L397s-Lets get them started!

[pleconut]

Yesterday I made some adjustments to my L397 tank, basically piling in lots more wood, even more is to be added today and I moved caves around slightly, as well as a thorough clean up. I have some wavemakers on order to get some flow going around the bottom levels of the tank and towards caves, along with more caves on order. Soon I will be adding around 3-4 more 6 cm fish, to introduce some new bloodlines to the group. There's been quite a bit of breeding related behaviours going on the last couple of months, but no breeding just yet. A couple of the females have been showing interest around the males caves but that's about as far as it's gone. So I'm now wanting to start getting them breeding. So far increases in flow, changes in diet have been the prelude to this behaviour. I'm looking at possibly using RO water in combination with my hard tapwater, and safely introducing some live foods a couple of times a week. I could do with some tips regarding the use of RO water, and tips on good live foods to feed, and any other advice on breeding them.

Thanks in advance.

Teresa.

[Mol_PMB]

Perhaps you need some of these too? ;)

[pleconut]

Thanks Paul, that may help! Something that's a bit more natural looking for them, I must admit I am torn between having caves like this and slate and ceramic cave sets all lined up in a neat little row, however I think the L397s will much prefer these tucked in amongst the wood.

[bekateen]

Good luck, Teresa. The caves look very nice.

[pleconut]

Hopefully they will like them also:-)

[pleconut]

1 male (in cave) 3 females!

[bekateen]

Hi Teresa, Do your females know they are supposed to go INTO the cave?

[pleconut]

Im hoping they do but the one right outside to the left is flirting with him again.

[smitty]

Mol nice work on that wood.

[Jobro]

Theresa, did you ever try a really big waterchange on your L397 tank?

With all that flirting going on for quite some time now, maybe they need a starter to get going?

50% WC with 25%RO-Water might help here. Drop temps with the WC by 5-6°C as well.

[pleconut]

There was a big water change Saturday, and a through clean up, the temp dropped very slightly for a few days, now its going back up. Often a drop and then a raise in temp gets them breeding, also my wavemakers should come today, not used ro yet, but may try it and see what happens next.

[pleconut]

Been a bit of a development, the guy that bred my group is selling off his breeding adult group at a really good price. So I've decided to buy them from him. Consequently my group is now being rehomed, (already reserved! ). So as they're local to me, they are already breeding in my tap water, the breeder has the temp lowered at present to stop them from breeding as he cannot maintain the fry production rate. But he's said the fish will breed when the temp goes back up. Hopefully that's all I have to do, a tank is being prepared which will be put in a very quiet area. So now I'm needing as much help as I can get beforehand especially in terms of looking after the eggs/young. My ABNs look like they will breed again very soon, I invested in an ZET egg tumbler to give me a btter chance if dad kicks again. So if anyone that can offer me any advice at all as i prepare myself, I will very be grateful for it.

[Mol_PMB]

I was just harvesting some BBS for the salty tanks when I noticed that one of my male L397s in the adjacent tank was looking very agitated in and around his cave, clearly disliking my presence. On closer inspection he's got a girl in there. It's the first time I've witnessed this type of behaviour.

Guess I'd better go out to the pub to give them some privacy...

Great breeding weather we're having at the mo - a week of hot dry conditions when I was away so they weren't fed, followed by a dramatic cooling with rain to coincide with my return. It's set both pairs of twigs off again too.

[pleconut]

Haven't yet got my adult breeding group of L397s yet but will be in the next week or so. On another note though I used one of the drilled out wooden logs I got off you as I acquired a breeding BN pair. The male being seven inches in size, the only thing big enough for him was one of the logs by time i got a ceramic cave hed become quite both attached to it wouldnt let go when i tried to take him out of it . So i let him keep it him and the female have being faffing about in it for five days now And still no eggs. But it has to be very imminent.

[pleconut]

Regarding your group, hopefully you will see results very soon good luck!

[pleconut]

Male BN is now fanning eggs in the middle log you made @MoL_PMB

[bekateen]

Male BN is now fanning eggs in the middle log you made @MoL_PMB

It's about time! Otherwise, I was startin' to think that your male was just showing of his stamina!

[pleconut]

Think he's managed to do that. Five days of faffing about

[bekateen]

I was just harvesting some BBS for the salty tanks when I noticed that one of my male L397s in the adjacent tank was looking very agitated in and around his cave, clearly disliking my presence. On closer inspection he's got a girl in there. It's the first time I've witnessed this type of behaviour.

Guess I'd better go out to the pub to give them some privacy...

Good luck, man! Wishful thinking and tails crossed!

[pleconut]

Hopefully won't take em five days!!!

[Mol_PMB]

Thanks great news about your BNs too!

[pleconut]

Will be using it as a lucky cave for my new L397s . Won't be keeping the BNs for long as need space for L397s babies.

[Mol_PMB]

Hi Teresa,
Did you come across any good tips for raising Panaqolus fry?
Cheers,
Paul

[pleconut]

Not as yet. Why you had some luck?

[Mol_PMB]

I'm not certain, but I'm 75% sure one of my males is on eggs at the moment, and has been for a week or so.

[pleconut]

Warm weather does the trick! My Adolfi cories and BNs spawned last week. And he has not left the cave? But then you're probably doing your best not to disturb them. But if he is congratulations. In terms of the fry if he's still looking after the eggs or fry, which i guess they would be by now. I think the fry will be OK to stay with the parents for a while. It's only if for some reason dad doesn't do what he should that intervention is necessary. Keep an eye on the other male ;). Fry will eat as parents, repashy morninv wood will be good, another is New Era now Vitalis rift lake green. It's veg based and it goes really soft my group when young loved courgettes. Also par boiled sweet potato should be OK. Planning on picking up my group next weekend.

[Mol_PMB]

Many thanks
He's not left the cave as far as I know, since he had the girl in there.
He is fanning furiously.

[pleconut]

Signs are really good then by the sounds of it. My males fanned to attract the girls. You'll know how male BNs do it even when not in a cave. I had an L397 serial phantom fanner . You'll know the difference though as they really go for it in comparison to what my males did. Reckon yours are about the right age now and warmer weather would have contributed.

[Mol_PMB]

Tonight he's in the mouth of the cave with dorsal fin held high. Not seen any babies yet but he looks like a proud father.

[pleconut]

Hoping you get some really good results. Going by the tank you've got if I remember correctly the fry might be well covered by decor etc. Keep me posted. By the looks of it chances are good