General Questions

[georgedv]

Hello everybody.

I have some general questions.
(1) i have 3 Dicrossus Maculatus in a 10gal. They are all over 2", one is 3" or close to it. I want to move them to a 29gal. I have two that can accomodate them. One 29gal has a pair of breeding P. Pulcher and about 8 young platies. The other has two adult platies and 4 Nan. Anomala ( all of them around 2"). Which of the two 29gal is a better and safer bet for them.

(2)I think my P. Taeniatus Moliwe is guarding eggs. She has build up with sand the opening of a clay pot and very rarely comes out. I wish i had payed closer attention...I might have saved the male. She chases all the platies away and returns to the clay pot. I think the spawn occured last Monday. My question...about how long before she brings the fry out. I am wondering because if time elapses and no fry show i want to put her back in the 29gal P. Taeniatus Moliwe species tank and hope she pairs up again.

(3) I just set up a 10gal w/drift wood, clay pots, and lots of java moss for a pair of Cacs. Presently they are in separate 10gals sitting side by side. They see each other and both have colored up. Is it best to introduce the female first to the new tank and a few days late the male...or vice versa.
My other pair are in a 29gal tank & have already created a colony of at least 40 fry (I believe 3diff spawns). All I have now are 10gals and from what i have read here...this confined space makes it tricky to keeps some dwarfs.
Any other suggestions on this matter are welcome.

thanks in advance

g

 

[tjudy]

Ok.. I will give these a shot:

1) I would put them in with the N. anomala. They will not grow as large or be as agressive as the P. pulcher.

2) 7 - 10 days. Did she kill the male? That would be odd...

3) If a male is significantly larger than the female I will put the male into the female's space. If they are close in size (male no more than 2x size of female) I do not think it really matters. You can also rearrange the tank to confuse the male.

 

[jose_vogel]

I agree wiht Ted (word by word)

 

[georgedv]

thanks for the response.

I do not know for sure if she killed the male. It could be coincidence. I came home Fri night and found the male hiding under a patch of java moss. A snail was attached to him. i got him out and put him in my hospital tank. His caudal was torn up and he seemed scared. Fri morning when I fed them, both male & female ate together and seemed in accord. I am not 100% certain that she is guarding anything. She acts like it. i guess I will know sure by Wed.

g

 

[georgedv]

Got Fry

Got fry!!!

I got home last night and the P. Taeniatus Moliwe female was guarding about 20-25 fry. She seemed very nevous. I have never had a spawn in a 10gal tank so...questions. She shares it with two platies. Quite often she chases them away. Would it be best to remove them at this point and leave her alone with the fry. Would that calm her down? Should I remove the card board between her tank and the adjacent tank so she can see other fish and thus have her maintain a certain degee of alertness? Basicaly I want to insure the babys safety and hers.

thanks in advance.

g

 

[Mud Pie Mama]

Hi George,

Congrats on the spawn, so much the better since the father was lost.

I have found my own P. taeniatus "Moliwe" to be very exceptional mothers. Even in tanks full of fish, it seems they manage to keep around half the brood.

Even when I'm overrun w/ "Moliwe" fry, and wish more would become snacks, I'm still ending up with several! I had eight second generation growing out in a 15g along w/ one large male Cacatuoides, and I added a False S.A. Leaf Fish due to too many Endler babies. After one spawned, I still had eight to nine "Moliwe" fry alive when I took the sub-adults into a LFS. I don't think two platies are much of a challenge for these very, very dedicated and determined mothers.

How badly do you want these fry? To be 100% sure I'd remove the platies. Actually, depending on the size of the female, it could be a good idea to remove the platies for the platies safety! Don't worry about removing the cardboard, there is no need to increase the mama's anxiety level at all. Just having her babies there she's got plenty to keep her busy and alert.

If you're at home just before your timer will turn off the aquarium lights, keep an eye on the tank! It just amazes me how they can tell time. I love seeing the mother gather up all the fry and spit them back into the nest. I think it only happens the first week or so, after that the fry quickly learn to follow mama.