Great looking fish. 75% twice a week sounds exhausting. With my chlorinated water, I have to let the water change stand for hours before adding it to the tank. I couldn't imagine that hassle multiplied. I'd have water just sitting out, evaporating at all times.
Hybrids on the Way . . .
- Thread starter Ulu
- Start date
We have pretty good water. I use Wondershells to boost hardness, but the African tank has aragonite now which will help.
I am retired, so lots of time for fish.
I am retired, so lots of time for fish.
It would be better if I got the two huge foam filters out of the tank and into a separate sump. The aragonite sand tends to cover them a little.
Almost by accident I found out that little Leeloo has delivered us of at least three fry alive and swimming.
They are very tiny but have the classic mbuna shape.
They are very tiny but have the classic mbuna shape.
Well I moved everything around in the tank today to accommodate a grow out area for the fry. It appears that there are at least four surviving fry and they are apparently large and healthy. They are hiding out underneath the sponge filters.
I was really not prepared for any of this because I didn't think any of those fish were female.
Surprise surprise!
I was really not prepared for any of this because I didn't think any of those fish were female.
Surprise surprise!
As of today there are officially five surviving fry behind the screen. They appear to be healthy and swimming normally and mostly hiding under the big Sponge Filter.
I did spot one or two Fry on the other side of the screen but with 10 fish in that side of the tank they have probably already been eaten.
I did spot one or two Fry on the other side of the screen but with 10 fish in that side of the tank they have probably already been eaten.
Currently eight fry have made their way into the small school hiding under my Sponge Filter.
I couldn't get them all to pose in the same photo.
I couldn't get them all to pose in the same photo.
I am continually impressed by the ability of such fry to survive in tanks which, at feeding times, turn into a frenzy. Truly survival of the fittest.
I video'd Leeloo and Buttercup mating over gravel.
This was taken on March 16th, so I would say gestation was 20 days from breeding to the release of fry.
I am still assuming that the blue fish (Leeloo) which carried the fry in its mouth was the female. It was the smaller of the two fish by far but I always thought it a male because of the coloration. I assumed that Buttercup was a male because he's the biggest fish in the tank, and just as bright as can be.
I have absolutely no proof of anything.
The very first photo in this thread shows a slightly younger Leeloo over the black & blue gravel. I moved it & just added some more, when I moved them from 30g to 55g.
I am amazed the fry survived from the egg stage without being swallowed because these fish did not have any peace and quiet! They bred on gravel and could have lost many eggs. Then I stripped their tank with the fish in and replaced the gravel with aragonite March 21
By April 5 we had fry. That seems too fast, but these are tank-grown hybrids from tank-grown hybrids and I keep the water at 80F. Also this is my first experience breeding cichlids and it came as a total surprise.
This was taken on March 16th, so I would say gestation was 20 days from breeding to the release of fry.
I am still assuming that the blue fish (Leeloo) which carried the fry in its mouth was the female. It was the smaller of the two fish by far but I always thought it a male because of the coloration. I assumed that Buttercup was a male because he's the biggest fish in the tank, and just as bright as can be.
I have absolutely no proof of anything.
The very first photo in this thread shows a slightly younger Leeloo over the black & blue gravel. I moved it & just added some more, when I moved them from 30g to 55g.
I am amazed the fry survived from the egg stage without being swallowed because these fish did not have any peace and quiet! They bred on gravel and could have lost many eggs. Then I stripped their tank with the fish in and replaced the gravel with aragonite March 21
By April 5 we had fry. That seems too fast, but these are tank-grown hybrids from tank-grown hybrids and I keep the water at 80F. Also this is my first experience breeding cichlids and it came as a total surprise.
