A. bitaeniata and friends (not a true biotope tank)

[rasmusW]

Hey everyone!

I decided to my two male d47 and got me some wild caught bitaeniatas from Peru, even though a great member of this forum did a lot to try and help get some females for the d47.
Well, though the d47 was beautiful fish, i'm really glad i did the swap. These little buggers looks amazing.
I bought 2 pairs, with the notion that it might cause problems at a later stage. So far it goes okay.

The four bitaeniata's share the tank with 12 Nannostromus marginatus and 5 Crenuchus spilurus.

The tank decor is beech branches, leaf litter, seed pods a few swords and some floaters.

And here's the pics.. -mostly showing the dominant male and small female.

Ps. do anyone dare take a guess on where in Peru, they might have been caught? -based on my own research i'd say either Shushupe or rio Nanay.

View attachment 8035 View attachment 8036 View attachment 8037 View attachment 8038 View attachment 8039 View attachment 8040

-r

 

[rasmusW]

evening guys!

here's a few glimpses of the tank nowadays.
my smallest female just brought out her first spawn.. i'm really happy about these little buggers, because i honestly didn't think i could manage getting the water chemistry and what not right.
now i just hope i can keep them alive. i guess the crenuchus and other bitaeniata's might snack a few of them.

-r

 

[yukondog]

Congrats on the fry, I have 3 males and one female my males look like yous in attachment 8038, the female had her first batch last week but ate them within a day, good luck

 

[rasmusW]

thanks. they are beautiful fish. they fry is steadily growing.
sorry to hear about your spawn. i hope you will have better luck next time.

-r

 

[yukondog]

I don't normally count on the first couple of batches, she is about to lay again.

 

[rasmusW]

ye! sadly, they have been reduced to about 5 little troopers(the mother of the batch has been taken of duty and the alpha male has taken over). -but i think the larger female is brewing on something in the opposite end of the tank. -hopes are up.

-r

 

[rasmusW]

the saga continues....
the larger females attempt didn't succeed, but this evening i spotted the small female with yet another batch of tiny wrigglers.

-r

 

[rasmusW]

morning all!

i thought i was time for a small picture update here of tank and juveniles.
i have tweaked the decor a bit.

i got 8 juviniles going in my grow out tank, from the first successful batch (-not a lot, but any survivor is greatly appreciated). there have been a few spawns since, but sadly they didn't survive long.
now the large female is making another attempt, so fingers crossed.

-r

 

[rasmusW]

hey again!

i just spotted these guys together with their mother today.
i know i probably shouldn't dwell too much on colouration, but i still find it fun to see the color difference in the two females breeding dress.
this is the large one and the first pictures in this thread is of the small one.

now i just hope i can keep them alive.

ps. the small female also got something that she is very protective of. -haven't seen any fry yet, from her, though.

-r