Jaguar Cat dropping eggs

[bigward]

Just got in from work to find my jaguar cat in the open with the lights on (never seen this before). After watching it for a while I noticed 'her' twitching/ shuddering her tail and releasing eggs (similar way to Salmon in rivers). The eggs are big - really big and they are allover the tank.

[MatsP]

Do you have a male in the tank? If so, it may well be that the eggs are fertile. If she's alone, then you are probably out of luck.

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Mats

[bigward]

There is another Jag in the tank but I don't know if its male or female as they have always hidden in their bogwood homes. The eggs are about 3mm diameter, some are fully clear but others have white swirls inside them

Trying to attach photo

[apistomaster]

Looks like a fertile egg.
I hope you removed them to a hatching container so you can be sure you are getting fertile eggs and if you are a congratulations is in order.
I doubt whether Jaguar Cats drop eggs that have not been fertilized but actual fertilization may have occurred some time earlier than egg release.

[bigward]

Well on that guidance I have been back in the tank and discovered loads more eggs which I have put into a nursey inside teh main tank. The unbelievable thing was that the 2 jag cats were croaking like mad as I was netting the eggs.

BIG appology to moderators if I am posting pics incorrectly I am just trying to sort everything out as quickly as possible

[apistomaster]

I use about a drop of OTC acriflavine solution per liter to act as a bacteriostat and antifungal agent. As soon as I can discern clear signs of embryological development, I just use clean water from the breeding tank for the rest of their developmental time and hatching.
Others use methylene blue which I think is gentler but less effective in my own experience.

[Birger]

This is great, but can you clarify what you have as Jaguar cats...this

Liosomadoras oncinus

or???
I think RichardB had one that released eggs out of the blue as well.

Birger

[bigward]

Oh they are definately Liosomadoras Oncinus, bought them a good time a good while back from Trimar. If I get a change I will try to coax them out of their homes tonight and get some photos.

[TheFishGuy]

Congrats! I've yet to breed a single catfish... Hopefully someday down the road...

[Jools]

BIG appology to moderators if I am posting pics incorrectly I am just trying to sort everything out as quickly as possible

No problem, you're welcome to add attachments especially with something as undocumented as this. It's very interesting especially if the eggs turn out to be fertile.

Jools

[Richard B]

I doubt whether Jaguar Cats drop eggs that have not been fertilized .

Jags will drop unfertilized eggs - i have had a lone female do this on a couple of occasions

[bigward]

Bad news - All the eggs had fungus all over them tonight when i checked them, and they were all infertile.
So at least have a female, will try to get photos of the other one to see what sex it is - that won't be easy.

[apistomaster]

The egg fungus is disappointing news. They looked pretty good in your photos.

I have had a large female Corydoras pygmeus deposit a large number of eggs while I had her isolated for conditioning but that is the only time I have had that happened. Given the numbers of species of catfish I have bred I considered it to be an anomaly. At least you know you have a female which produces eggs, Now if you can only try again with a definite male or two your chances seem good.
For those who are wood catfish specialists is there any consensus on whether they normally guard a nest or are they normally egg scatterers?
If they are egg scatterers a strategy to save the eggs from being eaten would be helpful in a spawning tank. Perhaps a bottom covered by coir would work? I don't know how difficult it is to sex mature specimens.
I know it was very easy to do when I had 20 Centromochlus perugiae but I haven't done my home work on Liosomadoras oncinus. I admire these fish but they are larger than the species I decided to keep but I am interested in seeing a resolution to the spawning challenge they present. I think it was the member, user name, "nv" who had some limited success but the environment was in a pond and and the number of youngsters that were salvaged was very few. It sure it would have been difficult to determine how they spawned or whether they provided any brood care however it would not surprise me if a catfish of their size did provide some brood care.
Better luck next time.

[bigward]

Yeah bit of a sickener but now i have to do my best to photo the other 1 in the tank - could still be a male

[MatsP]

Not anywhere near the same species, but the Centromochlus romani just lays the eggs in a secluded place (cave, plant, or some such). Then they leave the eggs to their fate.

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Mats