N. Transvestitus Have Spawned!

Curiosity101

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I was just checking the tank earlier and saw this little shimmery wormy thing. Fished it out to find out it's an almost free swimming n. transvestitus baby.

Problem is the OH and my sister said to me yesterday 'Oh can we just unplug one of the fish things for awhile'. I said fine, but not for long, and only unplug the small heater. Well guess what, they forget to plug it back in and they unplugged the large heater (my 300W for the 150l gave up just before xmas so it's had a 100W and 25W on it since).

The water is now 12C ... thankfully I check it daily. Oh well... least if they've spawned once they'll do it again.

For anyone who is interested...
Tank: 150l
Inhabitants: 3 N. transvestitus (1 male, 2 female), 4 Bolivian Rams (2 male, 2 female), 2 Dwarf flag cichlids (1 male, 1 female).
pH: 7.6
Temp (normally): 25C
Diet: Mixture of cichlid pellets, flake, frozen bloodworm and frozen daphnia.
Very lightly planted, but lots of places for making caves.

By my reckoning, judging by the mobility of the fry, I reckon they've been hatched for only a few hours. Which makes me think they were probably laid on christmas/boxing day. Whilst I was away in Sheffield visiting family for christmas! Lol.
 
Mum n dad don't seem quite as attached to the area they'd spawned in. I'm thinking that as it was their first spawn + the severe drop in temperature means they've probably lost all the fry. It's a real shame, but I've now go brine shrimp eggs and micro worms on order. So will be ready next time.

Don't suppose anyone can tell me how often they spawn?
 
Well they spawned again either late last night/this morning. :)

I've seen the female spit a couple of eggs out, hopefully they're infertile as opposed to her just doing some bad parenting. I've got some baby brine shrimp on the go, and should have micro worms available soon.

Question is... do I take the eggs away or give the parents a chance to raise them...
 
From what I've read, they make good parents, but what I am often reading is that the fry really struggle in anything but soft acidic water for the first few weeks. Good luck with this second egg batch, these are great looking small fish and apparently a massive challenge to breed!
good.gif
 
That's exactly what I've read. And I've yet to find anyone who has tried to breed them in a higher pH. The water here isn't very hard though... guess I'll just have to wait and see. And if they don't survive then I'll move the parents to the 35l which they can have to themselves. And I'll lower the pH.... prob buy some aqua pura bottled water or something. :) Not sure it's worth me getting an ro unit as I'm in a student house. Will be moving back home over summer where we have super soft water anyways. lol.
 
Things are going well, mum n dad have been digging out more pits/caves in the area surrounding the spawning cave. Presumably to move the fry once they hatch?

Fry should be hatching some time tonight/tomorrow afternoon. And free swimming in a week or so according to what I've read. Brine shrimp is ready for them if/when they emerge. Need to buy myself a turkey baster for target feeding though if they do hatch. lol.

Also I've rehomed a few fish so now the L. curviceps have moved into the 60l giving the parents a bit more room to raise their brood.

Just took a pic to show what it looks like, mum is in the cave at the front, dad is under the log. Not sure if it's obvious but there are big holes to the right and left of the main cave. And another one under the log where the male is.
Fingers crossed the fry are hatching/have hatched. Parents still seem very bonded and parenty though so all good signs.
tranvestitus_01_01_11.jpg
 

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