Green severum babies again.

[kiloindia]

I've got eggs again. I'm thinking of taking the rock that the eggs are on out of the tank. Can they be exposed to air for say 20 -30 seconds without affecting them? I can use a bucket, but it's a pretty big rock and some of the eggs will probably get squished during transport. I'm thinking of a 20 long or a 55 gal for the growout. If I do the 55 gal, can I get away with just filling it 1/2 way with water? I'm gonna use two sponge filters for the first couple months. The eggs were laid Late Sunday night or monday morn. I have airstone to place by the rock for circulation.

How long could I use a 20 long for growout?
Is the 4' 55 better for this large amount of fry? (500 - 1000 eggs)
I can also get a 35 gal tank for $20.00 36" X 12" X 18 1/2"

First time they bred was 9 weeks ago. I was not all that successful at getting alot of fry with the syphon tube. Many of the fry I did get out were eaten by two baby convicts accidentally left in the growout 20 gal. Grrr. The babies that stayed with the parents were eaten by tankmates or parents within a week. I only have 7 babies from the first batch in a 10 gal.

No, I still don't have a stand built for the empty 75 gal that will eventually house the parents. When I do, I'll leave the babies with mom and dad next time they breed.

My brother is coming with his family in late June. I better get that fish room squared away by then or they will have to sleep in the garage!

Man, I'm long winded at times........

Dave

 

[kiloindia]

Well yesterday I was gonna take the rock with eggs out. When I got home the eggs were whitish and almost looked like they were cracked open clear eggs. Maybe fungus? I just figured they were dead and left it alone. This morning I see a few ( maybe a dozen) babies by the parents. Nothing like the hundred from last time. The majority of the eggs are still on the rock. Not sure it's fair to call them eggs. Whatever is left of what once were eggs anyway. I'm really glad I didn't take the rock out this time. I would have thought I did something wrong and killed them.

This is still new to me and I'm not sure what happened.

Dave

 

[pebble]

if the remaining eggs are white, it means they're not fertalized and they're not gonna hatch. usually people leave some of the fry with the parents, but if the severums share a tank with other fishes, its recommended that u move the babies or other fish to another tank. if there are just severums, it will be just fine.

 

[kiloindia]

Well I do have lots of babies. Saw them yesterday after work all hurled up in the gravel by Mom and Dad. Siphoned out most and put them in a 20 gal for now. Mom and Dad were thrilled to see the siphon tube drawing away their kids! :'(

As mentioned this is only the second time I've had eggs from the sevs. My only other experience with egg layers is with convicts. With the cons and the first batch of sevs I've never seen any leftover egg remnants left on a clay pot or rock after birth. Not trying to beat a dead horse here, just be better informed.
1. If all the eggs were fertilized, than there would be nothing left after birth, right?
2. It's not like a chicken that hatches and leaves the shell behind is it? I'm assuming not cause I've never seen this with the cons or the first round with the sevs. Never read anything like that either.

This was made more difficult because the rock is hard to see in the tank. The eggs were mostly on the side of this rock. The rock is at the back right side of the tank. The side they laid on is angled inward. This is an 8' tank with the other end against a wall. Hard to get a good look. Last time the eggs were all laid on top of the rock.

So even if only 1/2 the eggs were fertilized, this turned out good for me. It will be cool to raise a few to the 8" mark from fry.

My conclusions will have to be. Salt on the eggs? Interupted breeding with the tank cleaning? Just nature of the beast?

nitite 0
nitrate 10 - 20
amm 0
ph 6.8

So hopefully I will become a well informed severum breeder from now on. You may even see me on the late night talk show circuit as the most succesful hundred-aire from WI!!!! :beer: Don't worry if that happens I won't forget to give a shout out to MFK!! ;D

Dave

 

[gomezladdams]

Congrats on the fry

My sevs are too young yet but from other cichlids there is usually some "shell" residue if the parents are there they eat it