N.caudopunctatus Eggs!

[elisew]

I`ve been watching my punks a lot over the last few days as they`ve been exhibiting a bit of breeding behaviour, digging sand and spitting it into a mound outside a few of the shells but this afternoon I`ve noticed some eggs inside one of the barnacle clusters kiriyama sent me. Both punks have been wriggling inside the barnacle cluster so I`m sure they`re definitely punks eggs
The eggs are a greenish kind of colour and I`m not sure if they`re fertile so any advice would be great

 

[N0body Of The Goat]

What a great Xmas surprise, congratulations!

 

[elisew]

Thanks Goat

The female is constantly going into the barnacle and I can see her wafting her fins over the eggs, you never know there could be the splish splash of tiny fins soon, but if not at least the practice will do them good

 

[Biulu]

Congratulations! This article makes a nice read about breeding this species: http/www.cichlidae.com/article.php?id=72

According to the article the female guards the eggs and fanns them. So if they left them all by theirselves, it is likely that they are not fertilised.

 

[elisew]

The female hasn`t left them, she`s no further than a couple of inches away from the eggs all the time, unless one of the other tankmates comes too close then she`ll charge at them
Both male and female are chasing the other fish away but the female is still going back and forth and fanning the eggs......time will tell I guess

 

[kiriyama]

Fry tank ahoy

 

[elisew]

Fry tank ahoy

I`ve read that if the eggs do hatch then the fry can be pretty difficult to catch, not sure whether to just leave them alone to see what happens and how the fry get on IF the eggs do hatch
I do have 20L and 35L tanks spare to use if necessary

 

[kiriyama]

I made the mistake of leaving the eggs in the tank, lost 2 batches of fry
I used a fry net and lay the shell in there with an airstone underneath, once I knew they were all hatched I took some substrate and water from main tank and placed it all in fry tank with shell and just ran a simple air driven sponge filter I think if the fry are in the main tank they will become a tasty snack for the leleupi etc
Looking forward to seeing what happens here

 

[elisew]

Hmm, I don`t have an airpump so the airstone and air driven filter sponge idea is out. I`ll see what happens with them, may have to look at buying a small air pump now

 

[kiriyama]

Hmm, I don`t have an airpump so the airstone and air driven filter sponge idea is out. I`ll see what happens with them, may have to look at buying a small air pump now

I have a Tetratec one that's no longer needed, used it for hatching baby brine shrimp for the fry, you're welcome to it

 

[elisew]

Well I thought all the eggs had been eaten as they`d disappeared but a little while ago hubby called me into the living room and pointed out some tiny swimming white fry.
There`s a few inside the entrance to one of the Escargot shells that can be clearly seen on yet another video I`ve taken and I think there may be some smaller ones in another shell closeby, looks like there`s a fair few in there and the parents are vehemently protecting them. I just hope that the parents don`t decide to eat the fry now
Diatoms have started making the shells look a mess and I was going to take the shells out and give them a clean but I don`t think I`ll be able to now. I had my fingers attacked yesterday whilst taking the multis out of the tank and then straightening the shells......now I know why!!

Vid:
http/www.youtube.com/watch?v=NTyUasd04Mw

 

[kiriyama]

Another fry tank needed now, I said you would have more than one Tanganyikan tank
Congratulations on the fry , good stuff

 

[elisew]

Another fry tank needed now, I said you would have more than one Tanganyikan tank
Congratulations on the fry , good stuff

Thanks
I only have a 20L spare now as the multi are in the 35L so not sure what to do, whether to remove the fry or not. We don`t have room in our living room for another decent sized tank but so far the punks are still protecting the fry really well and there`s loads of the little things swimming around
My son didn`t realise how fiesty the punks are until I told him to put his hand in the tank
Vid:
http/www.youtube.com/watch?v=b4sVfHITV58

 

[bullit]

i counted mine earlier. 33 i think lol. punks average 50 i think :Y:

 

[kiriyama]

Cool video
You've got me wanting to change my stocking plan (AGAIN) after seeing that,