Do youngsters go out at night?

Cascudo · Post by **Cascudo** » Thu Jun 09, 2005 4:29 pm

Hi everybody!

Last weekend I released the remaining 6 fry from their breeding trap, as I thought that they were big enough by now.
I already released 3 fry. So now there are 9 fry at loose, together with 4 adults in a 160 liter tank.

The fry have discovered a hang out for their own. In one back corner of the tank, two back wall decoration boards come together, and between them they form a crevice.
The first two had already choosen this crevice as their hang out and it seems that all the others followed their example.

The drawback is that I can't have an eye on them anymore.

Most time I am able to distinguish one or two youngsters in the crevice, but I am not able to make out how many are inside there.

My concern is: do they go out at night, after I have turned off the light to have their meal?

Have any one already observed fry activity by night?

smithrc · Post by **smithrc** » Thu Jun 09, 2005 6:34 pm

sounds like you need a moonlight

our 5 129's hide all day but come to life at night (normally when we're not looking)

we use the cold cathode neons running at about 6v rather than 12v.

You'll be able to see for yourself then

McEve · Post by **McEve** » Thu Jun 09, 2005 10:27 pm

I had an IR camera set up for a while in a tank where I kept the fry for a while. Yes, they do come out at night.

smithrc · Post by **smithrc** » Thu Jun 09, 2005 10:41 pm

McEve..

I've actually got an IR spot light for this very purpouse...
Unfortunatly my Digital camera and my webcam are not sensative enough to IR light

What camrea did you use?

McEve · Post by **McEve** » Thu Jun 09, 2005 10:53 pm

I used on of these:

http://www.rfconcepts.co.uk/cctv%20cameras.htm They're cheap, and work well, but they're not network cameras, so I had to run it through Windows Media Server, then set up a webpage with windows media player embedded. Worked ok, but I started getting worried about keeping metal submerged in the tank, so I took it down.

it is possible to set it up outside the tank as well, but you'd have to get just the right angle to avoid the IR lights reflecting in the glass.

Cascudo · Post by **Cascudo** » Fri Jun 10, 2005 4:02 pm

McEve,

Thank you for this import information and for having done the moonlighting for me!

Smithrc,

I love the photograph in your signature! Did you take it yourself?

smithrc · Post by **smithrc** » Fri Jun 10, 2005 8:58 pm

yep..

Thats 'Mr Catfish'

Any ideas what he is?
I'm going for a common/sailfin cross

I'll post up my guide to the moon light if you want

Cascudo · Post by **Cascudo** » Fri Jun 10, 2005 10:41 pm

It looks like the common pleco. But it shows that even the "common" one is not that common if you have a good look at it. It is a very nice one.
What makes the foto so nice is the combination of the plain coloured but beautiful shaped pleco with the more coloured clown botia and panda cory just out of focus.

Please post your moonlight guide.
Thanks in advance