One mad mamma

[dantodd]

My 2 clarkii are laying nests every 10 days. The last batch hatched Wednesday night and yesterday I put a tile in the tank against the overflow where they lay their egss.

Mamma was sooooo mad. She shimmied her way between the tile and the tank and started trying to lay her eggs behind the tile. I felt bad for her and finally moved the tile. Then the two of them started FRANTICALLY cleaning the area while her ovipositor was already dropped. It was the funniest thing to see how fast they were working. I'm not sure she'll ever forgive me.

 

[finding nemo]

Probably not, bribery is in order
They hate change so next time, the day they hatch add the tile and see if they will use it. I doubt it tho. They like what they like.

 

[dantodd]

I thought about trying to add the tile on wedensday night but I was too busy trying to catch fry. I guess I 'll try making the change immediately on Saturday night. I't amazing how prolific these guys are. The tank is only eggless for two days at a time so I try to as much maintenance as possible the day after hatch because I want the tank to be as calm as possible on laying day.

 

[catdoc]

I can not convince my percs to lay on the tile. They'll lay them an inch to the side of it, but refuse the tile itself.

 

[dantodd]

Would you argue with her?

 

[finding nemo]

Geze Dan, that is one heck of a nest.
Largest I have seen. Is this there current nest?
Will you try to raise them?
And good morning to you

 

[dantodd]

good morning to you too. Yep, laid Friday night. It's their 4th. The first was about half this size and they've gotten bigger each time, this is only a little bit bigger than the last. I can hardly tell but my wife assures me it is.

Since it's my first spawning pair I wasn't sure but it did seem really big, her belly looks about to bust every spawning day.

 

[finding nemo]

I would think so on that belly, did you see the picture I posted of my female on your other thread?
She gets huge. My nest is about half your size, this is there second and I am pretty sure they will get bigger as she goes.
I have had them less then 6 months and am very pleased with them, not one case of bickering or fighting between them, always the best of buddies since day one.
So you will be trying to raise these?
I would love to, just no time nor good health to attemp it.
I have Joices book and seems simple enough,
I tried it once on clarki fry but lost them at a week old, not sure why.
Was tough that first week, especially keeping the water clean.
So not sure if I will try it again.
If you do give it a go, best of luck to you and take lots of pictures as they grow.
It is always in inspiration to everyone that wants to give it a try to know and see that others are doing it, such as JHardman.
Fantastic to see those little guys grow up.

 

[dantodd]

I tried the last hatch. posted the exeperience on the forum under the title "fried fry" you can guess the outcome...

I'll try again.

 

[finding nemo]

Yup read it and replied.
So sad.Better luck is on the way tho I bet.
You sound dedicated to raising them.
ARe you going to be making the rotifers or feeding the powered kind?

 

[dantodd]

gonna try powdered first. If they don't thrive on that then I'll get some rotifers. I'm near reed mariculture so shipping isn't a problem.

 

[finding nemo]

Great, please let us know how it works out.
My first try was'nt a success with it.
But other factors took over I am affraid.
Good luck

 

[dantodd]

Just checked out your pic. She gets quite a bit bigger than that. I am a little worried today. She's eating but isn't putting on much weight and she's really aggitated. She keeps backing up into the corner of the tank and then "shooting" out blowing the sand bed all over. She hasn't been doing too much of that lately so I don't know what's up.

 

[finding nemo]

Sounds strange, when is she due to lay again?
Did you change anything in the tank? Add the tile and she is upset?

 

[dantodd]

yeah, it's been a big week for them. Big cleaning including pulling out a few pounds of xenia, put the tile in and then added a big BTA to the far side of the tank. She lays every 10 days (has the last 40 days anyway) like clockwork. I hope I haven't put her off her schedule!

 

[finding nemo]

I bet it has set her off her schedule.
Be patient and she will come around, she can't hold those eggs forever.
Have the cleaned the rock where they lay or has she abandone it all together?

 

[dantodd]

oh no. They aren't due to lay again for a few days, their current nest was layed on Friday and will hatch Saturday. Usually she is showing quite a bit of swelling by late the day after laying a nest but wasn't yesterday. This morning she was really really really eating well and jsut tormenting her mate (something she rarely does) so perhaps she is just trying to re-establish herself in the tank. Man does she make a mess, she backs up into the corner of the tank and then aunches into the anemone at her mate. Then she chases him around and around inside the anemone. I should be able to tell tomorrow or Wednesday at the latest if she is holding eggs.