A. claro with eggs

[wijnands]

Well, I've seen these respond to rain, stable water just makes them lazy and stuff their faces.

[1walter9]

Hi, do you now what the PH of your rain water is?

[wijnands]

Last time I checked it was almost exactly 7.

[1walter9]

Do you have a update for us Jeroen?

[wijnands]

I counted 4 three days ago, growing slowly but steadily. I've not seen them take any offered foods yet. I have sold 45 shrimp the last two weeks to reduce competition for vegetables.

Dad is in his cave acting very restless, occasionally venturing out for a few seconds and then diving back in. Biggest female went from very plump to normal again late last week.

[naturalart]

Congrats Wijnands!! Great work! Wish you lived in US, I would be in line to purchase some of your progeny!

[wijnands]

Took some shots last night. 5 babies visible, hadn't seen more than 2 for quite some time which had me worried. Three had distinctly full bellies, 2 less so. Wonder why, the tank almost always has some veg in it and plenty of green spot algae which they scrape.





Also dad ventured out of his cave yesterday so I don't think he's sitting on anything at the moment.

[wijnands]

There I sit staring gloomily at two shrimp eating a very small fry when I look on the other side of the tank and I see another one that's distinctly bigger and a 3rd that's massive compared with the dead one.

I think there may have been a third clutch.

Now if only I could get these dumb little fry to eat what's available to them.

[.Plecomania.]

maybe you should start growing algae on pebbles, or, if its about the 3-4 clutch that your male has fathered then i think it's ok to try raising them in a breeder box or net in the main tank. the dad should not be traumatized anymore if his eggs are taken away. just a guess though. first few times i think its vital for plecos to sit on the eggs and fry.

[wijnands]

I got two in a seperate tank where they seem to grow a bit quicker on algaed pebbles.

[wijnands]

Baby picture:


DSC_0670 by j_wijnands, on Flickr


DSC_0677 by j_wijnands, on Flickr

There's also another one in there somewhere that's quite a bit bigger. These two are finally showing an interest in spirulina. I've also noticed the parents barging over and almost trough the fry, perhaps that's on ething that has caused some mortality earlier on.

[franco68]

wonderful pics

[1walter9]

Goodmorning Jeroen, i found a couple of youngsters in a breeding tube with the dad, i moved the tube in an breeding chamber, later that day there were around 8 or 10 juveniles, not much but maybe some left the tube. I put the father back in the same place and lets hope this continues.

[1walter9]

There are 8 youngsters, not much but it's a start.

How are yours Jeroen, and the parents?

[wijnands]

Congratulations!!

Highest fry count for me this month was 4. Two of those have grown to a decent size and finally found the brainpower to have a go at real food.


Two are this size now:


Are yours eating well?

[1walter9]

Hello and thanks.

One died and 7 are left and I release them in the tank with the parents, so I can't control their eating behavior because the are small. The were eating spirulina tabs crushed. What they will eat now I don't now, I hope it will go okey and they can stand up them selfs from the adults.

Did you have another breeding nest?

[wijnands]

No further breeding. Not entirely sure why. I did watch a marital argument in september when mum came storming out of the cave with her cheeck bristles out. She sat muttering to herself and flexing them for a good 10-15 minutes.
Perhaps I need to trick them into it by stimulating a rainy season again, I don;t really know.