T. joka

[Nebraska_cichlids]

I am baby sitting a group of Tilapia joka for Steve Thornton until he returns to Kansas in 1 1/2 years. Today I noticed that one of the pairs has spawned. I remember Steve telling me that joka are bad parents, but so far the female (and to some extent the male) is doing a good job defending the eggs. So, what's the advice -- pulling or not pulling the eggs?

 

[aquaticclarity]

I'll be splitting my group of joka soon...to many of them in the tank and the breeding has become VERY infrequient.

If the pair is by themselves or just with dithers they should take care of the fry for a while. I even had a little one grow up in the tank full of adults and is now a member of the group. I did pull most of it's sibling to raise seperately just to be safe.

 

[Nebraska_cichlids]

Jeff, how many days does it take for them to hatch?

 

[aquaticclarity]

I'm guessing at 2-3 days when the temps are near 80F. I seldom get to see the eggs and just go on howthe parents are acting.

 

[Nebraska_cichlids]

Sounds like you are waiting until they are free swimming or do you pull the eggs and hatch them in a tumbler?

 

[Nebraska_cichlids]

Based on Jeff's comments and a couple of emails from Steve T., I decided to pull the eggs and hatch them in a tumbler. I think it was the right decision. A few eggs were fungused but I have a decent number of eggs that are doing well, with wrigglers hatching.

 

[westafrica]

Hi!

What kind of "tumbler" do you use please? I have a pair of joka, which spawned numerous times, resulting in hatching only twice : 1st 1 week before I moved (the larvae didn't make it during the travel), and the second time the larvae just spread apparently uncontrolled in the whole tank, the parents being unable to gather them enough.

Therefore I'm thinking of stealing the eggs next time. T. joka is very rare in France (I think we are 2 or 3 people keeping them), I'm fond of this fish and I really wanna breed them, so any insights on artificial hatching techniques would be welcome

Thanks in advance!

EDIT : a few pics of my pair added :

 

[Nebraska_cichlids]

Nothing special, just the type that you find on aquabid very regularly. I set the valve to allow for a low flow rate, just enough to have the eggs bounce very gently. Tomorrow I will take a picture to ilustrate what i do once the fry are free swimming.