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Thanks Matt, if this one had a report card, it would read, "could try harder"! I think it's because the pH / conductivity isn't low enough. I've not tried to fiddle with that as I've got four other sets of fish spawning at present so working with 'em.

So, they are in a 30x15x15" tank, filtration fluval 3 internal, 86F. pH 6.6. Females are gravid. One male, three females.



Jools

Here's a start...

Chuck another male in for a bit of competition,
Shade the entrance to the caves with some drift wood
Let the water get dirty for 2 weeks (No WC). (You're too warm. Drop to 80°F (27°C)
Feed lots (Protein)
Then do a 30% WC (During a storm if possible)
Lights off and no feed for 5 days. See what happens.
Look for a male endlessly fanning in his cave.

Report back in a few weeks.

Cheers

Matt

Jools wrote:Thanks Matt, if this one had a report card, it would read, "could try harder"! I think it's because the pH / conductivity isn't low enough. I've not tried to fiddle with that as I've got four other sets of fish spawning at present so working with 'em.

So, they are in a 30x15x15" tank, filtration fluval 3 internal, 86F. pH 6.6. Females are gravid. One male, three females.



Jools

Jools wrote:

powerfulpumpkins wrote:How long do you try before you pull your hair out and give up

Never give in, I'm in my 6th year of trying with this species!

Jools

I have had my wc L134 for 3,5 years now with no fry or even an single egg in sight
But still hanging on, maybe one day

Here's a start...

Chuck another male in for a bit of competition,
Shade the entrance to the caves with some drift wood
Let the water get dirty for 2 weeks (No WC). (You're too warm. Drop to 80°F (27°C)
Feed lots (Protein)
Then do a 30% WC (During a storm if possible)
Lights off and no feed for 5 days. See what happens.
Look for a male endlessly fanning in his cave.

Larry (Apistomaster), who is very good at sharing his knowledge, has noted that they generally only spawn during certain months of the year (likely coinciding with their wild season). It's worth searching his posts for this information.

Mine took 2 yrs and a bit to get started. Even before they actually spawned it was obvious that they are seasonal breeders from the changes in behaviour and hairyness of the males through the year. For mine the breeding season seems to be November-February which, I think, is the opposite of what Apistomaster found. It was only in the 3rd season (the one just gone) that they actually spawned. I didn't do anything different from normal maintenance which is a 30-50% weekly waterchange with tap water. Ph in the tank is 6-6.5 and I haven't measured hardness but the water here is pretty soft.
I have been meaning to post more detailed observations and a few pics here for a while but my workload has been silly the last half year. No spare time for fishy tales. It should calm down a bit soon and I will get round to it then...

I just wanted to say that the Hanna Primo TDS meter can be had on eBay for about $15 and is a very good meter.