The Rotkeil Babies Are Growing Up!

[ChilliPepper]

My Rotkeils are getting very nicely coloured now. Shame they don't like the camera, so hide up once it's out Makes it very difficult to get an infocus shot which actually captures their true colours. In real life they are stunning, so much better than I thought they'd be, and they are still only youngsters.

Anyway, so I will use this thread to update on their progress. TBH should have done this before.

When I first got them in August. They went into my 50g at first to grow out a little, as they were only about 1.5/2" when I got them. I think I had had them a couple of days at this point.

These were taken in December. They are not very clear pics, they came out quite dark. However the red neck/shoulder is starting to emerge here, and the blue face more pronounced. As well as a very colourful dorsal fin.

Here are the most recent shots, taken last night. As you can see the red neck/shoulder is growing stronger now, as well as the blue face and finnage. The fish have a gorgeous greeny blue sheen to their body, which is captured by the below slightly blurry pic, but it shows their colours better.

I will add more photos as they grow Hope you like the photos. I hope Star4 is still on here so she can see how well her babies are doing

 

[Joshwainwright]

Ohh, stunning. Great progress photos.

They're bobby dazzlers aren't they?

 

[Westwood]

Great fish! I love how the coloration, on the lower fins, started a yellow and has slowly gone to red!

 

[hamfist]

Looking really good ! So how big are they now ?

 

[ChilliPepper]

The biggest is almost as big as my Green, so around 4", and the others are about 3/3.5"

 

[hamfist]

The biggest is almost as big as my Green, so around 4", and the others are about 3/3.5"

And when where they born ? Just interested. They've clearly been fed very well in that time.

 

[Verminator89]

Looking good. Obviously same batch of fry as my lot, although you got yours when they were younger so have slightly better shape than mine. Two of my 3 have quite a sloped back looking a little deformed. Nothing sinister i don't think. Yours have coloured up well, great to see. Mine are colouring up quite well also

Lesley, when were they born? (approx)

 

[ChilliPepper]

And when where they born ? Just interested. They've clearly been fed very well in that time.

I'm not too sure actually. I don't really know if any of mine were from Star's first batch of fry, or the 2nd or 3rd. The first batch were 'born' March time I think. I didn't get mine until August, as they had to grow a little to be big enough to send They have very good appetites, though show me a cichlid who hasn't

Looking good. Obviously same batch of fry as my lot, although you got yours when they were younger so have slightly better shape than mine. Two of my 3 have quite a sloped back looking a little deformed. Nothing sinister i don't think. Yours have coloured up well, great to see. Mine are colouring up quite well also

Lesley, when were they born? (approx)

Maybe yours were from a different batch? When did you get yours and how big were they? I got mine at the same time as Kaivalagi got his.

 

[Verminator89]

End of November i think i got mine. They were perhasp 2-3 inches tip to tail then.

 

[ChilliPepper]

End of November i think i got mine. They were perhasp 2-3 inches tip to tail then.

Hmm, don't understand it. Mine are between 3-4" now, so must have been from an earlier batch. Do you have any recent pics of yours?

 

[Verminator89]

No i don't, although next time i can i shall try and get some pics up Probably next week as i doubt i can get a camera over to my girlfriends to try. You definately had yours before me, however i could quite as easily ended up with 2 from the first batch and one from a more recent batch as i believe she kepts them all in the same tank. We shall have to see, but will certainly get some pics of mine up.

Keep the updates coming Chilli