Spawing in Community tank.

[fishes zd]

Well I wasn't ready for it and was a bit freaked out about it when on my daughters 17th birthday, my large blue turq. laid out a nice batch of eggs... hahaha and I thought it was a HE! lol! This was in my 4ft planted discus tank that has bristlenose, paki loaches, lots plants & total of 5 discus (2 larger and 3 smaller ones). (100gal.)

well the smaller oriental dream that I've only had for a bout 2 months attempted to fertilize them... but with all of our ohhhs and ahhs I think we may have distracted him a bit (and YES I thought SHE was a HE, lol!)
yes we were a bit too close to the tank and were a bit tanked ourselves, and I just let nature take it's course......

By the time I got onto these forums, sunday lunchtime, the eggs were gone and I;m pretty sure it was the greedy bristlenose catfish who snuck around the log and gobbled them up. But the parents were great always watching, fanning, mouthing the eggs, taking turns. I read alot on this forum (thanks everyone for great posts , part. LadyRed!) on what to expect, etc. So I will continue to let this process continue and eventually get my 2 foot cube ready for breeding. would be quite an achievement after. BUT for now, nature can take its course...

No this is not a great pic, the blue turq has lost colour, as did the male oriental dream (with all that effort I would too!)

http://i77.photobucket.com/albums/j41/Kerpa/4ft%20discus%20Tank/th_eggs17Sept06.jpg (http://i77.photobucket.com/albums/j41/Kerpa/4ft%20discus%20Tank/eggs17Sept06.jpg)


This is the male, oriental dream, much smaller than the female but I expect he will do some quick growing now...
http://i77.photobucket.com/albums/j41/Kerpa/4ft%20discus%20Tank/th_17sept06male.jpg (http://i77.photobucket.com/albums/j41/Kerpa/4ft%20discus%20Tank/17sept06male.jpg)


and this pic, it's really bad, his colour really drained (should I laugh, blush? lol!) but tonight I am happy to report - has returned to his spendid glorious glowing self (and so has the female)
http://i77.photobucket.com/albums/j41/Kerpa/4ft%20discus%20Tank/th_17.jpg (http://i77.photobucket.com/albums/j41/Kerpa/4ft%20discus%20Tank/17.jpg)

All in all I am really happy that the discus are happy enough (ie. with water parameters, etc) that they would spawn.. So I am doing something right, eh? I've had the discus for about one year now & I have learn't and am learning so much.

Thanks everyone for your valuable info in this forum.

Kerry

[*Chris*]

well done mate
keep us posted with the future efforts
EXAI

[Merrilyn]

Well done Kerry.

Isn't it lovely to know that the fish appreciate all our hard work after all :P

Give them some more growing time, and more practice in the community tank, and they'll make wonderful parents when you're ready.

That darkening of colour when spawning is very normal. I have one red alenquer female that almost goes black when spawning. Newly hatched fry are programmed to head for dark objects. Hopefully, that's their parents.

[fishes zd]

Thanks Merrilyn, yes I am really happy that they are contented. I often wished I could read their minds (which are prob. saying "more food, more food"!)


But just in case... I just had to go out a buy a new shiney fluval filter for them! Ahhh LOve! Aint it grand (like cost a grand lol!)


Everyone is very happy, if not a bit too clingy...

More to come on
BOLD and the BEAUTIFUL
or perhaps DARING and the DISCUS.... (oopps!)

better go
byee!