Heros sp. "Rotkeil" Fry!

[Lightbringer]

Bought two Rotkeil as individual fish all of about two weeks ago. They almost immediately paired up and began rearranging the gravel in the tank. Strongly suspecting that I had lucked out and that they were about to breed I kept an eye out for eggs, but never saw any. Then this morning I notice a swarm of free swimming fry with two very attentive parents!

The gravel pieces average 3 - 5mm in size. The big one below is maybe 6mm.

Eventually, the mother became concerned that a camera weilding madman was stalking her kids and she dove it to save them:

 

[peathenster]

very nice. More pics of the parents?

 

[RexFish]

Thats great, would like to see pictures of the parents.

 

[redranks]

Congrats on the new little ones and awesome!

 

[1 ill g]

niiiice!!!!

 

[Lightbringer]

very nice. More pics of the parents?

Unfortunately, Mom and Dad are in very dark territorial colors at the moment so their iridescent blue heads, with red saddles behind them, belly banding, and all the rest of the usual riot of color is mostly hidden. About all that is visible at the moment are the colors of their ventral and anal fins (and their eyes). But here you go:

Please forgive the scratches on the glass. They are in a 22 year old tank that has been moved around the country a lot.

 

[LobstersGoPeenchPeench]

nice dude feel like giving any fry away just put them in a postcard and mail em to me.... lol theyll survive right?

 

[HarlanAshmore]

awesome

 

[Lightbringer]

My wife was concerned this morning when she turned on the tank light and didn't see any fry. Barely awake when she told me I muttered that the parents were far too attentive to turn rogue and lose them all in one night.

Sure enough, a few minutes later the parents started herding the kids out of the cave they'd been tucked into for the night and into the daylight.

Having tons of fun watching the parental behaviour of these Heros. Much more complicated than what I've come to expect from other species (such as discus).

 

[kevbc03]

Its so awesome when they spawn