Balzani breeding

[MonteSS]

I have four Gymno Balzanii in my unheated 75g currently at 70*. I think I have one male and three female that are about 2.5-3".

Lately one fish hides under a rock and does not come out. It wont feed or sift. I am wondering if she has babies in her mouth maybe?. She is real hidden so I cant get a real good look at her.

Just wondering what to look for.

Thanks....Bill

 

[Ralph]

Hopefully you got some babies.

 

[nolapete]

Her buccal cavity (little pouch of skin between her lower jaw bones) should bulge out if she has eggs and will be more notable once the fry hatch and grow.

 

[dogofwar]

Mouth should be full and she won't be eating... they're delayed mouthbrooders so she should have been guarding eggs for a couple of days.

Matt

 

[Brian Tatum]

heres a couple pics of my old female balzani at 3"tl holding a mouthful of fry.

this is what it will look like if shes holding.

 

[peathenster]

Here is an older thread on what happened with mine - http://www.monsterfishkeepers.com/forums/showthread.php?t=244315

Yours are actually from this group Good luck!

 

[hydrophyte]

Good luck. That sounds like a cool fish.

 

[MonteSS]

Thanks. I dont think she is holding. Just a loner maybe. She sits under a quiet rock away from the rest. She chases away other fish that come near. Hard to see her. Tank temp is about 68*. I assume they may spawn in the spring when temps warm up.

Pete thats a great thred that I didnt see. Very informative.

...Bill

 

[peathenster]

Thanks. I dont think she is holding. Just a loner maybe. She sits under a quiet rock away from the rest. She chases away other fish that come near. Hard to see her. Tank temp is about 68*. I assume they may spawn in the spring when temps warm up.

Pete thats a great thred that I didnt see. Very informative.

...Bill

The interesting thing about balzanii, in my experience anyway, is that females protects their own territories, and males roam. The first female in my group that claimed a spot was the first to spawn too.