the plants and a bitinto the open as a little swarm. the parents attempts to take them back behind the plants are failing as there are just too many.
There could be anywhere between 100 and 200 fry!
The parents seem to have their fins to full with fry to bother with chasing any of their tank mates.

I am really shocked at the rate of growth of the fry. When thye hatched they were barely visible. The eyes are now clearly visible, and they must be about 2mm to 3mm long.

 

[chrismr]

Thursday 9 Feb:
There seems to be slightly fewer fry. The fry are also getting quite adveturous and travellihng all around the tank now. This stresses the parents out to no end.

The harlequins have been moved to another tank. They would probably have been killed otherwise. People have written previously that these guys can be disruptive when they spawn. I have a elaborate on that and say that for a fish of their size, they can be downright vicious! Well, that is not entirely fair, as it is only the male who seems to be chasing other fish.

Perhaps I just have a particularly rambunctious fish. God know I have had some nutcase fish before: my female keyhole can be a bit of a nut, and I have had a male krib in the past who was just downright mean to everything.

Friday 10th Feb:
The fry are now one week old! Hooray!

So far, I have not been using any kind of fry food. I have just been crushing up flake. I am not sure if that is what they are feeding on... they could jsut be eating stuff which is already in teh tank. It is a mature planted tank, so there is probably all sorts for them to feed on. They are certainly not starving, as they are growing very quickly.

 

[chrismr]

Saturday when I went to turn on the lights, the babies were nowhere to be seen....

Don't know what happened. Friday night all were there and swimming about, the next morning just gone.

Could not see any in the filter. There were no fish present that would have eaten them - except the parents...

Oh well...