Vocalisations in Lepthoplosternum

coelacanth · Post by **coelacanth** » 15 Apr 2005, 18:01

Observation more than a question, although in the past I've bred Megalechis, I've never heard males vocalising in the way my L. pectorale did while leading up to spawning over the past few days. The male croaked loudly and constantly while courting the female and also while threatening other fish unwise enough to approach the nest site.
Has anyone else noticed this? The fish are a wild pair I obtained from Pier Aquatics in Wigan a couple of months ago, I really only got them to put outside over the Summer once the weather warmed up but obviously they found the holding aquarium to their liking...

kev · Post by **kev** » 19 Apr 2005, 17:48

hi pete
i got sum out of the same batch, 8 altogether look's like 4 of each sex, they are feeding well and have put on quite a bit of weight, any tip's on getting them to spawn.

thank's Kev.

coelacanth · Post by **coelacanth** » 21 Apr 2005, 09:11

They're now on their third spawning already, so I must be doing something right....
They're not in anything special, they're in with some Apisto borellii and Bloodfins (both also from Pier, also spawning), temperature about 25C, water changes whenever I can be bothered (once a week minimum), fed on Aquarian tablets, frozen foods, baby brine shrimp, Daphnia etc. etc. and left to get on with it with some large oak leaves. Because of the other fish in the tank I've been pulling the nest just before the eggs hatch and putting them in a smaller mature tank.
I'll need to be careful, I expect that like some Ancistrus this male will breed himself to death given the opportunity (although unlike Ancistrus it is easier to get food to him while he is guarding a nest).

kev · Post by **kev** » 21 Apr 2005, 22:16

stupid question but do you do anything special with the Oak leaf's??? i remember reading somwhere that you boil them? to get them to sink or somthing.

Kev.

coelacanth · Post by **coelacanth** » 22 Apr 2005, 08:55

kev wrote:stupid question but do you do anything special with the Oak leaf's??? i remember reading somwhere that you boil them? to get them to sink or something.
Kev.

I used to pour boiling water on them and then soak them in a bucket for a few days, but I stopped bothering with that and now just leave them in tap water for a couple of hours and then use them with no apparent problems. If I want to remove some of the tannins (such as for clearwater fish) I leave them in my Daphnia tub or any old bucket for a couple of weeks until they are thoroughly soaked.
For a thorough coverage of the way I used to treat them take a look on the Forum at http://www.britishcichlid.com , using "leaf litter" as search keywords.

kev · Post by **kev** » 22 Apr 2005, 09:43

thank's pete

i'll take the dog out and go and find some, just one final question the hoplo's are in a 24"x18"x18" with only a plec for company. The thing is the plec is the very rare Hypostomus Luteus

should i take him out?

Kev.