These are a different trio of parrents than the ones that bred with the help of some Tiawan Reefs last February 29th. BTW all 8 babies from the February spawning are doing fine and about 1/2" long already.
The things that were different between the two breedings was that the first pair to spawn was the only pair of Multis in a 180 gallon Peacock / Hap tank. This most recent spawing was from a trio of 2 males and one female in a 120 gallon Mbuna tank. The tanks are fed differently, the Peacock / Hap tanks gets a lot of frozen mysis shrimp, fortified brine shrimp, frozen plankton, pellets, spirulina flake and some fresh veggies. The Mbuna tanks gets mainly spirulina flake, some blanched spinach and zuchinni and a once a week feeding of something meaty like the Peacocks get. Neither spawning was observed. I don't know if this most recent spawning was a parasitic brood or an egg scattering affair. The first spawn was observed swiming in and out of the Tiawan Reef females mouth.
The similar parameters are; all five fish are wild caught, 4' plus adults I have had for about one year, water in both tanks is the same 7.8Ph, 12 Kh, 18 GH, 82 degrees F with nitrates normally at 10 or under. Both tanks have loads of rock work. Both tanks have sand substrate. Both tanks get 12 1/2 hours of light each day. Both tanks get a 1/3 of their water volume changed each week. Both tanks are fed twice daily with a 24 hour fast once a week after water change.
I have a couple of female Peacocks holding in the 180 at this time and I need to separate them in case there are more Multis in their mouths. I will keep everyone posted. The first time I pretty much considered it a lucky fluke but, now I have my second spawing within 90 days with different fish so there must be something these guys like here. I'd bet it is the security of lots of rock work and good water and quality food.
