tiggert
05-18-2011, 04:13 PM
Hi all,
First post to the forum, been a learning lurker for many years.
I have kept Discus off an on for nearly 20 years. Every time I managed to grow out a pair I ended up with a move or career change that resulted in fish adoptions and a few sales.
About 1 month ago I started a new tank project, fully computerized with dosing/waterchages/temp and ph control, the works. Roboquarium I called it. In searching online I found a good looking pair and thought I'd try that route.
As Roboquarium isn't running yet I set up a spare 29 gallon with some borrowed biological seed filters, a quick cycle and bought this pair of leopard/snakeskin. And of course as luck would have it I was called out of town on business for 10 days.
I returned home last Friday to find the pair covered in fry! My rough count is around 60, with an estimated free swimming date of 5/12 based on current size. That means the spawn occurred about 5 days after I left home! I did nothing "correctly", no turning down of the filter, no keeping lights on (they were on a timer) no water changes, and not even feeding in that time period! I even have live plants in the tank while Roboquarium is under construction.
All this to say sometimes nature just does its thing, no matter what we try and do to help things along, you can't stop nature.
Interesting the dad gave up his duties on Sunday, but the mom is still tending to all the fry. The divorce seems to be amicable, but she does not allow him into her corner! He is staying on his side of the tank and seems content to not deal with the kids....
I have observed a number of (10-12) fry that don't seem to be interested in her at all, that swim freely all over the tank. I am assuming they are feeding off the critters in the water coming off the live plants? The fry are growing, and can see full bellies... Just started the BBS routine yesterday, and they all (including the free spirited guys) seem to be rushing at it and I can see the pink bellies.
The temp tank has horrible glass, wasn't meant to be a photo tank, but will try to post a couple of pictures...
First post to the forum, been a learning lurker for many years.
I have kept Discus off an on for nearly 20 years. Every time I managed to grow out a pair I ended up with a move or career change that resulted in fish adoptions and a few sales.
About 1 month ago I started a new tank project, fully computerized with dosing/waterchages/temp and ph control, the works. Roboquarium I called it. In searching online I found a good looking pair and thought I'd try that route.
As Roboquarium isn't running yet I set up a spare 29 gallon with some borrowed biological seed filters, a quick cycle and bought this pair of leopard/snakeskin. And of course as luck would have it I was called out of town on business for 10 days.
I returned home last Friday to find the pair covered in fry! My rough count is around 60, with an estimated free swimming date of 5/12 based on current size. That means the spawn occurred about 5 days after I left home! I did nothing "correctly", no turning down of the filter, no keeping lights on (they were on a timer) no water changes, and not even feeding in that time period! I even have live plants in the tank while Roboquarium is under construction.
All this to say sometimes nature just does its thing, no matter what we try and do to help things along, you can't stop nature.
Interesting the dad gave up his duties on Sunday, but the mom is still tending to all the fry. The divorce seems to be amicable, but she does not allow him into her corner! He is staying on his side of the tank and seems content to not deal with the kids....
I have observed a number of (10-12) fry that don't seem to be interested in her at all, that swim freely all over the tank. I am assuming they are feeding off the critters in the water coming off the live plants? The fry are growing, and can see full bellies... Just started the BBS routine yesterday, and they all (including the free spirited guys) seem to be rushing at it and I can see the pink bellies.
The temp tank has horrible glass, wasn't meant to be a photo tank, but will try to post a couple of pictures...