PlanetCatfish.com

Does anyone have pics of gravid female BNs for reference? I'm concerned with seeing the difference between a bloated and gravid female. With all the increased feedings for conditioning, I want to make sure I'm getting the right kind of girth on my fish. Thanks!!!!

Andy

I haven't got a picture, but I would say that the female doesn't get significantly bigger when gravid than other times. Definitely not like my Clown plecos, that look almost like they've swallowed a golf-ball [and they show no signs of stress, and have been at this size for months].

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Mats

Not much to go on but here is a pic of one of my girls.



I find its best to look at them from underneath when they are stuck to the glass. Its hard too explain but they get what I call a 'lizard' appearance, a big fat belly with tail sticking out, rather than the usual streamlined fish shape. You will know it when you see it but its hard to explain.

If you shone a bright light (I used a mini mag light) at my Female BN's belly when she was on the side of the tank, you could see the orange eggs when she was gravid.

thanks!!

heres mine

Great shot!

I am guessing the whitish/yellow light area is the developing eggs. Good to know where to look.

wow. great pic, thanks!!

i didn't notice any of my albino females swelling, but my male is guarding eggs right now. There are two distinct clutches in the pvc cave and he's hovering right above them. The only funny thing is that I've only had the fish for a week. I got them in the mail from a member last Friday and the eggs were laid Tuesday or Wednesday. They must like it here!

Andy

Sometimes the drastic water condition changes, (i.e. from nasty shipping bag to clean tank or nasty tank to cleaner tank) can trigger spawning. My pair did that recently. Unfortunately, that's more of a natural reaction like, "I think we're going to die, this may be our last chance," than "I like it here." When my pair spawned previously, they waited weeks and weeks before they were comfortable enough with each other and the tank to spawn.

on a related note...what do females look like after spawning? One of mine has a pretty sunken belly and I'm a little concerned. She eats and poops just fine, and otherwise seems ok. I dropped a shrimp by her today and she attacked it.

My male is on eggs, and has been for 5 days or so. Is the "sunken" female likely the mother, or should I be concerned that her belly shape is due to something else?

Sorry about the questions, but I've lost a couple fish this week (suicide jump, heater burn) and I'm getting a little overprotective.

The belly is really sunken, though...