These are fish of the more arid savanah, and as a result are "semi-annuals" in that their eggs can survive in damp mud until the rains come.
They like harder water than the Aphyos, on average, and folks in really soft-water areas have not tended to do well with them. That said, a little Seachem "Equilibrium" o/e can make soft water a bit harder and keep them very happy.
Typically substrate spawners, they will also use mops, both sunken and floating. I like to spawn them over a peat substrate and store the drained, fairly damp peat for about 4 weeks, but time depends on wetness and temp. and higher temps may develop faster. Find a few eggs and check for eye development after about 2-3 weeks. When the baby is looking back at you through a solid gold ring around the pupil, on 2/3 of the eggs, t is time to dunk. Use cold soft water to encourage the hatch, hardening it as you do changes.
Water incubation also works, but was never quite as reliable for me. More eggs seemed to die and fungus that way. [May be poor observation skills. IDK.]
Males pick at each other and can drive the females hard. Watch for this, and keep it only one male per tank if you want pretty, long fin extensions. Be sure females have hiding structure of driftwood, stones and plants.
That's a little start. Check the West African site of Tim Addis for more info.
Wright
01 760 872-3995
805 Valley West Circle
Bishop, CA 93514 USA
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