This is from a thread in my local fish club, theres not many severum guys over there so I figured you guys might be interested.
1-29-13
Tank setup:
55g
1xac70 1x 350B
I put a large terracotta pot on one end and a piece of slate on the other, also allowed for a enough room for substrate breeding as I read they sometimes dig pits. There is 2 large pieces of PVC in the middle of the tank breaks up sight and give the female easy escape.
Using all purpose gravel from home depot like all my tanks.
Well I finally got a female or my male rotkeil. I set up a separate 55 for them and they both were added last Wednesday.
They chase a little a first some aggression both ways not breeding stuff. I thought about separating but decided to give it some time.
This weekend I noticed some tail slapping they cleaned off a piece of slate.
Tonight there was lip locking and then eggs were laid.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1f7Hu-F3JqU (my wife's fabulous camera work)
After the breeding there has been some pretty heavy aggression male to female and he won't let her near the eggs. I think this first time I'm going to just see how things work bore I remove either fish or the eggs.
http://i1290.photobucket.com/albums/b538/Fhfire/3CA80F99-0D50-40D8-9AA3-E8A3EC766C34-123-0000001288B32BAC.jpg
You can kind of see the eggs there. The did not end up laying on the slate the laid inside one of the larger tubs.
Day one there was maybe 200 or so eggs today I counted there is only about 60 or so left all brown still.
1-30
Most of the eggs were eaten by the female when the male came out to eat, 10 or so left breeding behavior has started again alos looks like female may be developing hith. things are moving very fast.
http://i1290.photobucket.com/albums/b538/Fhfire/FAA6D791-BD2E-4AFF-8FA1-0EC992B89AAC-224-0000007195905AB5.jpg
Just a full tank shot
2-3
I think I may be breeding two females....I wish I saw them lay the eggs Id know for sure.
3-28
Well Maybe its fourth tried a charm as I have fertile eggs...at least for now heres some quick pics of the new pair guarding there eggs.
http://i1290.photobucket.com/albums/b538/Fhfire/New%20pair%20maybe/IMG_20130327_213148_zpsf3f9024f.jpg
This is a same "male" as previously, and a new much nicer female. I am still unsure if this fish is male but the eggs are "fertile" for now. Im sure ill know more in a couple days.
So here is a break down of what I've tried so far. Will call the control "male" Pat
Pat+male 1 lead to male 1 death quickly
Pat+female 1 one batch eggs all turned white and Pat got incredibly aggressive so female 1 was moved
Pat+ male 2, Male 2 was much larger then pat but pat still gave him a very bad beating. No breeding behavior what so ever just straight aggression this fish is now with female 1. These are both pretty poor quality so i doubt Ill attempt to breed unless after the move I see some better color.
Pat+female 2 pat kept female 2 in a corner until two days ago and then they began showing a lot of breeding behavior, then today I came home to about 200 eggs all yellow. Both fish were guarding the slate the egg were laid on, this was different then the previous egg laying with female 1. Pat was the only one guarding the eggs the first time and would really beat one female 1 when she got to close.
I do not have high hopes as I still do believe Pat to be female but the way she acts with males smaller and larger its just not going to work until I can get a larger tank so I guess will have to see.
1-29-13
Tank setup:
55g
1xac70 1x 350B
I put a large terracotta pot on one end and a piece of slate on the other, also allowed for a enough room for substrate breeding as I read they sometimes dig pits. There is 2 large pieces of PVC in the middle of the tank breaks up sight and give the female easy escape.
Using all purpose gravel from home depot like all my tanks.
Well I finally got a female or my male rotkeil. I set up a separate 55 for them and they both were added last Wednesday.
They chase a little a first some aggression both ways not breeding stuff. I thought about separating but decided to give it some time.
This weekend I noticed some tail slapping they cleaned off a piece of slate.
Tonight there was lip locking and then eggs were laid.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1f7Hu-F3JqU (my wife's fabulous camera work)
After the breeding there has been some pretty heavy aggression male to female and he won't let her near the eggs. I think this first time I'm going to just see how things work bore I remove either fish or the eggs.
http://i1290.photobucket.com/albums/b538/Fhfire/3CA80F99-0D50-40D8-9AA3-E8A3EC766C34-123-0000001288B32BAC.jpg
You can kind of see the eggs there. The did not end up laying on the slate the laid inside one of the larger tubs.
Day one there was maybe 200 or so eggs today I counted there is only about 60 or so left all brown still.
1-30
Most of the eggs were eaten by the female when the male came out to eat, 10 or so left breeding behavior has started again alos looks like female may be developing hith. things are moving very fast.
http://i1290.photobucket.com/albums/b538/Fhfire/FAA6D791-BD2E-4AFF-8FA1-0EC992B89AAC-224-0000007195905AB5.jpg
Just a full tank shot
2-3
I think I may be breeding two females....I wish I saw them lay the eggs Id know for sure.
3-28
Well Maybe its fourth tried a charm as I have fertile eggs...at least for now heres some quick pics of the new pair guarding there eggs.
http://i1290.photobucket.com/albums/b538/Fhfire/New%20pair%20maybe/IMG_20130327_213148_zpsf3f9024f.jpg
This is a same "male" as previously, and a new much nicer female. I am still unsure if this fish is male but the eggs are "fertile" for now. Im sure ill know more in a couple days.
So here is a break down of what I've tried so far. Will call the control "male" Pat
Pat+male 1 lead to male 1 death quickly
Pat+female 1 one batch eggs all turned white and Pat got incredibly aggressive so female 1 was moved
Pat+ male 2, Male 2 was much larger then pat but pat still gave him a very bad beating. No breeding behavior what so ever just straight aggression this fish is now with female 1. These are both pretty poor quality so i doubt Ill attempt to breed unless after the move I see some better color.
Pat+female 2 pat kept female 2 in a corner until two days ago and then they began showing a lot of breeding behavior, then today I came home to about 200 eggs all yellow. Both fish were guarding the slate the egg were laid on, this was different then the previous egg laying with female 1. Pat was the only one guarding the eggs the first time and would really beat one female 1 when she got to close.
I do not have high hopes as I still do believe Pat to be female but the way she acts with males smaller and larger its just not going to work until I can get a larger tank so I guess will have to see.
