hugely pregnant giant danio

[Weaver]

I noticed at the beginning of the week that one of my giant danios is really really pregnant
She is swimming /eating and behaving normally.However I am surprised that she hasnt dropped her eggs yet.Could she be holding them back for some reason?Shes in an established community tank
Iwouldnt worry except she looks like shes eaten a ball---massive swollen belly
Any ideas?

 

[The-Wolf]

what size tank are they in?
how many in the school?

the best way to breed giant danios is in a large tank 40+gallons and temp of around 28c (higher than their normal range).
you should have all of the top area of the tank free for "the chase" and some spawning mops on the bottom will produce the best results.
like all danios they will eat the eggs as soon as they are layed, so the parents should be removed immediately.

conditioning the fish for a few days on live food, especially tubifex, will encourage them to spawn.

 

[Weaver]

Cheers and thanks for the quick reply
They are in a 4ft tank at the minute with 6 in the school.
I have nowhere to put them at the moment and no live foods-just frozen and freeze dried
Iwasnt going to try and raise frythis time but might give it a go up the line .Ithink I will just let nature take its course-tank is heavily planted so some eggs may hatchand some fry survive.If so I will try and save them.I will do some serious reading in the meantime

 

[The-Wolf]

4ft tank and 6 in the school is idillic

you may wish to checkout my danio website (sorry about the pop ups)
http/www.danios.0catch.com/Giant.html
and a breeding page
http/www.danios.0catch.com/danio/SexingBreeding.html

 

[Weaver]

Dont worry.I really love my danios and have got your site on my toolbar for easy access.Its a bummer at the minute because I am cycling a 10g tank but no way can I use it -nitrite still spiking.
LFS says he will take any giant fry I had as he cant get any at the minute and knows mine are good(bought from him) and are properly looked after.
Oh well

 

[The-Wolf]

thats good that you have a place to take the fry.FYI
I'm updating my website and putting it one a new host
site this week, look out for a post about it.
(hopefully this will be the end of those popups)

 

[Weaver]

Good man.Look forward to it.My lfs owner said to bring the danios to him tomorrow and he will have a go at breeding them.I figure I might as well as the eggs will only get eaten in my tank.
Would the biggest male ensure the best fry?

 

[The-Wolf]

that would stand to reason
bigger = stronger/ healthier (as regards fish that is)