Jump to content

Shellie babies :)


ryanjury

Recommended Posts

I got 3 Lamprologus ocellatus Gold a few weeks back when they came into the country, was a bit disheartened when I lost one straight away but still held hopes of having a pair..

I noticed their behavior change a week or so ago but wasn't sure if it was normal or if they had laid so started daily "shell watching" was pretty excited to see a fry pop out when I did this today :)

I have managed to count 15 but there may be more hidden in the back of the shell.

http://i47.photobucket.com/albums/f183/ ... 1Large.jpg

Bloody aggressive little guys when they have eggs/young as well both of the parents attacked my hand when I stuck it in the tank so much so that I actually felt it and got a fright, which is pretty good for a 2-3cm fish.

No doubt others have bred them but thought I would share :)

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Yeah they are wicked little fish, one I have been wanting to see in the country for a long time so very glad they have bred, I know there are a number of larger colonies with experienced keepers and as I have found they are pretty easy to breed so here is hoping they become common here..

I gave the fry a feed of microworms last night which they have eaten and have BBS on which I am hoping to feed them tonight. I also managed to count 21 when I transferred them so there is a few more than I first expected which was good I was only hoping to get 10 to grow out for another colony for me..

The male and female are not friends at the moment I just found the female beat up floating in the corner of the tank so had to separate her seems the male has taken exception to the disappearance of the fry. I might have to setup a 4fter for 2 2-3cm fish lol.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I know there are a number of larger colonies with experienced keepers and as I have found they are pretty easy to breed so here is hoping they become common here...

Yes, I was wondering how people with larger groups have found their conspecific aggression, and if they had suffered losses.

I guess they are like other lamprologines - have a couple or a colony with an alpha pair.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

They are supposed to be a colony type fish but can go alright in pairs but like everything in life you cannot believe everything you read on the internet it is just a wait and see.. When I first got them the 2 I have now were nasty to the 3rd one so I had "her" (I think it was a girl) separated and in a guppy trap the first night, I forgot to turn off the light and the guppy trap sunk (I had a shell and some sand in it) and I found her dead in the morning. I was very surprised as I followed all the recommendations having them in a 140L tank lots of shells and other hiding places etc..

I know 2 people with 6 of these in a colony and both of them have had no problems with the colony situation although one has said that they were spawning but females started fighting over the same shell which appeared to put the breeding female off..

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I know 2 people with 6 of these in a colony and both of them have had no problems with the colony situation although one has said that they were spawning but females started fighting over the same shell which appeared to put the breeding female off..

Yes, and they ate the fry yesterday. :( I will have to remove the shell next time but I am not sure whether I will take the female with it as I don't want her to have problems reintegrating...need the eggs to be aerated though and being so far inside the shell, that will be hard.

Absolutely no real aggression with all of them in the big tank, just a bit of bullying. The female guarding the shell was very low and dark and was fanning the inside of the shell but the others were just too nosey and wanted in. I don't think I have an alpha pair and that is the problem. They are like a bunch of kids, all in each other's business and nobody taking care of business.

I was thinking of separating them into pairs but I don't want to end up with the aggression that you have seen Ryan. :-?

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Join the conversation

You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.

Guest
Reply to this topic...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Paste as plain text instead

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.

Loading...
×
×
  • Create New...