Breeding in the El Natural - El Natural

geeks_15 · 10-14-2009, 04:57 PM

Maybe its a coincidence, but I'm having much early breeding success in my El Natural.

Here's the setup:

80 gallon (acrylic fish store tank subdivided into 4 sections)
Rena cannister filter provides water flow, with some bioballs (probably unnecessary)
The tank is setup as an open top, heavily planted tank. The main plants are duckweed, a giant ozelot sword with many leaves above the water surface, stargrass, java moss, and others.

So I've raised some of the first fry batch from my Pelvicachromis taeniatus 'moliwe.' When the fry were less than 1cm, the parents chased them into the next section (the fry can swim through the slits in the dividers). I soon realized they had chased them away because they had new wrigglers. These are now free swimming and doing well.

I had a female apistogramma cacatuoides in a different 75 gallon. I got her a new male and put them into the El Natural. Two days later the female is staying in her cave most of the time. I shine a flashlight in there and there are a bunch of eggs stuck to the cave wall!

Now, I know these fish are relatively easy to breed. And I have set them up to succeed with caves and no other fish in their section. But I can't help but believe the el natural setup encourages them to procreate, and I'm having lots of fun watching and doing what I can to help them.

HoldingWine · 10-14-2009, 10:14 PM

Congrats, Jeremy!

I think the whole set-up of a NPT entices fish to breed. I have a school of diamond tetras with a few babies hiding around. Perhaps by not disturbing the aquarium too much with water changes, chemicals, etc. allows nature to take its course?

Dustymac · 10-15-2009, 03:44 PM

I can only provide another anecdote to this thread, but I've never seen spawning Corys until putting some in an NPT. I have three females and one male in the 55 gal and it seems every week the place is littered with eggs. Is it the NPT ambiance? Why not!

Jim

LVKSPlantlady · 10-15-2009, 04:50 PM

This is exactly what I hope to see with my Kuhllii loaches!!

I have 7 in my 20 long NPT, 3 Pangio kuhlii, they have golden stripes, 3 Pangio oblonga, they are plain brown and one that I was told was prob a cross breed between the two but I think it's just a diff. looking Pangio kuhlii. I provided plenty of hiding places! I can't wait!