Ancistrus spp. Fry

All posts regarding the care and breeding of these catfishes from South America.
Post Reply
migdem
Posts: 86
Joined: 01 Oct 2010, 09:12
Location 2: Malta

Ancistrus spp. Fry

Post by migdem »

Hi all,

On 15/11/2010 I had my Ancistrus spp first time batch. The below pictures were taken last Sunday of the young on a hungry frenzy hehe.

Image

behind the cucumber you can also see the hole of the pot where the male uses as his cave :)

Image

After when do they spawn again? This batch was hatched (wigglers) on 15/11/2010. I leave temp on 26*C. Last Sunday I made the weekly WC of 20% and i have switched off heater and the water of the WC was cooler. Temp was around 24*C. When I was ready I switched it on but no activity yet. I feed them daily cucumber, algae disc and once a week frozen bloodworms. Small wigglers also eat some bloodworms they are always hungry :)
User avatar
MatsP
Posts: 21038
Joined: 06 Oct 2004, 13:58
My articles: 4
My images: 28
My cats species list: 117 (i:33, k:0)
My aquaria list: 10 (i:8)
My BLogs: 4 (i:0, p:97)
Spotted: 187
Location 1: North of Cambridge
Location 2: England.

Re: Ancistrus spp. Fry

Post by MatsP »

I'd expect another spawn within a few days - a week perhaps. But there is no real good way to tell.

--
Mats
migdem
Posts: 86
Joined: 01 Oct 2010, 09:12
Location 2: Malta

Re: Ancistrus spp. Fry

Post by migdem »

hehe thanks wait for some luck then :)
migdem
Posts: 86
Joined: 01 Oct 2010, 09:12
Location 2: Malta

Re: Ancistrus spp. Fry

Post by migdem »

I ended the old year with some bad news I had another clutch of eggs this time i saw it was big. Unfortunately the male kicked them out and only found 10 :(( Now I have put them in a breeder with air stone maybe they will hatch. This happened on the 4th Day. What could be the problem? The first spawn was succesful. Each day i shine a torch in the cave to check if they are still there. This is done for about 5 seconds just to check.
User avatar
MatsP
Posts: 21038
Joined: 06 Oct 2004, 13:58
My articles: 4
My images: 28
My cats species list: 117 (i:33, k:0)
My aquaria list: 10 (i:8)
My BLogs: 4 (i:0, p:97)
Spotted: 187
Location 1: North of Cambridge
Location 2: England.

Re: Ancistrus spp. Fry

Post by MatsP »

The best way to avoid eggs being kicked out is to have a lip or edge to the cave, that stops the eggs when they are pushed around.

--
Mats
migdem
Posts: 86
Joined: 01 Oct 2010, 09:12
Location 2: Malta

Re: Ancistrus spp. Fry

Post by migdem »

and how do I do that?
User avatar
MatsP
Posts: 21038
Joined: 06 Oct 2004, 13:58
My articles: 4
My images: 28
My cats species list: 117 (i:33, k:0)
My aquaria list: 10 (i:8)
My BLogs: 4 (i:0, p:97)
Spotted: 187
Location 1: North of Cambridge
Location 2: England.

Re: Ancistrus spp. Fry

Post by MatsP »

Well, it depends on the style of the cave. Just tilting it up (put a stone or some such under the front of it) may be the easiest way. I've recently built caves from pipes with a round piece of slate using a hole-saw, and put another piece at the front which is a big round piece with a slightly smaller hole offset from the center - so that there is a slightly bigger "edge" at the bottom of the entrance. I haven't actually had them in the tank for long, I'm just giving you some ideas...

I know some people who have two used terractotta saucers (intended for flower-pots to stand on), with a hole cut through the lip of the saucer that is on top.

--
Mats
migdem
Posts: 86
Joined: 01 Oct 2010, 09:12
Location 2: Malta

Re: Ancistrus spp. Fry

Post by migdem »

you can see the cave above. It is a terracotta pot.
User avatar
MatsP
Posts: 21038
Joined: 06 Oct 2004, 13:58
My articles: 4
My images: 28
My cats species list: 117 (i:33, k:0)
My aquaria list: 10 (i:8)
My BLogs: 4 (i:0, p:97)
Spotted: 187
Location 1: North of Cambridge
Location 2: England.

Re: Ancistrus spp. Fry

Post by MatsP »

So, just lift the front of the cave up - or buy a terracotta saucter [or some such], and cut off a flat piece and silicon it to the front of the cave.

--
Mats
migdem
Posts: 86
Joined: 01 Oct 2010, 09:12
Location 2: Malta

Re: Ancistrus spp. Fry

Post by migdem »

I just lifted it as you told me. About 10 now have hatched. Hope for more. But I do not have more then 15. But i am pretty sure i had more but..... Now I hope for the best.
JoePlec
Posts: 206
Joined: 28 Aug 2010, 22:40
Location 2: Liverpool

Re: Ancistrus spp. Fry

Post by JoePlec »

If you stop shining the torch it makes a vast improvement, shining the torch will spook the male and that is probably why he is kicking the eggs out.
migdem
Posts: 86
Joined: 01 Oct 2010, 09:12
Location 2: Malta

Re: Ancistrus spp. Fry

Post by migdem »

Mmm it is a bit difficult to check when you have eggs and always wondering when they will hatch ;)

I will try to leave them alone. The problem mainly is that the aquarium has black water extract since I have alot of driftwood in and the aquarium light is low. So i do not see the pair alot except when they will be in the cave :)
JoePlec
Posts: 206
Joined: 28 Aug 2010, 22:40
Location 2: Liverpool

Re: Ancistrus spp. Fry

Post by JoePlec »

By all means move the cave closer to the front of the glass when they are not in it. But if you keep using the torch instead of just being patient then you will have no fry to rear :(
migdem
Posts: 86
Joined: 01 Oct 2010, 09:12
Location 2: Malta

Re: Ancistrus spp. Fry

Post by migdem »

You have a point there :)

Thanks

It seems that I saved 16 fry so the water was definatly good. The problem was the torch. Now I tilted the cave up so that he will find it difficult to kick out eggs :) Until next time. I hope it will soon :D


Just a small question how do you catch 3 month juveniles to sell them? Do I need to remove all the furniture?

Thanks
JoePlec
Posts: 206
Joined: 28 Aug 2010, 22:40
Location 2: Liverpool

Re: Ancistrus spp. Fry

Post by JoePlec »

quickest way is too put some cucumber or algae wafers in to get them out and feeding then use 2 nets and push one net to the other, yeah i always push the back end of a cave down into the gravel/sand.
migdem
Posts: 86
Joined: 01 Oct 2010, 09:12
Location 2: Malta

Re: Ancistrus spp. Fry

Post by migdem »

Ok thanks Joe
User avatar
littlebristlenose
Posts: 14
Joined: 13 Feb 2010, 12:15
My cats species list: 10 (i:0, k:0)
My aquaria list: 5 (i:0)
Location 2: Melbourne,Australia

Re: Ancistrus spp. Fry

Post by littlebristlenose »

Use a red filter on your torch.
migdem
Posts: 86
Joined: 01 Oct 2010, 09:12
Location 2: Malta

Re: Ancistrus spp. Fry

Post by migdem »

they wouldn't be disturbed with a red filter?
User avatar
littlebristlenose
Posts: 14
Joined: 13 Feb 2010, 12:15
My cats species list: 10 (i:0, k:0)
My aquaria list: 5 (i:0)
Location 2: Melbourne,Australia

Re: Ancistrus spp. Fry

Post by littlebristlenose »

When spotlighting using filters at night is a way to see without frightening wildlife,filters of red,blue,yellow and green have been used by pro shooters depanding on lighting levels.
Red and blue is best,movement is what fish take fright from so slow movement is needed.
User avatar
ceh
Posts: 41
Joined: 10 Nov 2010, 21:23
My aquaria list: 1 (i:0)
Location 2: Amsterdam

Re: Ancistrus spp. Fry

Post by ceh »

if you cut cocumber verical thay can eat all in same moment not only 2-3
migdem
Posts: 86
Joined: 01 Oct 2010, 09:12
Location 2: Malta

Re: Ancistrus spp. Fry

Post by migdem »

Ok will try that thanks
Post Reply

Return to “South American Catfishes (Loricariidae - Plecos et al)”