Another rummynose tetra breeding attempt.

[Atitagain]

Trial 3

my first 2 attempts at breeding rummynose tetra did not go well. First attempt was a learning experience, I’m not questioning my method but my patience. Second attempt while the aquascape  is great I made the mistake of adding way too many corys, bristlenose, and other tetra. So even if they are spawning not sure there’s a way a fry that small would ever make it. My new plan is to isolate a male and 2-3 females in a 20G that is set up to protect the fry. I know it will probably take them a while to get comfortable enough to spawn. If I happen to see fry I will move the parents when needed.

10G- sponge filter- ACO 100w heater 

First I put egg crate at the bottom then I collected some mulm and leaf litter From another tank and used the collected water to start the tank.

then A fairly thin layer of gravel, layer of IAL, then river stones.And added some Adler cones.

 

then plants, a gang of Anubias (10) and a cutting of indian swampweed 
 

after a night to let everything settle down.

 

will drop in some snails and  add fish in a couple days. Plan is to just feed them really well for now and see what happens. 

Thinking about adding a big batch of moss. Didn’t really want that look but it will be best for fry.

[TheSwissAquarist]

Good luck and please keep us posted on any success!

[Brian]

Why snails?  
with anything fish I think what are the rewards and risk. 
01. Snails eat eggs

02. snails eat algae and first foods available for fry

03. snail dies and fouls water

Rewards: ?

[Atitagain]

On 5/8/2022 at 7:14 AM, Brian said:

Why snails?  
with anything fish I think what are the rewards and risk. 
01. Snails eat eggs

02. snails eat algae and first foods available for fry

03. snail dies and fouls water

Rewards: ?

Interesting take, I didn’t think of it like that. I would only use pond/ pest snails but even them eating the algae would be detrimental to the chances of success. Your right no snails. Thank you!

[Brian]

I’ll be honest never spawned rummy nose.  But with most egg scatters I use a bare bottom tank.  Depending on fish spawning mops or some sort of egg barrier or screen on bottom.  Maybe nice size black marbles.  Condition males and females in separate tanks.  After predetermined time say maybe three days add females to the tank let them settle in.  After lights out add males.  I do this the night before a day off.  When I get up and wake up fish room I can check on the spawning groups.  And check on them during the day.  When I was spawning a lot of fish I would try to set up at least two tanks if the same species and setup as many different fish at same time.  So maybe cherry barbs, white clouds, tiger barbs, beckfordi pencil all on the same weekend.  I could check on all the tanks and once hatching started I could keep my live foods on same schedule.  Green Water, micro worms, baby brine  you know whatever.

Good Luck

[Atitagain]

Thanks @Brian 

im just experimenting around trying to get a set up that works and is natural as possible. If this attempt doesn’t work out I am planning a bare bottom with spawning mops and an isolated spawning enclosure.

this was my set up from my first attempt. It has a screen bottom that eggs can easily fall through.

[Brian]

Oh looks like you got this.     Good luck.   
keep up updated 

[Tihshho]

I would say going with barebottom with a mop, no enclosure, would be your best bet. Keep trying what you're doing first though. This is how you learn.

[Atitagain]

On 5/8/2022 at 8:08 PM, Tihshho said:

I would say going with barebottom with a mop, no enclosure, would be your best bet. Keep trying what you're doing first though. This is how you learn.

Thanks for the encouragement, it is an amazing learning experience. I’ve found it more enjoyable to set up environments and let things happen. Although with this fish it might be to difficult for me to pull off I will most certainly enjoy the ride. But ultimately the plan is, I want to stock my 125G with as many as I can from fry that are born in my tanks. (After they mature)

[Tihshho]

The thing about breeding, and rearing, is patience. The fastest and cleanest method to spawning is bare bottom. Best to setup barebottom with some floating stem plants for cover and get them fed well. Once you notice eggs or spawning behavior, then you add the mop. From there you give them time to get used to the mop (probably lose a couple clutches of eggs) and once they are conditioned and happy you can pull the mop regularly to check for eggs. 

[Atitagain]

Great info as always @Tihshho thank you.

[Atitagain]

Rummys in the tank!

I stocked 3 plump female and 1 male rummy. Have been feeding them very well. I feed my pea puffers live blackworms or frozen bloodworms on most nights, and I’ve been giving these rummys the leftovers from that. Then it’s vibra bites or fresh krill flakes on off nights and the occasions I feed twice in a day. The fish are still getting used to their new environment and feeding schedule. So I’ll just let it simmer for a bit.

[Guppysnail]

I’m very excited for you. I hope this time it works out. The setup looks terrific. I love that you are giving a second go at a more natural attempt. Usually when those work out it becomes easier over time to repeat breeding and is definitely less stressful for the fish. 🤞🏻

[Atitagain]

Still hoping for the best but I’ve got to have more rummys in my tank. So I used the only one breeding technique that is guaranteed to give me more. I went and bought some and now their in QT.

Not sure if I’ve shared this on here but why I’m in a hurry to get more rummys now? A few weeks ago I made a difficult decision that I was gonna move my rummynose set up to the 75G and Oscar to the 125G. As I’m planning the move I was down in the cabinet of the 125 checking electrical components, and as I raised up the school of rummys (30-ish) swooped by and I couldn’t stop watching for a minute. And in that millisecond when they first caught my eye it reminded me why I wanted them in the 125 to begin with. So I could get a giant shoal of them and see 100-ish school. So obviously I must get the count up so I don’t have any more horrible ideas of moving them.

30-ish + 10= 40-ish (count close enough)