I got a pair of Hypsophrys nicaraguensis about three months ago. They were almost 4 inches when I got them. They are supposed to be F1, but as anyone who knows me will tell you...I could care less about all of that F-WHATEVER. But the cool thing is that they have now spawned. I dont hold out much hope for this first spawn...but we will see. First a couple of pics of the male...



Now some of the female...



And the grand finale...the spawn



This was Saturday afternoon, the last time I looked I had about thirty "wrigglers" in the corner. I dont know why thy chose to spawn of the tank bottom. Maybe someone with a little more knowledge of these guys can give me some tips for nxt time. Thanx for looking.

That is so cool; they finally spawned!

It does look like a treacherous nesting site though. Is that a big pile of sand right next to the cleared spot?

The only experience I've had with egg layers were a breeding pair of angel fish I had many years ago. They always wanted a smooth surface like slate to deposit the eggs. The first time I didn't have anything like that in the tank and they laid the eggs on a broad leaf of a fake amazon sword plant.

Congratulation Mongo daddy the Clap the Clap the Clap

The Nicaraguensis are beautifully colored Cichlids especially during breeding time. Don't worry about the site, they will breed in the craziest spots but they will protect their fry fiercely. If you want to grow some of them out, you will have to siphon them of after they are free swimming.

Good luck my friend Good Job

Well I have 35 fry as far as I can tell happily swimming in a breeder net right now. I had to put a piece of egg crate between the pair today as the male is ready to go again. The female is still a little thin, and was begining to take some abuse from the male. I will try and get some pics of the fry this weekend to share.

Aura this is a new species for me. I have had plenty of CAs before, and had spawns in the past. So its a learning experience for me as well. I have added a nice flat piece of slate in the corner where they spawned last time. Now they will probably move to some other place.

Congratulations Kirk Cheers!!! Cheers!!!

Are you mailing the cigars??????

Congrats, Mongo! the Clap the Clap

Are you planning on growing out the fry? Hmmmm

Congratulations! One of my favorite Central American cichlids. I hope to set up a tank for some in the future.

Congrats again,

Joel

Klaus if I were a smoking kind of guy I might...I would be willing to send you a fresh can of Copenhagen if your intertested.

PB if I can...they are way smaller than mouth brooder fry. Its been so long since I did sub-strate spawners. But yes, I am going to try and grow them out.

Joel let them get up to two inches or so and I'll mail you some. Maybe we can do a swap...got anything to trade in about two months?

LOL! Thanks for the offer, but I'll probably get them locally if I ever set up a tank for them. Too far to travel for the fish. B)

Congrats, Mongo!!! Cheers!!!

UPDATE

All in all, I managed to save 16 fry to 1/2 inch size. I kept losing one or two a day. Thats wht I havnt posted a pic recently...I thought I was going to lose the whole spawn. I have no idea what was going on, but I havnt lost on in...knock on wood...2 weeks now. I am beging to wonder if those were deformed or something. Anyway thanx for stopping and looking.

Thanks for the update Mongo Good Job
Are you feeding the little ones freshly hatched brine shrimp????

No Klaus, I am feeding crushed pellet and flake for the most part. With some frozen brine shrimp and frozen baby brine shrimp. My LFS raises and freezes the larva in ice cube trays that they sell for 25 cents apiece.

Congrats on the fry Mongo!
I see you pics are getting really good as well! Good Job
In the past when I was raising fry from egg layers,I found that feeding freshly hatched BBS to be a much better food.It's the movement of those little buggers ,,, saying EAT ME,,, along with their continual movement nobody gets left out.
Though,you have a good start with the fry that are left! You'll need another tank soon! On the Floor Laughing

Cheers!!! Larry 4larry