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Topic: Breeding Bristlenose Catfish (Read 1890 times) |
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dambarwa
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Breeding Bristlenose Catfish
« Thread started on: Jan 27th, 2004, 06:54am » |
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BREEDING BRISTLENOSE CATFISH - Ancistrus species
I've been breeding BN Catfish for a while now.
"Mum'n'Dad" (obviously the breeding pair) first spawned when they were only 4cm long!! (3.5 years ago)
There is one survivor from this spawning. ("Tippy" is doing very well in my friends' tank)
"Mum'n'Dad" are now 4years old and 10cm long!!!!
The males develop a wonderful set of bristles around his top lip and straight up the middle of his face.
The females, however, keep a smooth nose.
There is an exception to this. Some females will grow short bristles around her top lip but NEVER down the middle of their face!!
Bristlenoses are excellent at clearing up algae. I've never had an algae problem.
I popped a couple into another tank (owned by a 9 year old) because it was looking revoltingly green. ewwwww
It was totally cleaned up in 2 days!!
Bristlenoses like to breed in caves!!
The male will pick out HIS cave for permanent residence.
when the female is ready to spawn she will chase him out of his cave (Looks a bit like a "love-dance").
This is the only time I've ever seen "Mum" dominate "Dad".
"Mum" will then spawn her eggs in "Dad's" cave!
Then "Dad" does ALL the work.
He will keep water flowing over the eggs, to prevent them from going to fungus. He does this apparently by feeling the water flow with his bristles!!
"Dad" also chases away all and any other fish that come too close. But he only chases, he doesn't attack!!!
Once the eggs are laid it takes 5-6 days for them to hatch, then it takes another 5-6 days for the babies to eat their egg sacs, then they'll become free-swimmimg and independent.
They are about 1cm when free-swimming and can take up to 4 or 5 months to grow them to 3cm (selling size).
They like to eat blood worm, algae pellets and also peas, lettuce, zuchinni, pumpkin, beans etc.
Bristlenoses get along with pretty much everything - as long as THEY don't get eaten!! They are great for any type of tank.
Also if you're thinking of breeding them - make SURE you have a tank ready for the babies. Once they start to spawn they WILL NOT stop.
I use a "Castle" an ornamental -from a LFS- cave.
This is a feature of my tank and doubles as a very convenient cave!!!
I've heard that others use pvc pipe.
With "Catfish Castle" I have only seen the eggs once.
Some people like to see the eggs, I reckon that if I can't see them, then "Dad" must be more relaxed!!!
An old ceramic flower pot (even a broken one as long as no fish can cut themselves). A friend of mine uses a mug, yep, an old coffee mug with a larger rock over it.
There's heaps of ideas!!
The entrance to "Catfish Castle" is only 2cm wide x 3cm tall with tiny windows (.5cm x 1cm) and all the new babies come out the windows!!! It's so cute!! But there is plenty of room inside for "Dad" to turn around/move etc.
You are only limited by your imagination -and be aware of what your cave is made from-ie; a plaster ornament will disintegrate and your fish won't be very happy with you!!
You can 'make' caves just by arranging your driftwood and rocks.
By the way I did forget to mention that it seems as if Bristlenoses need some driftwood to munch on too. Opinions differ on why, (fibre ) but it is generally agreed that they do need driftwood in their diet.
Driftwood is very cheap at LFS. There are basically 3 sizes, small, medium, and the rest.
It is unclear as to why BN's 'munch' on driftwood.
I have noticed that there is ALWAYS baby BN on the driftwood.
-Small pieces of driftwood make excellent "bait" for catching little ones. Just pop the whole piece gently into a container and lift out!!!
"Mum'n'Dad" are on the driftwood at least once a week and have a great time!!!
Back to why do they need it?
I've never kept BN without driftwood so I don't know what becomes of them without it.
I personally think it's for fibre as they are herbivores.
If you think about their diet and what they like ie;peas & lettuce etc. then suplementing their diet with fibre makes sense to me.
I may be totally wrong.
Annie
This was written over 12 months ago with help from Pegasus Bill!! Many many thanks Pegasus!
I'd like to share it here.
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Pegasus NZ
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Re: Breeding Bristlenose Catfish
« Reply #1 on: Jan 27th, 2004, 08:14am » |
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 Much appreciated Annie... (at last the ice is broken in the Catfish Cove)
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Learn Something New About Your Fish Every Day.
http://homepages.paradise.net.nz/grumpygr/
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simon
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Re: Breeding Bristlenose Catfish
« Reply #2 on: Oct 2nd, 2009, 06:54am » |
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Hi I just read this info and it has been verry helpful, I have two bristle noses about 4.5cm male and female. But I dont know if they are breeding, they always hide under a bit of planted drift wood but the male seems to hide behind the filter sometimes and I dont think they are breeding. So my question is could my female be to young to breed with.
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