Newest spawn - attached Christmas Day

[Len]

We have attachment. Hopefully all works out well this time.

[Len]

I'll see what I can do for pics but will wait for a few days at least. I don't want to take the chance of spooking them and having the fry eaten.

[Len]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MmARlC9vjgM&feature=youtu.be

http://imageshack.com/a/img594/7387/xs6x.jpg

[Second Hand Pat]

There are a ton of babies and mom is so red. Well done Len :)

[Len]

Thanks Pat. For whatever reason the females of each pair were the ones to turn red like that. The males get brighter, but never so red like the moms.

[Len]

8 days now :) They all seem to be eating the bbs well and the parents are settling down better. The male doesn't go after my hand during water changes any more and they don't seem to care when I take pics or at least at least they don't seem to react at all when I do.



https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/PuhIC9tPIRZqePY97ZpsCDyg5aq_TyBJdhL7W5ONqHY=w313-h207-p-no

https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/V3Jq6_08Y2Hh2GeKrnDlW_Ul5gu6lRcyotHDWjgjUXM=w313-h207-p-no

[Second Hand Pat]

Wow Len, you are on your way to having fry to rear. The parents and fry look great. :D

[Len]

Thanks Pat. Luckily they are going pretty easily. Feed BBS - Do Water change - Repeat. I haven't had time for much more than that the past week. I'm going to stop predicting "slower' days at work because every time I do the opposite happens lol

[Second Hand Pat]

Len, how are the fry doing??

[Len]

They're doing great Pat. Lots of feeding and lots of water changes. I'll post a video for you tonight. The parents spawned again today.

[Len]

19 days old

http://imagizer.imageshack.us/v2/800x600q90/593/5l9t.jpg

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R5-EFwL1sKQ

Picking at a little beefheart. They are starting to accept the FDBW cubes as well. Other than that it's been different kinds of flakes like spirulina, super growth, beefheart with progrowth, and triple growth. They still get a bit of bbs, but trying to wean them off of it.

[Len]

I'm pretty pleased so far. The one thing I haven't done was feed them by hand. It took a lot of patience to do that with the first batch and that just isn't a luxury I have right now :(

[Len]

I lost count, but somewhere around 29 or 30 days:


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DnL5k0HUQjs

[Len]

They look good, but I've lost a few for no apparent reason (4 of them). They eat like crazy, get lots of WCs and over the period of a few days I'd come home and random there would be a dead one on the bottom. I did a pp treatment before I went back to work tonight and I'll see if that makes a difference.

[Second Hand Pat]

Len, if they start to look a bit closed finned and/or lose feeding vigor I have found a six hour light pink PP treatment brings them around right quick. Kenny recommended this to me.

[Len]

That's just it Pat, they are eating like pigs and look great. Then I'll find one dead on the bottom with no warning. It's not a lot by any means but just being observant at this stage before it gets out of hand. I plan on selecting future stock from this group so want to keep losses to a minimum :)

[Len]

So far I'm glad to say I've lost no more babies. I followed Andrew's advice (from the book) and did pp followed by antibiotic treatment. I counted last night and there are about 70 left. There is one who looks like a little shark because for whatever reason the others were attacking him and nipped him pretty good. If the fin doesn't grow back, he'll probably be a cull.

[Len]

3AM and just got home after working from 8:30 Am and WC was desperately needed :(

They were pretty hungry too lol. The majority are between 1.5" and 1.75 inches now at about 5 weeks give or take.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EGLA0iSJ0Kk

[Second Hand Pat]

They look great Len and some good growth on these pups.

[Len]

Thanks Pat. I'm just rounding up the energy to move them to the 60G.

[Len]

Well I moved them to a bigger home :)


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QOP3Coz5b3U


You can get a few good looks at my little "shark" around 0:27s He's the one that they were attacking and gave him some nasty nips. It sees to be growing back slowly, and don't have the heart to cull him after he made it through the ordeal.

[Second Hand Pat]

Your little shark is the one with the part missing in the upper fin? They sure do fill that 60 up.

[Len]

Yeah he's the one with the missing upper fin. It's growing back, but I don't suspect it will fully repair. He seems to swim fine though so we'll see what happens. The parents are in the 77 now with another pair and the angels. I thought they'd take a break after being moved but that doesn't look like its going to happen. The female is really red, full halo and dark 4 bars. On top of that the solomon is shimmying at the other male now that they are in the same tank.

[Len]

40 days old and 1.75 " :)

http://imageshack.com/a/img191/186/ega4.jpg

[Len]

The pair spawned yesterday and I pulled the cone and put it in a 20 gal tank with some meth blue. I'll lower the water level to just above the eggs leaving about 4 to 5 inches of water in the tank. Maybe if I try enough times, one day I'll have some success at artificial rearing.

[Nick Klimkowski]

Glad to here the fry are growing well as well as the pair spawning, good luck with trying artificial
Rearing.:D

[Allwin]

Good job Len, what is ur feeding/wc routine?


40 days old and 1.75 " :)

http://imageshack.com/a/img191/186/ega4.jpg

[Len]

No specific routine really. They've been fed Super beef heart flake with progrowth, beef heart mix, spirulina flake, earthworm sticks, cyclop-eeze, Freeze dried blackworms. I feed them frequently and siphon off the poops that fill the tank bottom a short while later.

[dirtyplants]

Len your little shark is adorable! Your babies looking great.

[rdiscus]

Great grow rate for babies
Awesome color female

[Len]

Great grow rate for babies
Awesome color female

Thanks Ryan, She's my favorite fish

[Len]

They didn't appreciate the light shining directly at them


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=asmFG3AiBXo

[Second Hand Pat]

They got use to it pretty quick Len.

[Keith Perkins]

Pretty late to the party, but congrats Len. Very nice growth on the little guys.

[Len]

Thanks Keith.

[Christian74]

Beautiful fish are u looking to ship any of these when they get a little bigger?

[dirtyplants]

Love Halifax NS, would make a great drive to get fish, but fish might not like the drive, border police may not let them through. NS one of my choices to live, although a bit cold.

[joanstone]

I think fish can go in from here, but none can come out? Our fish club has a sister club in Montreal and to my knowledge that's the way it works.

[Len]

I'm not overly clear on the process to bring fish into the US from here, but I do know that there are fish and wildlife inspections that have pretty big fees.

[Len]

100% water change before feeding time. Here they are going after a chunk of beefheart/shrimp mix. You'd think they were half starving but they would do it again in an our if I fed them more :)


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GtcYb6VLI4k

[Second Hand Pat]

Yes baby...they look great Len. Good going. :)

[Len]

http://imagizer.imageshack.us/v2/800x600q90/577/4l92.jpg

[Second Hand Pat]

Nice Len, wish my pair would go.

[Len]

These guys are slowing down now that they are back in the 77 with another pair. It will give them a rest and me time to make room for another batch perhaps.

[Larry Bugg]

Looking really nice. I love to see them chowing down like that. Great growth.

[Len]

Thanks Larry. Trade you for that new tank? :)

[Larry Bugg]

Thanks Larry. Trade you for that new tank? :)

Lol, you know what has to go in a tank like that. Hopefully I can figure out what you and Pat are doing that I just can't seem to do.

[Len]

fishy viagra. Don't tell anyone else the secret though lol

[Second Hand Pat]

fishy viagra. Don't tell anyone else the secret though lol

Len, you are not suppose to tell...shame on you ;)

[Larry Bugg]

I have to try something new cause the Barry White I play for my domestics has had no affect of wilds.

[Len]

What wilds do you have? Any pics?

[Larry Bugg]

The new tank thread.

[Len]

Have you tried live food?

[Larry Bugg]

Haven't but I will add it to the list. Thanks.

[Second Hand Pat]

Red wigglers and white worms

[Larry Bugg]

I tried raising red wigglers a few years ago. Wasn't good at it. Maybe I will try them again now that I have more time available.

[Len]

Time? OMG he has a huge new tank AND free time. Isn't he living the life? lol

[Second Hand Pat]

Larry, I have four bins. Holler with any questions.

[Len]

Larry white worms are pretty simple to culture too and take up a lot less room. My fish go crazy for them. Maybe give them a try. A couple plastic shoe box size containers with lids, some peat moss and you're off to the races.

[Len]

The mood struck me to take a quick video during water change time. I don't drain the water like that every time, but at least a few times a week. Not really sure if there' any added benefit, but they don't seem to shaken by it so what the heck.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IM7ESS51h2k

[Second Hand Pat]

Soon I hope to join you in the fry rearing Len. Love the blue cast on the little ones.

[Len]

I can't wait to see yours breed. These are starting to show colour more as a shine when the light hits them but it does look pretty cool. You probably remember that with the spawn last year and the shine is where the striations eventually developed. I'm starting to see bars on some of these guys faintly as well :)

[Second Hand Pat]

Oh yea I remember. :D

[Len]

This year I won't have any stupid mishaps (knock on wood) with the water. Just ordered new sediment filter and carbon block from Buckeye 2 days ago. I don't think there is any work going on with our water system, but it was this time last year when things went downhill suddenly after a water change.

[Second Hand Pat]

Len, my fish are so much better after the HMA install and the tanks are way cleaner.

[Len]

I haven't noticed any difference in the fish, but the water doesn't stink with chlorine any more and it tastes pretty good. It's a small price to pay. It was only 70.00 or so for both and this will be only the second time I've had to change them in over a year.

[jaykne]

Len I am really impressed those fry are really looking great IMO, I'm sure you will have no problems selling them when the time comes. If you have an question about shipping give me a call I have shipped allot of fish in all kinds of weather and never lost a one.

[Len]

Thanks Larry, I appreciate the compliment. I'll be sure to give you a shout if I end up doing any shipping. Right now I want to let them grow so can pick some out for myself :)

[Second Hand Pat]

Greedy bugger. :p

[israelillo81]

Len, my fish are so much better after the HMA install and the tanks are way cleaner.

Pat, what is an HMA?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Keith Perkins]

I have to try something new cause the Barry White I play for my domestics has had no affect of wilds.

Just a suggestion Larry, maybe you should try Julio Iglesias with the wilds instead of Barry White.

[dirtyplants]

Just put in an order for my HMA although the stock has changed from buckeye. ( OOPS Can I say names?) I talked with a sales rep. who stepped me though what I would need, at a flow rate of three gallons pp. Very helpful in creating a system for my needs.

[brady]

Hi Len
Spent 2 weeks in N.S. on Shelburn bay area. Love that country. Question, the rivers I saw up there were blackwater. Do you or did you ever use that water? Wish i could have brought some home.
Jay

[Len]

Hi Len
Spent 2 weeks in N.S. on Shelburn bay area. Love that country. Question, the rivers I saw up there were blackwater. Do you or did you ever use that water? Wish i could have brought some home.
Jay

Hey jay,

No, I've never tried to use the water from lakes or rivers for my fish. My tapwater is really good (usually) and I'm far too lazy to go through all that work. Shelburn is about 3 hours from me, but it's where my father's family came from (Cape Sable Island). The accent there is also much different than here. To me it sounds more like something from Boston or similar.

[dirtyplants]

Frankly I love the whole area there. It is still on my list to live in places. Your little guys are looking great, and all of you are making me have anxieties about not breeding wilds. Never really thought about it much, so it will be interesting watching my little guys get comfortable. Pat still waiting on you.

[Second Hand Pat]

Coree, Len is the only game in town ATM :D...but soon...

[jaykne]

Like I said Pat I have a feeling I will be getting a call in the next couple months from you to ask me to help you raise out all the fry you have :).

[Second Hand Pat]

Larry, that the plan :D

[Len]

I'd still like to see some more tefe action Pat. I love all your fish, but the tefes are a little special.

[Len]

Here's earlier today, as they finish lunch.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oyf2PD0Zb48

I'll take a shot with the measuring tape in the next few days. I suspect around 2.5 inches.

[jaykne]

Thats the way I like to see them nice fat bellies. You have allot there Len probably more than you think LoL. They really are nice all pretty uniform in size.

[Len]

I was just talking to Pat and am thinking I'll move them to the 130G very soon. There are about 70 of them, but I'll get an exact count as I net them out to move them :)

[Second Hand Pat]

They look great Len and a great size on them for their age and yes, definitely move them once they are three inches or so.

[Nick Klimkowski]

Very nice work Len! How big do you plan on growing them out?

[Len]

Very nice work Len! How big do you plan on growing them out?

Thanks. I plan to grow them to 12 inches :)

J/K Really, I didn't have a target size. I just want them to grow nice and healthy, so if they reach 6 inches or so I'll be satisfied.

[timmy82]

Good work looking on par for an inch a month so far that was my aim early days and have nailed it most spawns got one batch just on 4" in 4 months is suspect it to slow a little now to about 1/2" a month or so.

[Len]

2 months today and just shy of 2.5"

https://imagizer.imageshack.us/v2/761x428q90/543/bpz4.jpg

[Second Hand Pat]

That is fantastic Len. So moving to the 60 is working well.

[Len]

So far. I plan to move them again soon to the 130G

[Keith Perkins]

That's awesome Len. Remind me how many you have in the batch.

[Second Hand Pat]

Len, did you count them during the move.

[Len]

I havent moved them yet. Probably this coming weekend when I start my vacation again. There's about 70 of them. I had counted as best I could when I caught them being fairly still :)

[Len]

Today was moving day :) I moved the 73 fry into the 130 Gal. They didn't seem to skip a beat and are just swimming around per normal. They look better under the flourecent tubes in the 130 too. There's more of a bluish/green shine coming out on a lot of them. The parents are going back into the 60 Gal after I finish scrubbing it down and then I'll take some pics of the fry between tonight and tomorrow.

[Keith Perkins]

What size tank were they in previously Len?

[Second Hand Pat]

Good to hear Len. How big are they now? Looking forward to pictures. :D

Keith, they were in a 60 I believe.

[Len]

They were in a 60 Gal, and they were just shy of 2.5 inches on 25th Feb (exactly 2 months old).

[Len]

The fry have been in the 130 for 2 days now and seem to be adjusting well. I had lots of cleaning and water changes to do though to make the water conditions match before moving them. I had been trying to prepare a nice blackwater environment for some heckels but that doesn't look like it will happen any time soon. That being the case, I wanted to get most of the decaying leaf litter and alder cones out of the water and get it reasonably clear again. The tanks also has 2 canister filters Oxygen would probably be lower. I decided to add a couple sponge filters as well :)


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iZGbPtMX_1c

Still have some litter on the bottom and I'm debating whether to remove the and or not

[Nick Klimkowski]

The fry look outstanding Len!:D That 130 should give them some more room to grow out. I am by no means an expert on raising captive breed wild fry but I would probably take out most of the leaf liter on the bottom.

[Second Hand Pat]

They look awesome Len. I might actually leave some of the leaf litter. They love picking through it and if you can keep the tank clean with it :D

[Larry Bugg]

They look great Len. A little leaf litter won't hurt them but I suspect it won't last long as you clean the tank. Is that pothos roots hanging in the top.

[Len]

They look great Len. A little leaf litter won't hurt them but I suspect it won't last long as you clean the tank. Is that pothos roots hanging in the top.

It's Pothos growing in the middle and a philodendron on the left. I haven't gotten around to trimming the leaves from the pothos yet, but they do look messy the way they are.

[Keith Perkins]

You're suppose to be looking at the fish and not the plants anyway. ;)

[Len]

True Keith, all the more reason to cut the leaves off. I just like the look of the roots when they really start growing down deeper and they help keep the water cleaner :)

Maybe it's going a bit overboard, but I added a third sponge filter too :)

[Keith Perkins]

With the results your getting growing your little ones I'm sure not going to question any of your methods.

[musicmarn1]

Im in awe at these lil guys! Keep video and pictures coming they are superb looking :D

[Len]

One week short of 3 months old


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LBKq69WkpOg

[Second Hand Pat]

Len, they look great. You are doing a super job with them. I want some :(

[OC Discus]

Nice school. Good job.

[OC Discus]

Len,

I read through the first page looking for the strain and didn't see it. What are the parents and what do you expect from the group?

[Second Hand Pat]

OC, these are the fry of wild discus.

[OC Discus]

Thanks Pat. I thought they were. Which strain are they?


OC, these are the fry of wild discus.

[OC Discus]

BTW Pat, how far are you from the Villages in Lady Lake, FL? Next time I visit my dad there I'd like to see your wilds. You might have your outdoor pond ready by then.

[Nick Klimkowski]

They are looking great Len, I have really enjoyed following this thread.:D

[Second Hand Pat]

BTW Pat, how far are you from the Villages in Lady Lake, FL? Next time I visit my dad there I'd like to see your wilds. You might have your outdoor pond ready by then.

OC, they are Manacapuru Blues. I am on the south, east side of Orlando so guess an hour away or so.

[blueluv]

Looking good Len. Love the color of the parents, also like how the fry eat like little piranhas. Great job :)


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Len]

Thanks.

[dirtyplants]

Looking great, why do you have to live across the border?:(

[Len]

Looking great, why do you have to live across the border?:(

lol, I say the same thing when I want to get them.

[Second Hand Pat]

Yup Len, you definitely live on the wrong side. Would be awesome if you were closer to the border...oh well.

[dirtyplants]

Len if I could bring them across the border no problem, I would plan a weekend trip and get them.

[RichMark]

Looking great, hope you survived the storm today!

[Len]

Thanks. Hopefully this was the last snow for the season. I'm done with it.

[RichMark]

I hear ya, I just snow-blowed the drive way in the rain :(

[Len]

Took a new pic with a tape measure, but unfortunately it was washed out. An average size from the group measured 3 1/3 inches. I was a bit surprised since I though it looked bigger than that. There are a few that are quite bit bigger and a few smaller, but this one was representative of the majority of them. All in all, I guess it's on target for 1 inch per month though.

[Keith Perkins]

Len if I could bring them across the border no problem, I would plan a weekend trip and get them.

I seem to remember grandma sticking an under sized walleye in her bra one time when she was afraid she saw a game warden. Just saying, where there's a will there's a way.

[Len]

lol, you kill me keith :)

[Keith Perkins]

Grandma was Finnish, she had a LOT of will.

[Len]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dKsH7arPMb4

[Second Hand Pat]

They are reallly getting big Len and see color on the lower fins. You seeing any color on the forehead, shoulder areas?

[Len]

Yeah, there is a lot of greenish blue shine to them, but the light on my phone washes most of it out during the videos. I think a few at least are going to be like the mom. You can see the blue halo around the edges :)

[Len]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VPC_y5MiT4s

[Trevor W]

Wow thanks for sharing Len! They look great. Too bad I didnt live a little closer :)

[Len]

Thanks Trevor. They've been a lot of fun.

[Second Hand Pat]

They look great Len, nice job with these guys. :D
Pat

[jaykne]

Outstanding Len you have put allot of work in these guys and it shows!

[Len]

Thanks Pat and Larry. You're comments mean a lot :)

[Nick Klimkowski]

Len phonemial job with these guys, you should be very proud of them.

[Len]

http://imageshack.com/a/img834/936/5a8lz.jpg
http://imageshack.com/a/img845/2092/z0lw.jpg
http://imageshack.com/a/img841/9536/clxn.jpg
http://imageshack.com/a/img834/2397/bzeq.jpg
http://imageshack.com/a/img835/3708/1xkz.jpg
http://imageshack.com/a/img845/2092/z0lw.jpg
http://imageshack.com/a/img841/7016/mojhi.jpg
http://imageshack.com/a/img836/1470/foug.jpg
http://imageshack.com/a/img834/6742/95k5.jpg

[jaykne]

All I can say is WOW. Len you are doing an amazing job with those guys.

[Len]

http://imageshack.com/a/img853/5188/a5kp.jpg

[Second Hand Pat]

These guys are getting exciting Len. Looking fantastic :)

[Len]

Thanks Pat. They're losing that peachy tint and starting to look more like the parents.

[Len]

8 months


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g3oAdiUTiJE&list=UUq75DKHeh4egryIly6zwerA

[Len]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EsTHXMe7d5I&list=UUq75DKHeh4egryIly6zwerA

[Second Hand Pat]

Damn Len, these guys are awesome, love the red in these F1s. Send some to me ok?? How big are they now?

[pcsb23]

Looking good Len :)

[Len]

Thanks. The majority of them are right around 4 inches with a couple bigger and a couple smaller. I would have expected them to be a fair amount bigger by now, but all in all I'm happy with them.

[Allwin]

Pretty good colors Len, Iam growing out a batch as well. Hope reaching the finish line in 6+ months, will have some interesting output. Good luck.

[Len]

It's been awhile since the last update:

http://imagizer.imageshack.us/v2/xq90/540/zp46ia.jpg (https://imageshack.com/i/f0zp46iaj)