Wednesday, November 16, 2005
Paradise Fish Breeding
Paradise Fish bred through he 28 day poitn will do fine, as was noted .. but will reach a flash point after becoming top breathing and free swimming fish. They remain miniscule in size, but develop adult characteristics quickly with tail elongation, and diving and show signs of maturity.
In my case, however, they died as a group --but without a trace. They dissappeared in the tank ... not in or through the filter ..with no signs of a fish kill. There were however signs - incredibly of a few larger surviving paradise-fish fry. Additionally, a few of the benign snails grew two or three times their size.
Presumedly - -the fry began a voracious consumption, after developing surface breathing; and were also prey for the snails as the fry surfaced among the duckweed (limna minor). Would assume that the snails ate as they will funnel style at the surface. Fry had begun enlarging but were about eyelash lenght.
So as a conservative reminder .. either remove all contending species .. or with a cup ..remove quantities of the fry - unless you have a superior breeding tank (ie 55 gals etc) when they start to gathe at the surface.
The parents have been re-united in another 10 gallon tank with undergravel filter; nad conditions will be applied this week to induce mating again. That again wuld be water change (they react to the chemistry -leave it acidic as if by rain); temperature increase (about 70-74 F) (they have been at 64F in the new setting); and remove any other possible species distractions or adversaries (ie snails Zebra Danios etc); and additionally reduce the watre level partially -as if to suggest a dry season approach (this is optional).
Will report the results here again - likely successful - the female is fattening again now. On this additional occasion, the pair will be left in the tank -the female has pleanty of hdiing plances ; and pleanty of plants for fry to hide, in order to observe the male 'cull' and 'nurture' to some other survival polit. A few fry will be pulled for separate raising. The male's behavior in feeding will be especially anticipated. (recollect that last breeding he regurgitated food to the surface near the fry .. as if to prepare food for them. On this breeding - both in so far as manageable will be fed and kept with the fry -- sufficient parental food will possiby defer fry cannibalism.
In my case, however, they died as a group --but without a trace. They dissappeared in the tank ... not in or through the filter ..with no signs of a fish kill. There were however signs - incredibly of a few larger surviving paradise-fish fry. Additionally, a few of the benign snails grew two or three times their size.
Presumedly - -the fry began a voracious consumption, after developing surface breathing; and were also prey for the snails as the fry surfaced among the duckweed (limna minor). Would assume that the snails ate as they will funnel style at the surface. Fry had begun enlarging but were about eyelash lenght.
So as a conservative reminder .. either remove all contending species .. or with a cup ..remove quantities of the fry - unless you have a superior breeding tank (ie 55 gals etc) when they start to gathe at the surface.
The parents have been re-united in another 10 gallon tank with undergravel filter; nad conditions will be applied this week to induce mating again. That again wuld be water change (they react to the chemistry -leave it acidic as if by rain); temperature increase (about 70-74 F) (they have been at 64F in the new setting); and remove any other possible species distractions or adversaries (ie snails Zebra Danios etc); and additionally reduce the watre level partially -as if to suggest a dry season approach (this is optional).
Will report the results here again - likely successful - the female is fattening again now. On this additional occasion, the pair will be left in the tank -the female has pleanty of hdiing plances ; and pleanty of plants for fry to hide, in order to observe the male 'cull' and 'nurture' to some other survival polit. A few fry will be pulled for separate raising. The male's behavior in feeding will be especially anticipated. (recollect that last breeding he regurgitated food to the surface near the fry .. as if to prepare food for them. On this breeding - both in so far as manageable will be fed and kept with the fry -- sufficient parental food will possiby defer fry cannibalism.
// posted by scotty of course @ 10:47 AM 
