The busy couple

Hi guys.

I've posted these pictures in the community album as well, but I thought I share them here too with the story behind the cute shots.

I did a routine water change on my parenting tank with Gloria, Meathead and the babies (who are now 5 weeks old) and I think it instigated a "mood" of sorts. Within an hour of the wc, they began to spawn.

The babies were so curious as to what Mom and Dad were up too and had there noses right in the thick of it.

I am not a serious breeder, as you can tell by the gravel, and for the most part I am just helping out the parents by feeding the little ones their BBS. They are the ones who are really doing most of the work, it's all part of a little bargain we have.

I just thought the whole situation was cute and wanted to share. Considering Gloria and Meathead were notorious egg/wiggler eaters...they certainly have reformed themselves into dedicated parents.

I have never seen that before. You actually raised them with gravel? How many made it? Most time they get into the gravel and don't come out. That is a really good picture showing siblings watching over the eggs! Good Job!

Usually the eggs or fry get eaten in situations like that, but it looks as if they're all doing fine for now. I've read about angelfish parents raising two batches together but have never experienced it. As for the gravel substrate, sure most people advise against it. However, if you're not interested in raising huge spawns, the gravel works just fine, as does an under gravel filter. About all you can expect from a setup like that is fifty or so survivors, usually less. Using a power head with the ugiff would, no doubt, allow fewer angel babies to survive.

I am not serious about breeding either. I had just planned on nature taking it's course for now until I had more time to fuss. My 2 year old son has just been diagnosed with Autism, so that combined with also having a 3 year old and 10 year old....well, let's just say my priorities are pretty tapped out. Still, I made Gloria and Meathead a deal. Our little bargain is - I will feed the ones they get to freeswimming with BBS, but they have to look after them.

G&M were notoriuos egg and wiggler eaters, so when they had this batch they ate all but about 40 of them before a HUGE fight broke out between them. Then they decided to care for the remaining wigglers and now here they are. They are 5 weeks old and only about 15 are left, but that has been steady since the two week mark.

I leave the overhead lights on 24/7, which helps the fry from getting stuck in the gravel as they know which way is up and can follow the light....still, the weaker ones went down.

The miraculous thing about this batch is at about two weeks free swimming, I went away for 4 days with no one to feed them. Time away took priority there, as mean as it sounds. Anyway, I came home to the 15 that are left, still swimming about, feasting on the ugly algae that has grown due to the constant lighting. They even had green bellies. So, the ones who were left REALLY wanted to be here.

I do have one that appears today to have a swim bladder problem though. Have any of you seen this in fry? I suppose I should just cull him, but since he lived through all of the other adversity, I feel bad ending it now. What a softy I am.

Anyway, many of the eggs have turned white now...probably a combination of the babies distraction while spawning and their constant picking at the eggs. The parents are still being diligent though. It is really interesting to watch.

Thanks,

Leah

Leah.. That is really an amazing story!! I think those that you have..like you said..truly have a will to be here.
I hope maybe this little one that may have a swim bladder issue will snap out of it for you. It is never easy having to cull any.
Oh..and did I say that those pictures are great?
They are sooo cute !!
Yeah..as usual..you took some wonderful shots !!

Unfortunately Diane, I have ended his fate. Bob, as I affectionately called him, is done with struggling to go down from the surface and resting well.

Thanks though.

Once i read a recommendation that you should leave three sides of the aquarium untouched and clean only the front surfaces. The idea was to let algae grow on three sides so the fish could get their veggies.