They Are A Couple!

[Biulu]

A few weeks ago I asked for help identifying the sex of my juvenile kribs. Well, these juveniles have matured rapidly, since now they are building a nest! The male tried for more than a week to court the female, and finally was successful, as today she helped excavating the nest. They built the nest between 2 stones, which I used to help rooting a sagittaria plant. Honestly, I am not prepared for future fry, so I have to start reading! If anybody has some tips; they are more than welcome!

I am sending you some pics.

First the male, and on the right the nest entrance

Female getting out of the nest

 

[kribensis12]

Very Nice! You will probably need 20 gallon's for a grow out tank, after you cull the fry. They will do best on BBS, but if not, get liquifry for good growth. They look stunning! That female is a excellent speciemen, you will definatlry have some nice fry! Can wait for update's! Also, leave fry with parent's until the start showing sign's of breeding.

 

[Biulu]

Well, liquifry and BBS are out of the question here, but I read I can also use infusoria. that is easier to arrange, especially with a heavily planted tank like mine. Further I can get (later on) artemia and spirulina, so will try to raise them on that.

They are in my community tank. When should I transfer them to a grow out tank? And with, or without parents? Thanks for the help! I will keep you guys posted.

 

[kribensis12]

Yeah, infursia will work, but BBS and Liquifry would do a better job, but they will still grow either way. You cna remove them when the parent show signs of breeding. If you want to, remove the female and put her in with the fry for antoher 2-3 week's. She will tkae better care of them, an deat the sick one's, whihc saves you the issue of finding the sick one's an dtry to stop them infecting everyone else!!!!!!!!!

 

[Biulu]

Thanks for all the help. The female is definitively the one in charge, and is guarding the nest. She even chases the male away, if he tries to come close. She is definitively not anticipating a role for him in this event!

 

[kribensis12]

Im glad she is doing her job, but sometimes females wont let the male anywhere near the fry adn she will kill him. Watch out for torn fin's, etc.

 

[Biulu]

Well, it looks like this was the end of this love affair and breeding attempt, as the female as left the nest, and is wandering until the other end of the tank without paying too much attention to the nest anymore.

I have no idea what happened; maybe snails ate the eggs? Or maybe the parents are too young, and the eggs were not fertilised? Who knows......

 

[kribensis12]

Im sorry to hear that. Maybe if you seperate her, and condition her, things might turn out better, as she will be ready to lay and have more body fat so laying dosent take too much of a toll on her. THen put her back in and see what happens. Im guessing she and the male ate them. They look plenty old to breed, but maybe not as you male was bought immature. I was wondering, what color where the eggs before they dissappeared?

 

[Biulu]

Im sorry to hear that. Maybe if you seperate her, and condition her, things might turn out better, as she will be ready to lay and have more body fat so laying dosent take too much of a toll on her. THen put her back in and see what happens. Im guessing she and the male ate them. They look plenty old to breed, but maybe not as you male was bought immature. I was wondering, what color where the eggs before they dissappeared?

I never saw any eggs, as I was not able to see inside the cave they made themselves. I only assumed there were eggs, as she was guarding the entrance anxiously for 2 days. She still looks very healthy and fat enough to me, so I am not sure whether that was the problem. I do have several snails in there though, that I am trying to get rid of, so I thought that maybe they might have eaten the eggs?

I will be moving house in 2 weeks time, so it is not too bad that this happened. At that time I will have to re-arrange everything, and then I will get rid of the snails and maybe prepare them a nest site.

 

[kribensis12]

Got any new pic's? I might be able to tell you if she did lay, as she shouldnt be very fat.

 

[Biulu]

She does look less fat, but I have not been able to take a picture of her yet. She is moving more at the back of the tank and in between the plants, so it is difficult to take a proper picture. I will keep on trying though.