Bristle Nosed Catfish Breeding Tips please
- Thread starter Rubez
- Start date
I've raised lots of these previously. What is going wrong? They typical problem is they start dying about 8 - 10 days after hatching from starvation.
What are you trying to feed them? What setup are the fry in? How is your local water?
I used a 5 gallon tank with a big sponge filter. I used to feed micro flake very heavily, plus I kept some java moss in there. I assumed they were picking at infusoria for the first few days, then they were big enough for microflake. As i fed and stocked heavily I would change water a lot (2 or 3 litres ) morning and evening, with straight tapwater. I did not even bother preheating it - they are not sensitive to this, nor to small amounts chlorine.
USe a sponge rather than HOB or internal power filter. It will be very efficient plus lots of the fry latch onto and feed on gunk/microbes on the surface of the sponge.
You must concentrate on 1. water quality 2. feeding them. The fry are NOT herbivores and will not eat the usual stuff people feed the adults (who incidentally do much better NOT on a diet of algae)
What are you trying to feed them? What setup are the fry in? How is your local water?
I used a 5 gallon tank with a big sponge filter. I used to feed micro flake very heavily, plus I kept some java moss in there. I assumed they were picking at infusoria for the first few days, then they were big enough for microflake. As i fed and stocked heavily I would change water a lot (2 or 3 litres ) morning and evening, with straight tapwater. I did not even bother preheating it - they are not sensitive to this, nor to small amounts chlorine.
USe a sponge rather than HOB or internal power filter. It will be very efficient plus lots of the fry latch onto and feed on gunk/microbes on the surface of the sponge.
You must concentrate on 1. water quality 2. feeding them. The fry are NOT herbivores and will not eat the usual stuff people feed the adults (who incidentally do much better NOT on a diet of algae)
Im unsure of how many gallons the tank holds, however its demensions are 60x40x40 and it houses the mum and dad cat fish and two angel fish.
The first fry lasted about a week untill they all went missing after keeping them in the same tank they were born in, the water quality was perfect and the food we were feeding was crumbeled up tropical fish flakes and tiny bits of chopped up zuchini.
The second time they bred we moved them to a seperate tank with the father and they all went missing again within the first day.
The third time we kept them in the same tank but in a small net/cage thing on this side of the tank without a parent, within 20 hours they all died.
Just cant understand what we are doing wrong!
We have many other tanks of all different sizes to house them in, what is the best size?
The first fry lasted about a week untill they all went missing after keeping them in the same tank they were born in, the water quality was perfect and the food we were feeding was crumbeled up tropical fish flakes and tiny bits of chopped up zuchini.
The second time they bred we moved them to a seperate tank with the father and they all went missing again within the first day.
The third time we kept them in the same tank but in a small net/cage thing on this side of the tank without a parent, within 20 hours they all died.
Just cant understand what we are doing wrong!
We have many other tanks of all different sizes to house them in, what is the best size?
Def not A Zebra, try the cichlid column as they'll have a better idea it is Sci whatever fryeri Ithink (thoguh a bit long in the jaw/head.) - it's certainly a hap rather than mbuna
OK - I would bet the first time they died of starvation/water quality, 2nd the father ate them as they died, 3rd was probably starvation water quality again.
Try them in the five with a sponge filter setup. Leave them with the father till they start to become wigglers, then move them without him. Do the water changes as I suggest. Your setup is 5 gallon, w/ heater and sponge, and let it run for a couple of weeks first.
OK - I would bet the first time they died of starvation/water quality, 2nd the father ate them as they died, 3rd was probably starvation water quality again.
Try them in the five with a sponge filter setup. Leave them with the father till they start to become wigglers, then move them without him. Do the water changes as I suggest. Your setup is 5 gallon, w/ heater and sponge, and let it run for a couple of weeks first.
Sorry I could nopt get anything off PFK.
I found this I dont know how much help it will be........
www.wetwebmedia.com/FWSubWebIndex/sucmoucatfaqs.htm
I found this I dont know how much help it will be........
www.wetwebmedia.com/FWSubWebIndex/sucmoucatfaqs.htm
I didn't necassarily agree with all that in pfk, but it was mostly right. John Rundle isn't an L number specialist, although he is pretty efficient at breeding most everything. If you search the archive there was a previous article on breeding easy cats, and Ancistrus were one of the examples.
Or treat them exactly like apistogramma and you'll be about right in all honesty.
Or treat them exactly like apistogramma and you'll be about right in all honesty.