La Ceiba/Rio Danto Parachromis spawning drama

[GMFISHNUT]

He looks very motaguense in that photo, but there was a whole identification thread. http://www.monsterfishkeepers.com/forums/showthread.php?t=243177 The majority of the votes went for mota, but experts (read: mojo) said La Ceiba. You can see in those pictures how the male has the typical head profile you see with the La Ceiba fish. The color is very strange though. In person the female has a yellow body with an orange head. The male is mostly yellow with green-ish blue tints, and both fish have this color on the fins as well. Ironically, at one point there were more posts saying the fish were La Ceiba than votes

Here are some better pictures of the eggs. About 16 hours later, a small amount are succumbing to fungus (Less than 20 out of 1000). I included close up pictures of both fish to show the damage done during the custody battle. Both fish are very beat up, but do not seem to mind. When will I be able to tell if the eggs are fertile?

I agree! After putting your pic of the male and my pic of my male side by side, you can see they are almost identical. Good luck with them, they are an awesome sp. to keep!

 

[cookiemonster]

I have the same plastic plant too

I think it is interesting that males of this species always, always have that forehead profile that isnt seen as consistently on any other Parachromis species. Twenty hours later, the eggs should be rotting if not fertilized right?

 

[GMFISHNUT]

I have the same plastic plant too

I think it is interesting that males of this species always, always have that forehead profile that isnt seen as consistently on any other Parachromis species. Twenty hours later, the eggs should be rotting if not fertilized right?

You should definately see the majority of them turning white if they aren't fertilized by now. If they're no good you'll know by tonight. Good luck.

 

[DISCIPLE]

best of luck!

 

[cookiemonster]

Update:

Over the next couple days, the fungus spread throughout the eggs until the whole rock was just a big fuzzy mess. At this point I gave up on getting any fry from this spawn, until tonight I was watching the tank and saw a couple pieces of debris near the bottom that seemed to be somehow fighting the current. Closer inspection revealed a batch of at most twenty free swimming fry. I dont know how they hatched or how they could have stayed hidden for a week but they are there. I will try to get pictures tomorrow but I dont know how well they will turn out.

 

[Jakob]

Good luck, you wouldnt care to send some fry to Iceland someday?
I love the male, the colors are stunning even though the picture quality is bad.

 

[GMFISHNUT]

Update:

Over the next couple days, the fungus spread throughout the eggs until the whole rock was just a big fuzzy mess. At this point I gave up on getting any fry from this spawn, until tonight I was watching the tank and saw a couple pieces of debris near the bottom that seemed to be somehow fighting the current. Closer inspection revealed a batch of at most twenty free swimming fry. I dont know how they hatched or how they could have stayed hidden for a week but they are there. I will try to get pictures tomorrow but I dont know how well they will turn out.

Congrats!!