Etia nguti

[Fishguy]

After keeping a small group of these fish in a 6 foot tank with a several big and nasty Nimbochromis fuscotaeniatus (http://www.petfish.net/kb/entry/391/), I had two fish decide to start a family and lay about 150 eggs on a top (outside) of a small rectangular slate cave that the resident ansistrus uses to stay out of the way. Based on the condition of the female, and her shredded fins, it was a pretty rough event as she lost about half her tail fin and major pieces of her dorsal fin in the process.

While the male was doing a great job keeping the 9 nine inch fusco's away and the female was dutifully fanning the eggs, I was concerned the eggs would not be there in the morning. Did I mention that there is also a 12 inch rhino pleco in this tank? I removed the cave (sans ansistrus) with the eggs attached to it and placed it in a separate 5 gallon tank. The eggs were adhesive and none fell off during the transfer. I added methylene blue and an air stone to provide circulation over the eggs. Overnight two eggs fungused and were removed. Water is hard (450+ TDS), pH 8.4 and temperature is 78F.

Anybody else have any experience with breeding this fish? This was not a planned event, but obviously the fish decided it was finally time to do something.

Phil

[bobrfish]

Congratulations on catching the spawn Phil. I hope you have success raising some fry.

[neesejohn]

Have you lost anymore since you moved the eggs?

John

[Fishguy]

Everything look find until Sunday morning. It looks like none of the eggs were fertile as they are all are now starting to fungus. While I have had these fish for several years, this is the first spawn that they have tried, so maybe it will work out better the next time.

Phil

[Mullet]

Keep up the efforts on this outstanding fish. They will get there.