FIRST LITTER OF JEWELS, Congratulate me I'm a Grampa
PHYDEAUX99
A while back I inquired as to possible tank mates for a pair of Jewel Cichlids
in a 20 gallon tank. I hadn't been able to keep anything alive with them (not
even another Jewel) and it was suggested that I had a breeding pair and I
shouldn't put in any others. I did try a small Pleco (not Pl*co) last week but
somone must have typed pleco cause he was dead the next morning.
Well tonight I went to feed them some frozen bloodworms and while I was
watching the smaller more colorful of the pair devour the meal, I noticed that
the larger less colorful one hung back in a corner and got chased away when it
came to feed. This was not normal and I became concerned that it might be ill.
Then I noticed that something looked unusual about the batch of blood worms
that were being consumed. HEY there's babys in my tank!!!! Sure enough there
are about 20-30 free swimming fry following this fish around. They mostly stay
down in the gravel so it's hard to say how many there actually are.
This is so cool. I've had 2 tanks going since about 1985 with various
assortments but with the exception of one pair of guppy fry that almosed got
flushed during a water change, this is the first actual breeding I have had.
Questions:
1: Who is leading these little puppies around? Ma or Pa Jewel?
2: Suggestions for care and feeding. I have a package of frozen Baby Brine
Shrimp that is divided into little 3/4" squares. Is this OK or should I get
something else?
3: What about water changes? After a long period of neglect I have gotten back
in the habit of weekly partial changes of both tanks giving the gravel a good
vacuuming each time. The tanks are in the best condition I have ever had them
in right now. (I have UGF with 2 power heads)
How do I keep this up without sucking a bunch of babys into the
bucket?
4: What about potential stress problems with water changes? Mixing water with
different temp, Ph and treatments for chlorine/chloramane? I currently use 1/2
tsp AMMO LOCK2 & 1 tsp STRESS COAT per 4 gallon bucket of fresh tap water. I
mix enough hot water to get the temp aproximately the same as the tank but
sometimes I can tell that I've missed it when adding replacement water. This
has seemed to work well in the past but I've never had to concern myself with
residents the size of a mosquito either.
5: Any other suggestions.
Thanks and Have a Cigar,
Doug Bishop
Jackson MI
Beverly Erlebacher
In article <199803260452...@ladder03.news.aol.com>,
PHYDEAUX99 <phyde...@aol.com> wrote:
>
>This is so cool. I've had 2 tanks going since about 1985 with various
>assortments but with the exception of one pair of guppy fry that almosed got
>flushed during a water change, this is the first actual breeding I have had.
It sure is cool. Watch out, you may be hooked and find yourself wanting
to spawn more and more different species of cichlid!
>Questions:
>
>1: Who is leading these little puppies around? Ma or Pa Jewel?
Ma Jewel. Females are usually smaller and brighter red than males when in
breeding color.
>2: Suggestions for care and feeding. I have a package of frozen Baby Brine
>Shrimp that is divided into little 3/4" squares. Is this OK or should I get
>something else?
They will certainly eat that. You can also crumble up flake food very fine.
To make it sink, either mix it with water and then pour it in, or rub it
between your fingers under the surface. Feed them frequently. For the
first few months, baby cichlids basically eat all the time they are awake.
>3: What about water changes? After a long period of neglect I have gotten back
>in the habit of weekly partial changes of both tanks giving the gravel a good
>vacuuming each time. The tanks are in the best condition I have ever had them
>in right now. (I have UGF with 2 power heads)
> How do I keep this up without sucking a bunch of babys into the
>bucket?
Your good water conditions may be what stimulated spawning. Continue the
water changes, but don't vacuum the gravel for a week or two until the
little guys are strong enough to escape the gravel vacuum. You can reduce
the pull of the siphon by putting the bucket on a chair or table so the
difference in water levels is less.
>4: What about potential stress problems with water changes? Mixing water with
>different temp, Ph and treatments for chlorine/chloramane? I currently use 1/2
>tsp AMMO LOCK2 & 1 tsp STRESS COAT per 4 gallon bucket of fresh tap water. I
>mix enough hot water to get the temp aproximately the same as the tank but
>sometimes I can tell that I've missed it when adding replacement water. This
>has seemed to work well in the past but I've never had to concern myself with
>residents the size of a mosquito either.
Try to get the temperature close. It's not such a big deal. Jewels are
riverine fish, so they are able to cope with slight changes in pH and
hardness and temperature.
>5: Any other suggestions.
Keep an eye on the parents. Since there are no 'target' fish for the jewels
to focus their aggression on, they may turn it on each other. If one is
getting beaten up, you may need to move it out or put it in one of those
hang on the tank net things, or put in a partition.
Enjoy watching your little guys grow!
SuperSanda
i thought that was a really cute posting. i just had to put in my 2 cents:)