My Apistogramma viejita's first spawn in a comunity tank

[nicktc]

I notice a lot of activities in my com tank last week and was pleasantly surprise to find a brood of viejita fries with the female.

Some interesting behavior noted which I hope is in favor of the breeding process.

1. Female viejita keeps the male a distant away from the brood.
2. Male viejita is not aggressive towards the female but keeps the elizabethae pair away.
3. Elizabethae pair is busy chasing one another.

I will not attempt to separate any fishes for now.

Would be glad to get any tips and pointers.

Male viejita


Female with brood and male (nearby)



Elizabethae pair in their corner

[trident]

nick,
like your setup, so much wood and plant.
hope to hear some good news from you soon.

[illumnae]

congrats on the spawn =) hope you manage to raise the fry successfully!

[genes]

Congratulations to you. Its always very exciting to see your fish spawn. Be sure to catch the herding behaviour of the female and fries!

I assume your Ap. elizabethae does not come cheap. So i would suggest removing them as carefully as possible so as not to spook the female Ap. viejita. The breeding fishes may become extremely aggressive towards other occupants of the tank.

Also, remove any dither fishes if you have in your tank. Once the fries grows bold enough, they will start swimming away from mother fish. When that happens, they become a nutritious meal for other fishes.

[nicktc]

Congratulations to you. Its always very exciting to see your fish spawn. Be sure to catch the herding behaviour of the female and fries!

I assume your Ap. elizabethae does not come cheap. So i would suggest removing them as carefully as possible so as not to spook the female Ap. viejita. The breeding fishes may become extremely aggressive towards other occupants of the tank.

Also, remove any dither fishes if you have in your tank. Once the fries grows bold enough, they will start swimming away from mother fish. When that happens, they become a nutritious meal for other fishes.

You are spot on.

Some of the fries are already testing the water else where.
I must say the mother is doing a super job right now. She would dash and not hesitate to strike at any other fishes, just to protect her fries. Even if it means going into other’s territory to take back her babies.

Found her and her herd at a far corner of the tank this morning. Far away from the elizabethae pair.

Male Ap. seems to be having an easy time in parenting.

[Titus]

Congratulations on the spawning bro nick!!!

Just curious, how long does it takes from egg laying till fries are free swimming?

Kinda notice my Super Red female keep guarding the caves and chasing the male away. A sign that eggs had been layed?

[nicktc]

From the moment I noticed the female guarding her ‘cave’ till I see the swimming fries – that took almost 1 week.

It could very well be yours has spawn too.

[illumnae]

usually takes 6-8 days (3-4 days from egg to wriggler and another 3-4 days from wriggler to free swim) to get from egg laying to free swimming fry. It sounds like you might have a spawn Titus, congrats!

[Titus]

Thanks bro nick and illumnae for the info. Hope to report free swimming fries in a week's time!!!

Feeling so excited now

[nicktc]

did not want to take any chances. Removed all the fries today.

Put on my P. Taenaitus Klugei pair into the main tank.

Just noticed that they have spawn as well

[Titus]

Congrates bro!!!! You are on a roll man!!!

Must be some love potion in that 2ft tank of yours

[mobile2007]

wow... great period for apisto family. many spawns occurred.

[nicktc]

wow... great period for apisto family. many spawns occurred.

This one, west africian cichlids, but also consider dwarf cichlids

[cricha]

Congrats nicktc, you're a lucky guy.

Good luck especially with your Pelvicachromis Taeniatus 'Klugei' spawn. I've heard the fry are pretty hard to raise. Do keep us updated on the progress.

[inimicus]

Wow

any updates on the Viejita's fries?