Honduran Red Points Cichlids Breeding - Free Swimming Fry :)

[kaivalagi]

Aw cute Good photos, what camera are you using?

Thanks, I have a DSLR


It is a Canon 450D and was using my Tokina 100mm prime macro lens (http/www.shutterbug.com/equipmentreviews/lenses/0106tokina/)...actually harder to get good pics than I first thought it would be, especially with no zoom and no image stabilisation...it means you need to be close and very steady (fish don't stay in one spot especially when you are up close and personal )

 

[kaivalagi]

Now the male is in the main tank the female seems lost now going around the tank frantically looking for her mate
If only I could have a fry tank too...it's out of the question though.


I am thinking of moving the female HRP into the main tank too to let the fry go it alone in this one...but I am unsure what the situation would become like in the main tank.

There is a male HRP, FM, Port Acara, 5 mixed tapajos, 4 cory and a BN in there...

If this HRP pair get busy again which I am sure they would I am a little concerned about the consequences...what do you all think?

I want to add several rotkeil severum in the main tank next, maybe when the time comes I need to rehome the female HRP if I went this route? 1-2" juvi's added to a tank with a breeding pair of HRP doesn't sound like it would be that easy going on them. Alternatively I place juvi rotkeil in with the HRP juvis to grow out first, but I am guessing a 2" juvi would munch on smaller HRP fry (<1")?

Any thoughts on it all, what would you do?

 

[kaivalagi]

What would you do? Leave the female HRP where she is?

 

[star4]

When I moved my male convict the female did the same went frantic searching for him, she started taking it out on the fry and killing them so I moved her. You could put her back with the male in the other tank, no doubt they would breed again, if they did raise the fry the other fish may eat them or they may eat the fry themselves due to the other fish. As for adding the Rotkeil babies to the HRP I am not sure on that, I added geophagus babies to the rotkeils and the rotkeils attacked it and killed in within minutes?! they were only about 10 days older than the geo. However batch 1 of the rotkeil babies are in with some convict babies without any problems.

You need another tank , just for a little bit while the HRP's grow up

 

[kaivalagi]

Thanks for the heads up, I'll keep a close eye on the HRP mum...

I do need another tank, only a smallish one, say 20USG, but the better half wont go for it...we have no where really where it can go anyway...

I think this tank will just have to be a grow out tank for these fry and then for other fish I get that aren't too big...the HRP's will get reunited sooner rather than later I think...almost talked myself into moving her already!

I just can't stand seeing her sulking like she's doing...especially when the tank is next to the computer desk, where I work. She gets my attention by frantically going up and down and side to side of the end of the tank nearest me, as if she's looking for a way out so she can find her lost soul mate

 

[bullit]

cant y0u split the tank with sme perspex etc

 

[kaivalagi]

Mum and babies have been doing fine for the most part, only just recently there have been a number of fry that have passed away, none of them were healthy like the better ones and were tiny. I suspect as the mum has taken a back seat these little ones have struggled...I think I found maybe 10 dead/dying this week in total, all little ones, not sure how many I have in the tank but there are atleast 40 at an absolute minimum

I am very busy with work too so I manage 2 water changes a week at best, one at the start of the weekend (friday evening) and one before I head out for the week (monday evening), I suspect though I really could have done with more water changes throughout as I do notice growth spurts after a water change and it is obviously good to keep the nitrites down too.

I'll try and get some new pics of the bigger fry, looks like some have very nice markings and a small number of them are potentially the albino style ones (forget the name, begins with "L") as they are now quite large with extremely faint shine for stripes on a plain body colour.

 

[star4]

I think the dying off at this stage is normal without using antibacterial chemicals (like methylene blue), I had exactly the same with the Sevs and the convicts. Personally I see it as a natural selection process with the weaker fish dying off, sad but at the end of the day the remaining fry should all be strong and healthy.

 

[kaivalagi]

I think the dying off at this stage is normal without using antibacterial chemicals (like methylene blue), I had exactly the same with the Sevs and the convicts. Personally I see it as a natural selection process with the weaker fish dying off, sad but at the end of the day the remaining fry should all be strong and healthy.

Thanks for that, I did wonder if it could be attributed to my lack of frequent water changes, but I guess as the bigger fry look really healthy then like you say, just natural selection...

I hate the thought of that methylene blue

You wouldn't raise a child on antibiotics until adult as the immune system would be weak, the same has to be said for fish I am sure...makes you realise why some fish (only a couple in my case) when bought at the LFS die after a few days without reason...they can't hack a new environment basically...

 

[star4]

Its true, I have also bought fish that have died without explaination from LFS no matter how long they were aclimatised for. I think sometimes they are bred in such huge quantities that its a lottery as to whether a fish is healthy or not. But thats just my personal opinion.

 

[kaivalagi]

Well, now I have my main stocking sorted out proper I think any fish I get now will be the one offs I find on here and get from fellow fish keepers. Much healthier fish are to be had from other like minded breeders etc...

Although I haven't seen anyone breeding Headstanders yet, and I am about 50% there on a decision to get some

 

[ChilliPepper]

Any updated pics of your fry?

 

[kaivalagi]

I am just in the middle of a big (60%) water change on the large tank, it's about due, I am also cleaning all the inlet/outlets for my 2 filters...not doing the pipes just yet, too much bother draining and disconnecting hoses...

Hopefully some pics will be uploaded tonight at some point, they've not grown much to be fair, just more defined now...not bellies with tails anymore

I'll try and pick out my favs but they never stay still for long...

 

[kaivalagi]

Okay, not the best pics but they'll do, my arm is aching now

Mr Pink 1

Mr Pink 2

Stripey 1 (not in focus but shows the markings well )

Stripey 2

 

[PDSimon]

Cute little guys