Adorabelle......
I first of all bought eggs from someone in Scotland around 3 years ago. They arrived with the packet squashed and no visible eggs. He sent me more that arrived OK but failed to hatch.
Then I saw them on ebay and contacted the seller direct. He is in Sunderland and I'm only 8 miles away so drove up there. I didn't see any sense in paying for carriage. I got a breeding pair.
After 3 days the male committed suicide by jumping out of the tank.
So I got another pair of them, as 1 male with 2 female should work well.
Once more, the male did a runner and died on the carpet.
When I set my nano tank up I bought another pair so now have a male and 3 female. I have added a male Santa Maria Endler as it was alone in another tank with larger fish after its mate also did a jump from the tank. They get on very well.
So far I haven't seen any sign of breeding activity but as I can't sit and watch them all day long I might just get a result in due course. I hope so as if I get any more of them committing hari kari I'll drop them from my collections.
As for the breeding, it's not easy to place a breeding mop into such a small well planted tank so I haven't. Im relying on there being sufficient plant growth to do the same thing, and for the fry to have enough places to swim through to escape detection and live to grow into other high jump athletes.
You have seen and commented on my nano tank as it was being set up and now it's in full bloom, so to speak.
The Monte Carlo in the left rear is now well spread and growing taller. The Rotala in the rear left is the same. It's going to be absolutely great when the colour comes through better. The mini hairgrass is already in need of a cut and I'll wait a couple more weeks for that just in case there are eggs in it.
Would I buy more Luminatus? Probably not. They are surface swimmers and very skittish. The slightest movement outside of the tank sends them scattering so I can see how they manage to jump out.
I think I'd be going for one of the rasboras instead, or perhaps even more of the male endlers as they too stay small and are simply dazzling in some gorgeous colours.
Anyway, good luck with yours, and if you need a phone number of the guy in Sunderland just ask.
Here's the tank just after setting it up prior to the being filled with water
and here it is now