N. Brichardi Eggs!

[Orion]

My pair have finaly spawned agian. Not for sure that it is viable, its hard to see them very well, but it is easier than it should be I would think.

I came home today after work and noticed that one was at the top of the tank agian. So my first thought was they have started fighting agian, but the more I watched them from afar, the more I realized that something was up.

Ok, it has come to my attention that I couldnt sex a cichlid if my life depended on it. The fish that had been getting picked on is now keeping the other at bay! So this leaves me to belive that it is actualy the female, and the other the male. uggh, my head hurts. lol

Well anyway, the one guarding the eggs keeps cleaning the underside of the leaf and the eggs with its mouth, and its worring me that she is going to eat them.

Has anyone else experinced anything like this from N. Brichardi or other cichlids? To be cave/substrate spawners I find it very odd that they picked a spot so high up in the tank.


Thanks everyone on the board for putting up with so many questions in the last little bit. I know it does get annoying, but I appriciate every answer.

BTW- Taffy, Ive settled down abit. lol

 

[Orion]

Then it happened

Some time yesterday the male apparently ate most of the eggs. Or I guess it could have been the female, couldnt say for sure, I wasnt there. There is still a few, around 5 or 6. I originaly thought there were only three, so that is some good news.

I did manage to get a pictue of the female guarding the eggs before they were gone. Also some of the male, and of the fry from the first spawn.

Female with the eggs

Male Brichardi

Another shot of the Male Brichardi

Picture of fry from the first spawn.

 

[Cichlid-Man]

Cool beans! Great pics very clear and crisp. Fish look very good. Maybe they just need more practice so he will stop eating the eggs

 

[Orion]

Mayhaps so C-man. I just found it odd that they were able to spawn and protect the eggs when 4 other Brichardis were in the tank, but put them by there selves......

Thanks for the comments on the pics!

 

[blueturq]

ooooo neat!!!!

Do Brichardi's take care of their fry or do you have to seperate them?

 

[Orion]

Yes they do take care of there fry. Very well for the most part.

 

[Flex26]

Great pics, Orion. Do you have pics of the entire tank?

N. Brichardi is a nice looking fish. I was gonna set up a shell dweller tank. Now, I am considering Brichardi. They're a little more common than shell dwellers around here.

 

[Orion]

I was in my LFS at the right time to get these guys. I live in a rural area, so there isn't a whole lot of interest in keeping fish other than the norm ( like tetras, mollies, goldfish and the such).

In 7 years this was the first time she had gotten them in. She said that there never was a large demand for them, but with in a week she had sold about 30. lol

Shellies are a never seen fish in my area as well. I got a new tank for my brichardi, so I belive that I will do my best in getting some shellies to go along with them. Not in the same tank of course, but in a 20L on the bottom of the stand.

I love my brichardi. They have been driving me nuts lately due to my pair fighting, but I wouldnt trade them for anything.

I dont want to slow this thread down too much with lots of pics for our friends on dial up, so heres a link to the tank.

20 Gallon Brichardi Tank

Sorry, that is not the best picture of it. I took it in a hurry and its pretty dark, but you get the basic idea.

 

[Flex26]

Sweet tank!! How big is it? Do you have real plants in there?

 

[Orion]

Thanks Flex!

Its a 20 High. And for the time being there is no live plants. When I move them into the 29, I have a canopy that Im going to use that might be able to pull off some plant growth. Ive got plenty of Vals and Javamoss that I know would take pretty good in a rift tank, some crypts might need a little ( or alot ) of adjusting to the lighting and water chemisty.

 

[Cichlid-Man]

Very cool tank. Love the river rocks.

 

[Orion]

Thanks C-man. I actualy used hot glue several months ago to make a pretty nice looking cave. However, after moving it around a few times the rocks started to fall off. Now its just a shell of hot glue with the rocks pilled on top of it. It still works, so Im not complaining.

 

[TaffyFish]

got those shellies yet Orion? I can sense multi madness descending on Kentucky!! ;-)

 

[Orion]

Lay off Taff! I havent even started on the Brichardi's tank, much less the shellies. lol. I went to the lfs today and the owner wasnt there, but her son was. I told him what I was looking for and he said that it shouldnt be any problem getting them. (multi's)

I got me some new plants today, so Ive been busy playing in my 45 gallon, altho I did pick up some silicon! That meens that the shellies arent too far away! lol

 

[TaffyFish]

does your male brichardi have a slightly darker head than the female? a bit early yet to develop the forehead bump and the extra body depth most males have, are the fin filaments also the same length? the male is usally bigger than the female by now. Are you 100% on the sexing now?

 

[Orion]

I dont think I'll ever be 100% sure on the sex. lol

The assuming male does not show any color variation from the other. The body size is larger, and the filaments are longer as well. The males' head however is shaped differently. Where the 'nose' should be, the males head adbruptly ends, where as the females head kind of tappers off.

Let me try to explain it another way: From the eyes to the mouth, the female has more length and a smoother transition than the male.

Sorry, Im not sure if this discription will help, or even makes since to you.