My zebra breeding experience - the story
Posted: Tue Feb 14, 2006 2:22 am
I’ve had my group of 20 for about 3 years. I purchased 6 others about 1 year before that. I have 1 other that I have had since 1995. Lucky me, as when I went to purchase the group of 20, I asked others (in my club) if anyone else was interested. No takers, so I took the risk and had them shipped in. They arrived in great shape and I housed them in a 75 gallon tank. Some were fairly small, and I was planning on getting my fish room going. (Other things happen, so the fish room kept getting put to the back burner). I didn’t supply them with any breeding caves, just rocks to hide. Feed them mostly frozen blood worms, and at times frozen brine shrimp. Also the Hikari carnivore pellets. I sprinkled in some flake food from time to time, but mostly for some corys that were in the tank. They grew up. In November the Ohio Cichlid Assoc. has their yearly Extravaganza. I purchased some caves, they are 6 ceramic pine cones and 2 terracotta burritos while there.
I got the room done about 4 weeks ago, and for the zebras, set up 2 30 gallon breeder tanks. They are 30” long x 18” front to back x 12” tall. They set beneath a 125 gallon tank. I made the stand that holds these 3 tanks. The 125 is still waiting to have more than water and a filter – but who cares about that right now? I have to figure out how to add pics to this, so I can show the setups.
Anyhow, both 30s have rocks and 3 pine cones, and 1 burrito. Filters, for each 30g, are Whisper model 40, and I have a power head on top on the skeleton of a sponge filter, I just wrapped a filter pad around the skeleton – no sponge – this is just for water movement. Bare bottom tanks. Used 2 100 watt heaters for each tank, hang on type. Easier to adjust temp without having to stick my hands into the tank (though they have some submersibles with outside controls).
3 weeks ago, I moved the 20 zebras to the 30s, 10 in each. Picked out the 4 largest males, and split them, 2 in each tank. The remaining 16 were split, and I thought that some of the larger females would be put on the left tank. I think they looked like females, and they may be, just no go yet in the left tank. In the right tank, a week later, I noticed one male was waving his fins in one of the pine cones. I had moved them in on Saturday, and it was the following Sat that I noticed his behavior. I had completed a water change on the tank earlier in the day (about 4 hours before I noticed the male), I don’t condition the water, straight from the tap. (They never acted bad to this and it didn’t appear to bother them this time, either) Is this showing just how lucky I am or how easy it is to get them to breed? I took a flashlight, and I swear, there were eggs in there. Ok, I got excited and danced a jig (which I didn’t know how before this). The next day, they’re still there, and Monday too. On Monday, I saw that there seemed to be only 3. On Wednesday I went to my club meeting, after checking to see if he was still at work – he was. When I came back, he had left the cone – and only one baby was left. I got some netting and sealed off the cone using it and a rubber band. The baby is still in there kicking around, I checked on him about an hour ago. If I had to guess, he looks like he is about day 11 on the pics of the breeding page here. That’s were I’m at now.
One item I didn’t really mention was the water temp. I was checking it pretty regularly due to both heaters being there. I had a couple of corys and a red lizard in the tanks before adding the zebras – to confirm the tanks were safe (just as a cautionary measure). The temps had settled, but I still tinkered trying to get them set around 81. Sometimes they went up to 83, then down to 78. I don’t know if that played a part in getting them to think – it’s that time of the season for luvin', but one of the males did, and at least one of the females agreed. And I know the temps are extreme, but they changed over a week, not in hours.
Ok – now I have a couple of questions, and I’ve seen some answers here – but would like ‘fresh’ thoughts. How long before the females are ready again – think I read about 4 weeks, true? What food is safe or good for the little one – and how soon? Read baby brine shrimp and crushed food. I plan on moving the little one soon to a empty 10. I’ll take 5 gallons of water from the 30 and leave it half full (or empty). I think that will make it easier to feed him (I don’t know if it is a he or she, just started calling it him) I have started a culture of microworms – baby red lizards liked it. Still, any thoughts will be most welcome. Thanks for your input.
I got the room done about 4 weeks ago, and for the zebras, set up 2 30 gallon breeder tanks. They are 30” long x 18” front to back x 12” tall. They set beneath a 125 gallon tank. I made the stand that holds these 3 tanks. The 125 is still waiting to have more than water and a filter – but who cares about that right now? I have to figure out how to add pics to this, so I can show the setups.
Anyhow, both 30s have rocks and 3 pine cones, and 1 burrito. Filters, for each 30g, are Whisper model 40, and I have a power head on top on the skeleton of a sponge filter, I just wrapped a filter pad around the skeleton – no sponge – this is just for water movement. Bare bottom tanks. Used 2 100 watt heaters for each tank, hang on type. Easier to adjust temp without having to stick my hands into the tank (though they have some submersibles with outside controls).
3 weeks ago, I moved the 20 zebras to the 30s, 10 in each. Picked out the 4 largest males, and split them, 2 in each tank. The remaining 16 were split, and I thought that some of the larger females would be put on the left tank. I think they looked like females, and they may be, just no go yet in the left tank. In the right tank, a week later, I noticed one male was waving his fins in one of the pine cones. I had moved them in on Saturday, and it was the following Sat that I noticed his behavior. I had completed a water change on the tank earlier in the day (about 4 hours before I noticed the male), I don’t condition the water, straight from the tap. (They never acted bad to this and it didn’t appear to bother them this time, either) Is this showing just how lucky I am or how easy it is to get them to breed? I took a flashlight, and I swear, there were eggs in there. Ok, I got excited and danced a jig (which I didn’t know how before this). The next day, they’re still there, and Monday too. On Monday, I saw that there seemed to be only 3. On Wednesday I went to my club meeting, after checking to see if he was still at work – he was. When I came back, he had left the cone – and only one baby was left. I got some netting and sealed off the cone using it and a rubber band. The baby is still in there kicking around, I checked on him about an hour ago. If I had to guess, he looks like he is about day 11 on the pics of the breeding page here. That’s were I’m at now.
One item I didn’t really mention was the water temp. I was checking it pretty regularly due to both heaters being there. I had a couple of corys and a red lizard in the tanks before adding the zebras – to confirm the tanks were safe (just as a cautionary measure). The temps had settled, but I still tinkered trying to get them set around 81. Sometimes they went up to 83, then down to 78. I don’t know if that played a part in getting them to think – it’s that time of the season for luvin', but one of the males did, and at least one of the females agreed. And I know the temps are extreme, but they changed over a week, not in hours.
Ok – now I have a couple of questions, and I’ve seen some answers here – but would like ‘fresh’ thoughts. How long before the females are ready again – think I read about 4 weeks, true? What food is safe or good for the little one – and how soon? Read baby brine shrimp and crushed food. I plan on moving the little one soon to a empty 10. I’ll take 5 gallons of water from the 30 and leave it half full (or empty). I think that will make it easier to feed him (I don’t know if it is a he or she, just started calling it him) I have started a culture of microworms – baby red lizards liked it. Still, any thoughts will be most welcome. Thanks for your input.
Now that you have had one spawn I'm sure others will follow. Bet those guys who didn't get in on the 20 are going to kick themselves.
DONT try to force him out becasue he hangs on tight with his fins pressed againt the inner walls! Some others might have better suggestions , good luck!!
