Very little info online about ideal parameters or triggers for breeding these. I understand that they are now extinct in the wild. I've have what was sold to me as a young breeding pair about a year and a half ago, before the Brazilian dam was built that eradicated their native habitat. I had been doing everything I could to get them to breed and they exhibited typical breeding behaviour. After 6 months of "practicing" without success, I posted pics online and learned that they were both males. That explained a lot!! Well, 6 months later, I managed to acquire 2 females. I've had them for about 3 weeks now and they've conditioned up nicely. The breeding tubes of both sexes have been down for almost a week, but still no eggs. It appears as though the males have bonded, and the new females are also bonded. I'm considering another tank and separating them, but looking for info on ideal breeding parameters, or known triggers to get them to spawn.
The tank is a 120 gallon, high tech, heavily planted, with 2 separate areas with flat rocks. pH 6.5, temp 26 celsius, GH 2-3, KH 2-3. I'm doing 30-50% water changes bi-weekly, so the water quality is great. I refill and top up with colder water. I feed them 2x daily, with tons of variety (live earth worms, blood worms, bug bites, algae wafers, bottom feeder pellets, brine shrimp, mysis shrimp, freshwater frozen cubes, cyclops, oyster eggs, tubifex, garden grubs). They are well fed and cared for. Tank mates are about a dozen dwarf neon rainbows, a handful of corydoras, 2 angels, 2 honey gouramis, a few apistos and a few bristle nose places.
Any tips or tricks would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.
The tank is a 120 gallon, high tech, heavily planted, with 2 separate areas with flat rocks. pH 6.5, temp 26 celsius, GH 2-3, KH 2-3. I'm doing 30-50% water changes bi-weekly, so the water quality is great. I refill and top up with colder water. I feed them 2x daily, with tons of variety (live earth worms, blood worms, bug bites, algae wafers, bottom feeder pellets, brine shrimp, mysis shrimp, freshwater frozen cubes, cyclops, oyster eggs, tubifex, garden grubs). They are well fed and cared for. Tank mates are about a dozen dwarf neon rainbows, a handful of corydoras, 2 angels, 2 honey gouramis, a few apistos and a few bristle nose places.
Any tips or tricks would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.
Good luck!