Heroina isonycterina, a rare little "mini-severum" type cichlid from Colombia

[Ryan]

The new batch of wrigglers is in a tank with added calcium/magnesium, so we will see if that improves things. Let's hope it's something that simple.

[Second Hand Pat]

Ryan, I need to bring you some of my water. Hope this works out for you.

[Ryan]

We aren't even that far apart! Why can't our water be the same. lol

[Second Hand Pat]

It should be Ryan but I am on a well.

[Sandy Clay]

They are cute little fish~

[Ryan]

I'm cautiously optimistic that Al's suggestions have worked. The previous batch of fry are about 1/4" long now and their pectoral fins appear normal this time. If all goes well, I can start shipping these guys out in a month or so, just in time for warmer weather.

Another pair has spawned this weekend. Here are a few pictures of mom in breeding dress and dad keeping watch.

[Larry Bugg]

That is great Ryan. Fingers crossed.

[Ryan]

Happy little Heroina fry with perfect fins. They'll be ready to go via USPS as soon as the weather gets a bit warmer.

[Ryan]

The Heroina are ready to go at approximately 1". I shipped out a batch of 24 to jonclark96 (Jon) and dogofwar (Matt) from MonsterFishKeepers on Monday and it took them three days to arrive via USPS Priority, but no DOAs and all fish were settled and eating tonight. I'm so proud to be one of the first people to offer F1s of this uncommon little cichlid.

[Second Hand Pat]

Ryan, can a group of six of these guys be placed in a 10 gallon starting out?

[Ryan]

I answered in the other thread, Pat, but I'll put it here too.

At this size you'd probably be okay for a few weeks. You may eventually want to get them into a tank with a larger footprint so they can get away from each other. I raised my 10 out in a 55 gallon until the males got to about 3 - 4", then I moved the males to a larger tank which left me with about 6 fish in a 55. Now I'm down to 2 pairs per 55 which works out alright. Pairs will beat the snot out of other fish when they are protecting free-swimming fry.

[Second Hand Pat]

Oops, sorry Ryan. I posted here and meant to post in your thread and thought I lost a post

[Ryan]

The kids are big enough to photograph now. The flash washes them out a bit but you can see the blue iridescence coming in on the fins and the iridescent blue flecks on their bodies. They're also developing a nice red edge along their dorsals. Chunky and feisty, just like mom and dad, and thanks to Al they all have perfect fins. I've only had to cull some stragglers in terms of growth. I've sold about 50 of these guys through ACA and MonsterFishKeepers.

[Second Hand Pat]

I really like these guys Ryan but alas you say they can not be mixed with discus

[Discus Origins]

Nice job on these Ryan!! Man the spawning adults really look nice with the blue coming through