Re: Rotpukt fry questions, and tank water movement

[Mike & Diane Wise <apistowise@bewellnet.com>]

Alan,

Since no one else has replied, I guess I'll put my 2¢ in. I've spawned 
Rotpunkt more times than I can remember. The females are usually 
excellent mothers & the males don't seem to be very interested in 
interfering in the brood care of the fry. Although a 10 is rather small 
(females can have 100+ fry at a time) I would leave the male in with the 
rest. I doubt that you will have any problems. Just keep an eye on 
everyone, like we should for every tank.

As for your system, I can only say I'm not a fan of multi-tank breeding 
systems. A problem in one leads to a problem in all. It's just my bias. 
As for a strong current, this is something that only a few apisto 
species handle well. Most species are found along banks & side arms of 
smaller streams, or in pools, where the current is at best fairly slow. 
The few descriptions of Rotpunkt collecting localities indicate that 
they prefer typical apisto habitats. If  it were my system, I would try 
to reduce the flow rate. If your fry staying low in the tank, it might 
mean that they are having problems with the current. If they have to 
fight the current, that means they are using energy that would be better 
used for growth. High flow rates might be taking a lot of the BBS out of 
the reach of your fry, too. Something to think about?

Mike Wise

Alan Whitten wrote:

> I have a pair of Rotpukts in a 10 gallon tank, that are on their third set of fry in 4 months.  
> The first two sets of fry fell victim to my dithering fish, the second female in the tank, and my 
> lack of husbandry.
>
> In order to improve the odds for my current fry, I have removed all the other fish but the male and female.
> I have noticed the female 'nudging' the male, but she is not aggresivly trying to chase him off.  After a week
> of being free swimming fry, I have over 20 fry.  Is it a good idea to remove the male?  or will he ignore the fry
> until they get large enough to be a threat to him.  This male gets stressed out every time I move him, and I
> am afraid one of these days he is going to hurt himself when I try to net him.  I don't want to move him if I don't
> have to.
>
> On the husbandry side, I have switched from vinigar eels to baby brine shrimp.  I keep two brine shrimp hatheries
> going so I always have fresh shrimp.  I think this has made the most difference in my survival rate.
>
> I have noticed that my fry almost exclusivly stay on the bottom of the tank, rarely swimming up more than 2 inches
> off the sandbed.  The only other fry I have to compare them to are Cacatoide fry, which pretty much swam all over
> the place.
>
> On the subject of tank water movement.  I have three 25 gallon tanks that are all on one filter, with a return pump.
> The water movement can be quite brisk in the tanks if I open the return valves all the way.  Do apistrogramma's
> generaly not like a lot of water movement in their tanks?  Could water movement discourage breeding?
>
> --C. Alan
>
> -----------------------------------------------------------------------
> -- This is the apistogramma mailing list, apisto@listbox.com. For
> instructions on how to subscribe or unsubscribe or get help, email
> apisto-request@listbox.com. apisto-digest@listbox.com also available.
> Web archives at http://lists.thekrib.com/apisto Trading at
> http://blox.dropship.org/mailman/listinfo/apisto_trader
>
>  


-----------------------------------------------------------------------
-- This is the apistogramma mailing list, apisto@listbox.com. For
instructions on how to subscribe or unsubscribe or get help, email
apisto-request@listbox.com. apisto-digest@listbox.com also available.
Web archives at http://lists.thekrib.com/apisto Trading at
http://blox.dropship.org/mailman/listinfo/apisto_trader