Bristlenose

[KISSSSOLO]

Hi all,
i just wanted to share my joy with you.
i decided to put a slate cave in my community tank ( rio 400 ) on wednesday after a water change.
5 mins later my male bristlenose was in it.last night i witnessed my male guarding the entrance and not letting the female out.
today friday 13th i have a clutch of orange eggs stuck to the roof of the cave with him guarding them.
im putting pics on here of mum and dad, hope they turn out ok
mum,dad

mum,dad

proud dad


keep you updated

[KISSSSOLO]

Ihave just caught him having 5 mins break so i managed to get the pic of the eghgs

[TwoTankAmin]

What else is in that community tanks? Most fish see recently released for the cave bn as a great snack. if this danger is present you may want to consider setting up a growout tank and pulling the fry once they have gone freeswimming in the cave.

Just throw a net over the cave and move it all. Dad can come to0 as he can use the break to bulk back up and possibly heal from any spawning damage. The fry will leave the cave pretty fast and you can return the dad and the cave to the main tank after several days to a week.

[KISSSSOLO]

yeah, thanks for that, ive got my breeder tank ready, im just waiting for them to hatch first then ill get the whole lot in a container and move them over.
ive got
danios
dwarf gouarmi
black ghost knifefish
tire track eel
platys
female fighters
yoyo loack
frogs
2 smaller bn
and the adults,

not much yet, but plenty of room to add,

[TwoTankAmin]

For sure that fish list will eat baby bn.

[KISSSSOLO]

yes i know that, thanks jon,
ive got advicfe from my local shop and they recommended that i move them just after they hatch, as if i do it before the dad might reject them, but when they have hatched ( not free swimming ) they could survive without dad if he decides he dosent want to know.
so dont worry, as soon as i see them start hatching they will be moved.

[discusbabe]

Fatastic news! Can't knock the ole bn's!

[davo]

nice photo's hatch in 3 days & free swimming in 7 days

[KISSSSOLO]

hi all, thought id let you know that i moved him and the eggs safely to my breeder tank.
he seems happy enough but i thought i would leave him today and look at the eggs tomorrow, didnt want to upset him too much.
keep you informed,
i know its not as exciting as zebs, but hey it is for me.

[KISSSSOLO]

now i need a bit of advice,
they were all doing fine in the breeding tank, but he keeps knocking the eggs out,
i have 5 eggs in a small plastic floating breeding tank, 3 of which has hatched and seem to be doing fine.
i checked the top of the cave again, and there seems to be the remains of egg caseing, looked like they were cracked?
if the eggs were infertile they would of been clear like water.
but as from the picture, they all seemed fertile.
but if there was babys still in the cave, where are they?
im guessing that they should still have their egg sacks on, like the ones in the fbt?
im guessing too that if there are remains of eggs still stuck to the top, then the ones in the FBT are the only survivers
ill give him a couple more days and have a good look in the cave,
but any advice is welcomed.

[KISSSSOLO]

he kicked out a few more,
thought id post the 4 wrigglers and the unhatched eggs
fingers crossed

[davo]

kissssolo

sounds like the eggs have been eaten by something , usually the all the eggs would hatch within 24 hours.
all the eggs looked fertile, unfertile eggs have a white transperent look.
the male will accidently kick eggs out if he is getting disturbed by another male or another female trying to get in to lay more eggs.
also the cave looks like its a bit to small for them maybe try a bigger cave,these things are like machines once they start breeding they don't stop.

zebra regards
davo

[KISSSSOLO]

yeah thanks davo,
he is on his own in the tank,
all the other eggs are transparent, but im keeping my fingers crossed that i can look after the 4 still in the breeding tank
the cave is small, i have ordered a bigger one. thats why i was amazed that he wanted it,
it was supposed to be for the smaller ones ive got.
should i remove the transparent eggs from the ceiling? as he is still there fanning them, or should i put him back in the community tank?
thanks again

[davo]

you can remove the eggs and put him back in the community tank.
i personly would not remove him as he dosn't really play any part in looking after the fry once they are free swimming.the wrigglers you have will do fine they are pretty tuff little buggers.

davo

[Barbie]

Hatch rate will depend on the temperature and the species. I've had some bristlenose take as long as 4 days to hatch and wiggle.

Your guy is a new dad, he'll be much better at all this next time .

Barbie