Breeding Ornates
- Thread starter Shopko
- Start date
To answer the spawning question:
When my pair exhibit breeding behavior, the male will nudge and nip the anal fin of the female, moving her around. If she is receptive, she will move to an area where she will lay her eggs. The male will move up alongside her, moving his head side to side (laterally), like he is saying no. The female will then shudder and burst forward, the male close behind. Eggs are laid and hopefully fertilized. I have only seen a few eggs laid at a time this way.
Normally, after spawning, the females anal fin looks swollen and red. Like its been nipped.
I don't have any pictures, but here is a page from my journal that sort of captures what I wrote.
When my pair exhibit breeding behavior, the male will nudge and nip the anal fin of the female, moving her around. If she is receptive, she will move to an area where she will lay her eggs. The male will move up alongside her, moving his head side to side (laterally), like he is saying no. The female will then shudder and burst forward, the male close behind. Eggs are laid and hopefully fertilized. I have only seen a few eggs laid at a time this way.
Normally, after spawning, the females anal fin looks swollen and red. Like its been nipped.
I don't have any pictures, but here is a page from my journal that sort of captures what I wrote.
Thank you now I know what to look for guess I should put them in a seperate tank. When you said 30 breeder did you mean 4x1x1 size 30?
A good indication that something is going on is to watch the males anal fin. If there's any chemistry happening in the tank, he will expand and form it into a cup shape. Kind of like he's flexing it..
To answer the breeding tank setup question. I keep the adults in a 30 gallon tank. 36" (92cm) long, 18" (46cm) wide and 13" (33cm) deep. This is the tank they spawn in.
Originally, I kept them in my 55gal. But when I converted that to salt, I moved them to their own tank. I wanted to put them in a 40gal breeder tank, but none were available around me at the time. Breeder tanks tend to be wider and shallow, compared to your average display tank. The depth of the tank is really not as important, just as long as they have a lot of latteral space. Also, a good cover is a necessity. They willl jump when spawning and the shallow tank increases the risk of them jumping out.
Originally, I kept them in my 55gal. But when I converted that to salt, I moved them to their own tank. I wanted to put them in a 40gal breeder tank, but none were available around me at the time. Breeder tanks tend to be wider and shallow, compared to your average display tank. The depth of the tank is really not as important, just as long as they have a lot of latteral space. Also, a good cover is a necessity. They willl jump when spawning and the shallow tank increases the risk of them jumping out.
Status: For anyone keeping track, I should only have three fry left. But the yesterday I went to measure the fry free swimming in 10 tank and discovered another. (So I still have four fry alive). Both fry not separated are considerably larger (3.5cm) than than the two remaining in my setup (2.5cm). I feed the same thing to all, but it seems the free swimmers are eating more.
Here is a pic of a separated fry:
Sent from my DROID RAZR using MonsterAquariaNetwork App
Here is a pic of a separated fry:
Sent from my DROID RAZR using MonsterAquariaNetwork App
Status: For anyone keeping track, I should only have three fry left. But the yesterday I went to measure the fry free swimming in 10 tank and discovered another. (So I still have four fry alive). Both fry not separated are considerably larger (3.5cm) than than the two remaining in my setup (2.5cm). I feed the same thing to all, but it seems the free swimmers are eating more.
Here is a pic of a separated fry:
Sent from my DROID RAZR using MonsterAquariaNetwork App
Here is a pic of a separated fry:
Sent from my DROID RAZR using MonsterAquariaNetwork App
Thanks again we have some wide 30's I can set up.
I had heard that they jump when spawning funny isn't it they don't look like a fish that would jump. Do you think as they get more mature the spawns may produce stronger and more numerous spaqns?
I had heard that they jump when spawning funny isn't it they don't look like a fish that would jump. Do you think as they get more mature the spawns may produce stronger and more numerous spaqns?
