RE: A. nijsenni breeding revisited

[David Sanchez <barbax2@yahoo.com>]

I have been following this discussion with interest
and thought I would throw my 2 cents in. Sounds like
you are on the right track Cory. I like the fact that
you are providing a environment that makes the fish
feel secure! ie: floating plants, java moss. This is
providing cover which they need to feel secure. It's
kind of like the hierachy of needs they wont spawn if
they dont feel secure. Your feeding regime seems
excellent as well. Given that those things are being
done correctly it's only a matter of time before the
female fills with spawn and simply will have to do
what comes naturally! However givung them water that
is very low in DOC/ Low Microsiemens will speed things
up tremoedously. In nature the rainy season is very
often a biological signal to our fish to spawn. Their
is an increase in food, and an influx of very soft
water due to the heavy rains. In an aquarium even
though we may have the very best filter system it will
not remove organic impurities such as nitrate and many
other Dissolved organics. This can be very easily seen
when one tests the water of an R.O. system for the
counductivity and them after fish are added it very
often jumps dramiticly and at an exponential rate.
When we look at the microsiemens of water in the
rivers of South America, the black water rivers in
particuler, we very often find a counductivity of 10
us/cm! For the fish in question this is in fact the
case. Given the fact that our fish are so flexable and
do tolerate and spawn at less then ideal conditions
speaks volumes at the ease in which many species will
spawn. My point is perhaps a few more water changes,
perhaps 50% week, may do the trick. There is a myth
that to big a water change will hurt your fish and
obviuosly when it comes to our dwarfs this is a farce.
Please keep in mind I beleive your fish will spawn at
the conditions you are providing given time but since
you seem like you would like to speed things up I can
tell you this has worked for me for years. Good luck
with your fish and hopefully very soon you can share
your story of a shoal of fry swimming around with
their momma!



=====
David Sanchez
Orlando, FL
http://www.mindspring.com/~barbax
barbax@mindspring.com
__________________________________________________
Do You Yahoo!?
Bid and sell for free at http://auctions.yahoo.com


-------------------------------------------------------------------------
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.
Search http://altavista.digital.com for "Apistogramma Mailing List Archives"!