Apistogramma Viejita

[malawiman]

I bought a pair early in the year and had them a couple of weeks and they spawned. Each time they got to wrigglers and got eaten. I now have about 12 fry that's a month old and about 20 free swimming fry of a week. :bounce: :bounce: :bounce:

The female turned out to be a real good mum, with a bit of practice, and she's tending to the new fry like a pro.

Anyone else had success with their Viejitas?

[Alan]

Haven't had that species MM but my A. panduro has eaten more lots of eggs than I could shake a stick at.

I have got between 20 and 30 babies from hatching them away from the parents, they are now 65 days old.

Good luck with yours.

[malawiman]

Hi Alan

I also have panduro and am having the same trouble. Even bought more females, have 3, but they all do the same. One had fry at free swimming stage and then ate them. How do you hatch the eggs, any special tricks? Will have to try do it your way, might have more success.

Thought they would stop doing it after a few goes, but no way. Will have to play mum and dad myself. :lol:

[Alan]

The water I used was from the "Kaimai Spring", heated to approx 26oC, and a touch of meth blue or similar to try and control the enevitable fungus.

Also a handful of java moss to promote infusoria.

I use a small "U" shaped sponge filter for circulation.

And I also have a long pipette that I use for sucking off any eggs that I see aren't fertile or are fungusing.

They develop a white spot in the egg which continues to consume the egg to bursting point, then of course that contaminates more.

So get them out early.

Just before hatch time, the fertile eggs get very loose and with only the slightest provocation will fall off.

These are picked up and are placed away from the hatching area, but still in the same tank.

The eggs hatch and literally just sit there slowly changing to the wriggler stage, then to the "jumpers", then free swimming.

My babies took BBS straightaway and also micro worms.

A couple of ramshorn snails are added to control any left over BBS, and as general cleaners.

Water change three days apart with the same type of water and temperature.

To give you an idea of the numbers, I had about 100 eggs, about 30% fungused, and another 50% odd of the babies that hatched did not survive up to a week after free swimming.

Now when I go out to the shed, they are out to the front begging.

At the moment, I have an excellent A. melgar with a nice little batch of almost, free swimmers.

My teenage A. eronotus are showing signs of spawning, ie. colouring up and guarding a pot.

So hopefully, I'll have three species spawning soon.

[malawiman]

Thanks for the info, will give it a go. I have 10 eunotus, which I bought as little wee ones. They all grown, 10 males. If you have spare females down the line please keep me in mind.

Good luck with the other ones, hope they spawn and raise the fry for you.