Tilapia ruweti spawn

[Nebraska_cichlids]

One of my pairs of Tilapia ruweti spawned again, for the second time. The first go-around the eggs were eaten in a heart beat. This time, the pair seems to be doing better. They fended off all the other ruweti in the tank, which I had to move to another tank. So far, the pair seems to be caring well for the eggs. The picture doesn't do the fish any justice. The male is nearly pitch black, while the female is very colorful.

 

[aquaticclarity]

Congrats Janos! Any idea what (if anything other then time) triggered the spawn?

 

[Nebraska_cichlids]

Jeff,

they spawned the day after a routine 30% water change, but I suspect that was pure co-incidence. The pair had been courting and coloring up for days prior to the spawn.

The timing for this to happen isn't very good, as I will be leaving for a 1-wk business trip overseas tomorrow. The wife will be in charge of the fish room.
Anton told me that his ruweti are pretty bad parents, and that he had to siphon off some of his wrigglers in order to get anything.

I keep my fish in 50/50 RO/tap water at about 26 degrees Celsius.

Janos

 

[levine]

Congrats on the spawn! Looks like a cool little fish.

 

[viejo]

It's been 30+ years since I kept Ruweti, they were called 'microtilapia' @ the time & were shipped by Pierre Brichard to myself & some other importers. For a while they were relatively common in the U.S. hobby. For some reason, Pierre denied ever exporting tilapia when he was in the Congo which I suspect was a CYA statement. Rather nice & attractive fish overall. Do you happen to know where your fish were originally collected?

 

[Nebraska_cichlids]

The fish were imported from Germany by Mark Denaro (Anubiasdesign), and he designated "German breeder" as a source. Not much help!

Sadly, the pair ate all the eggs last night. Well, with each failed spawn I learn something to do better the next time.

Janos

 

[viejo]

That's right, you told me that. I can't remember if mine tended the eggs successfully or not.

The fish were imported from Germany by Mark Denaro (Anubiasdesign), and he designated "German breeder" as a source. Not much help!

Sadly, the pair ate all the eggs last night. Well, with each failed spawn I learn something to do better the next time.

Janos

 

[Nebraska_cichlids]

Finally!

After two failed attempts (parents eating the eggs), I decided not to take a chance with my most recent third spawn. I transferred the eggs into a tumbler and managed to get about 15 fry swimming ruweti. They are tiny but, so far, seem to be doing well. Once they get a little bigger (enough for me to get them in focus), I will take and post pictures.

 

[dfea]

Congratulations!