Parananochromis caudifasciatus 2nd attempt

[aquaticclarity]

This time I plan on getting it right! On their first spawn my wild P. caudifasciatus proved to be capable parents up until the fry started to attempt to swim. After about a week of watching the female move the wigglers around and the male patrol the territory the fry were all gone. I don’t know if the pair ate the fry or if the 5 other P. caudifasciatus got to the little ones. Either way there was nothing left of the spawn.

After roughly 6 weeks the pair has spawned again. This time I’ll get the fry out before it’s to late. At least I’m getting a second shot raising some fry.

Jeff

 

[freshwaterfishfan]

Water parameters

Congrats on the spawning. I have a group of P. caudiofasciatus, as well. 10 wild caught. At least one large male and several females/subdominant males. They are in a 60 G with lots of drift wood but not many plants. They share space with some Gobiocichla and a pair of Limbochromis robertsi. I have lots of PVC pipes and caves but have never even seen courting behavior.
May I ask what your pH, hardness, temp are?
I do about 40% water change every 2 weeks.
Steve

 

[aquaticclarity]

Steve

I’ll run a few tests tomorrow to get an accurate measure, but I’m using a large amount of D.I. water in addition to 2 large chunks of driftwood, which are leaching out tannins. It might cost you a few N. splendens for the info though!:biggrin:

By the way, where in the world are you located. You don't have the info posted.

Jeff

 

[aquaticclarity]

Steve, I finally checked some of the water parameters:

pH 5.3
gH 2.5
Temp. 80-82F (it’s been in the high 90’s the past week here)

I was a little surprised to find the pH so low! I did a little light reading and noted the Randall Kohn quotes Lamboj in the Cichlid News January 2004 pg. 17 stating that temps around 71-72F should produce a more even sex ratio and that higher temps will lead to more male offspring. I’ll have to wait and see!

As an overview the 7 wild Parananochromis caudifasciatus are being keep in a 40 breeder with no other fish. There are two large pieces of Malaysian driftwood in opposite corners of the tank and numerous 2†diameter 4â€Â-5†long PVC tubes scattered around. There’s even one 3†PVC end cap with a hole drilled in its side (think plastic coconut cave) that the pair frequents. The substrate is a mix of silica sand and very fine red flint sand. The tank is filtered by an Aquaclear 300 powerfilter hanging on one end of the tank. I’ve only really been feeding the fish O.S.I. flake food.

I’m pretty sure the pair bonded while still in the 30 gallon long quarantine tank. While in that tank one of the 8 P. caudifasciatus ended up murdered and the 5 other fish looked thinner then the pair and very nervous. The female of the pair had already filled out and was displaying a pink/red belly. About 3 weeks after moving all 7 fish to the 40 breeder the pair had set up shop and laid their first spawn.

Water changes are done about 1 per month using a large percentage of D.I. (75%+) water and well water.

I think that covers most of experience I’ve had with the fish so far. I hope it helps.

Jeff

 

[Randall]

Parananochromis caudifasciatus

Hi guys,

Parananochromis caudifasciatus do well in soft, acidic water (pH 6.5ish, GH 2-3) that is cool (low to mid 70s is best). Both parents engage in egg care and fry care. If the fry are not surviving, it's probably not due to a lack of parental care. Perhaps removing some conspecifics and/or giving the parents a less crowed tank of their own will do the trick.

Good luck!

All the best,

Randall Kohn

 

[freshwaterfishfan]

P. caudiofasciatus

Thanks for the info. My temps run in the high 70's if not low 80's, so I might have to wait till the winter to get a good spawn. I am going to split my group of P. caudiofasciatus up into a couple of tanks in hope they will pair up.
Jeff: As for my location, I am Kansas City. I'll send you my fish list. I hear you are a man of the rare and unusual cichlids. And if you want some F1 N. splenden females, you are welcome to them. I am going to keep 3 or 4 for myself, but I don't need them all. They are pretty fish but it looks like I'll need to find some males somewhere to pair up with them.
Steve

 

[Randall]

Parananochromis caudifasciatus

Hello Steve,

Just a word of caution: some of the species from the cooler waters in southern Cameroon, Rio Muni, Gabon and Congo (Brazzaville) are prone to disease, if housed in high temperautures for a prolonged period of time, P. caudifasciatus included. Is there a way to get your temperatures down?

Good luck!

All the best,

Randall Kohn