Apistogramma elizabethae spawned

[Tangfan]

Bought 2 pairs of Elizabathae 'Baniwa Red' from Biotope last month.

The pair got on well but never expected them to spawn so fast. Was surprised to find the female leading out about 12 fries last Wednesday.

The Male & a sucker fish have been removed to another tank & currently feeding them on a variety of food - depending what is available: either bbs, liquidfry 1, daphnia or dry fry food 2 times a day.

Here's a picture of the female with fries - apologies for the photo, that is as close as my camera allow.

This is my first time having apisto babies - can the verteran & experts out there help to advise how to raise fries to adulthood?

[illumnae]

Congrats on your success! The fry are rather fragile in the 1st 2 weeks of their life, I'd recommend doing minimal water changes, or even no water changes (if your filtration is good) during this time period.

Aside from this, the mum should take care of her brood for a month or more. During this period, just ensure optimum water conditions and sufficient food, especially since you've removed all other fish from the tank.

[WaterH2O]

Congrats on the sucessful breeding. Basic things that I learnt from the experts here are
1) Feed with decap brine shrimp eggs, bbs, daphania. Don't overfeed.
2) Leave the female in here for a period of time unless it loses it maternity instinct
3) Don't stare too much at the female or stress too much end up eating the fries.
4) Feed the female adequately to prevent hunger in the female.

Experts, have I left out anything?

[Tangfan]

hi bros

thanks for the advice. taken a few photos today of the fries - they are about 3weeks old now & their parents. enjoy

but not sure what are the next steps of taking care of the fries - should I take out the female ? advise pls thanks!











picture of the proud daddy

[Jervis]

Wow! I never had the honour of witnessing my Apisto breed... lucky you

[genes]

I would remove the male to ensure a higher survival rate of the fries. Sometimes, the male can get aggressive while female is still brood caring.

[Tangfan]

Hi Genes thanks for the advice. yes i have removed the male but not sure when to remove the female (or should I?)

Now that I have separated the male, will they bond again when i put them back together ? I am also in half a mind to try to pair the female with another male that I have so as to get a different brood of fries.

Wow! I never had the honour of witnessing my Apisto breed... lucky you

Jervis - same feelings too, consider myself very lucky to have a female that cares for the brood well. Any idea how long can Elizabethae breed and should I let the female rest after maybe 2 to 3 broods?

[sgbetta]

Congrat to your new babies.You must be very happy.... good luck!!!

[Don90]

Wow your apisto fry are growing fast!

Mine are still so tiny...

How often do you feed the fry?

I keep my apistos in a com tank, so the fry are eating stuff from the moss.

[Tangfan]

hi Don . thanks didnt know this is considered fast as first time having apisto babies

I feed them on a variety of food , liquidfry 1, powdered fry food that i gotten from Biotope, and on alternate days bbs but only 2 meals a day.

I am only having the female & fries in the tank now maybe that's why they are eating well but have to ask the experts on this

By the way, which apisto are you keeping?

[Don90]

I'm keeping Ap. sp. mamore "red"

I only see the fry nibbling on the moss.

When I dump in the bbs/daphnia, the fry doesn't seem to notice it.

[Tangfan]

hi don, i read your thread - nice fish. congrats on your spawn & you must be very happy.

in the first week I fed them the liquidfry 1 which the fries seemed to like and they started to take the BBS after that - somehow i suspect their mother will 'guide' them to the food.