Hiding Male Bristlenose?

MAV · Post by **MAV** » 08 May 2006, 15:37

Can someone answer this one, I think I know the answer but just want to be sure.

I have 3 BN's a large male about 4 inches with masive antlers and 2 females about 2.5 inches, the male used to be out and about all day rumaging through the tank, for the last week it has been hiding in a rather large ruined castle ornament hanging inside one of the towers, I checked 3 days ago by lifting it up and looking underneath to make sure it was there it was and did not want to come out, I can't see any egg's saying that I did not want to move the fish to look.

last night it came out for about a minute and went back in and all I can see is it's tail. Is there a chance that it is guarding some eggs?

Also I wanted to know how long the fish would stay there going without food? as it's usually the first on the scene when food goes in.

Should I move the fish to look if there are eggs?

nitrite is 0
PH is 7
260 litre tank

Azmeaiel · Post by **Azmeaiel** » 08 May 2006, 15:45

Personally I wouldnt move him. even if he is guarding eggs, he can probably take much better care of them than us! Usually fry will come out around 10-14 days after eggs have been layed. The male will usually spend all this time guarding them and not come out for food. In mine I have never noticed ill effects. This does sound like breeding behavior though. With my first spawn one of my males dissappeared for a week, next thing I noticed was a tail sticking out from under a rock,then a few days later some free-swimming fry.

good luck.

MAV · Post by **MAV** » 08 May 2006, 15:53

Thanks Azmeaiel

I have BN's a few of them, I was just looking in the tank and I saw one free swimming, my Angel fish saw it aswel and ate it, I'm now off to my LFS with 2 Angels I Know it's nature but I won't tollerate it.

I have guppies several small corys neons of differnt types, a black shark a platy and a few other plecs.

are there any plec eaters among these?

Azmeaiel · Post by **Azmeaiel** » 08 May 2006, 16:00

I would keep an eye on the black shark if anything, possibly the platy if it is big. Small moving things can be too much of a temptation to anyone. For a short term soloution, carefully catch the fry and put them in a breeding net, this way they will be out of harms way. if your 'free swimmers' have just started appearing it will be worth carefully tipping out the contents of the castle before they disperse into the tank, dad will usually abandon them at this stage anyhow.

MatsP · Post by **MatsP** » 08 May 2006, 16:23

I'd too agree that the black shark is most likely the biggest threat after the Angels...

Breeding net works well as long as you siphon it clean every other day or so.

You need to feed the babies once they are free-swimming, or they will starve to death...

Feed the same as adults, but you have to make sure any vegetables are a little bit softer than adult food, so some boiling may be necessary for some foods - although babies eat raw melon nicely, and once they gain a bit of size raw courgette (zucchini) will be fine too.

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Mats

MAV · Post by **MAV** » 08 May 2006, 18:49

OK threre Shark has been sent to LFS as well as 2 Angels and a large platy, I have emtied out the castle and there seems to be about 10 little BN's theyve scattered eveywhere, the guy at the LFS says now they are free swiming they should be fine and would have more chance of survival in the open rather than a breeding net and to feed as normal.

Does anyone see any prblems with this?

MatsP · Post by **MatsP** » 08 May 2006, 19:44

If you have ten babies in a net, it shouldn't be too bad - it's easier to make sure the food gets to them and not some other fish, but that's about it.

They will be OK in the big tank as long as you don't have lots of different size bristlenoses. I tend to breed one lot and sell them, then let them breed again. That's obviously not the fastest pace you can do it [I take mum out after she's laid eggs and let dad stay - since he does the hard work!].

If you have several batches in the same tank, the bigger ones will not let the small eat freely, so you the smaller ones will grow slower - no big deal, they catch up eventually, if you take the bigger ones out [down to the local shop for credits is how I get rid of mine - very popular they are too]...

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Mats

MAV · Post by **MAV** » 20 May 2006, 21:32

I am pleased to say I have 23 healthy BN's swimming freely in my comunity tank feeding happily on melon and cucumber, there were over 50 in total, transfered some to another tank that are fine healthy dudes.

Would like to say thanks to all that helped me on this one.

Never bred these before happend by accident, Can I induce another spawn?

And I have added another mature BN thats appx 5 inches with a head like a tree.

Theres now 2 mature BN's and 2 mature females

Nitrates 0

temp 79.2

ph 7.1

using RO water for weekly 20% changes with added suppliments

MatsP · Post by **MatsP** » 24 May 2006, 14:44

My advice would be to only keep one male with two females. Multiple males may well fight more than court the wimmen.

You can PERHAPS induce another spawn by a cool water-change (drop the temp in the tank by some 2-3'C, so the new water needs to be a fair bit cooler than the old water). But the female(s) will probably just breed when they are ready without much effort from you...

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Mats

Hiding Male Bristlenose?

Hiding Male Bristlenose?

Hiding Male Bristlenose? just seen babies by chance