Nanochromis transvestitus

[slimbolen99]

Many of you have seen the thread on another site about my fish room and found my fascination with Nanochromis species. Let me introduce you to Nanochromis transvestitus. I have two pair in a 75 gallon tank. One pair had spawned several weeks ago, but I didn't get too excited, beings that it was their first time together.

The first signs of an impending spawn was that the pair dug out two crevices under rocks. They dug ALOT. These fish are only about 2" inches long, and they moved enough gravel to fill a one gallon coffee bucket.

Anyway, the female colored up real nice and started hanging out in a coconut cave...at that point I was pretty sure I had eggs. I quit dosing my plants, and didn't clean the algae out like I had been...just regular twice weekly 50% water changes.

This morning I went downstairs to take some pictures of some barbs in another tank, and noticed about ten free swimmers! I'm still keeping my hopes dampered, but at least I know I've got a viable pair.

Here is some info on the fish and the tank...

75 Gallon Aquarium
pH: less than 6.0 (can't measure below six, but it's down there I'm sure)
Temp: 78*F - 80*F
Tankmates are another pair of N. transvestitus and about 20 Clown Killies
Origin: Lake Mai-Ndombe in the Democratic Republic of Congo

And some pics...sorry for the poor quality. Haven't cleaned the glass or that side of the tank for a couple of weeks.

And a short video.
[video=youtube;wGuC1KWwdoM]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wGuC1KWwdoM[/video]

 

[slimbolen99]

Here's a pic of their tank. It doesn't look as clean as this now, and I need to add more cover.

Here is one of the "caves" they dug out.

Female infront of her coconut cave.

 

[henkh]

Congrats with the free swimming fry of this beautiful, little species. I hope you may keep some of them to grow out to adults!

 

[tjudy]

Congrats! Awesome fish.