African Jewels

[Scaly]

After introducing 4 x African Jewels to their new home, 2 paired up and started bullying the other fish ( 1 x Pleco and the other Jewels) I removed these:evil:.

Yesterday the pair (now only sharing the tank with a paki loach which they tolerate) laid eggs ontop of a largish flat rock. The courtship involved head to tail shuffles and vigourous rubbing on the rock ( i read that they do this to clean the rock). They take turns to fan the eggs.

..http://www.tropicalaquarium.co.za/picture.php?albumid=8&pictureid=47

[Henk Hugo]

please note Jewels are banned.....

[Scaly]

Banned? Please explain...

Thanks

[Henk Hugo]

they are on the black list published by the DEA

[Scaly]

Oops! I bought them form a LFS at the Randburg waterfront...now known as the brightwater commons...

Ironically I saw them them for the first time at the JHB zoo...it was love at first sight...

Damn...

Thanks for the info though...I guess I will return them and not post anymore about them:blink1:

[Henk Hugo]

JHB zoo would have a zoo permit..... they can keep what ever they like :D

They breed at one hell of a rate and will take out any water body they are introduced to.

[Henk Hugo]

pretty fish btw :P

[Scaly]

Jeez have I been stressed about this black list...

I have looking up images and related articles and long story short, I am convinced he jewels i have are Hemichromis letourneuxi which are not on the current list. I have googled images and compared...

I dont know what do you think. I will post some more pic for refence purposes, but if you have anymore info please feel free to share.

Vincent

[Henk Hugo]

look dude - theres no need to stress - the new black list doesnt have them on at all...

what i have on my copy of the current list is :


Hemichromis Bimaculatus Jewel Cichlid
Hemichromis Cristatus Crown Jewel Cichlid
Hemichromis Elongatus Elongate Hemichromis
Hemichromis Fasciatus Five-Spotted Jewel Cichlid Banded Jewel Cichlid
Hemichromis Payneri Faded Jewel Cichlid
Hemichromis sp.

[Henk Hugo]

what you should be worried about is the fact that they are banning almost all SP of plecos

[Scaly]

now you tell me :bigsmile:

Where can one access the new list I am quite curious to have a peek, it is very interesting?

thanks again

Vince

[Scaly]

ps the eggs hatched...I feel like a proud parent!:smile1:

[Scaly]

Your kidding?

I have a pleco in most of my tanks...

They are also quite difficult to breed so far as I understand....

[Henk Hugo]

go look on the SANBI website - the propased list is on there :P

[Slummies]

well done on the hatch.

what size are your jewels? i have 3 of them and wanting them to breed

[Henk Hugo]

guys a word of advise on breeding fish like jewels and convicts.... theres no offset for the fry... best is not to actively try and breed them

[Slummies]

just the acomplishment of getting fish to breed and then raise fry is great. if they do survive there is many ways to deal with unwanted fish. my lfs will glady take them

[Henk Hugo]

getting jewels to spawn is no acomplishment.....

[Slummies]

small steps bud. im going to enjoy the challenge of breeding discus.

[Henk Hugo]

you just chuck them into a tub and they breed....

[Scaly]

I agree with Henk, but it is fun to watch them rear a brood.

As Henk said "chuck em in a tub"... which is true, but the trick is have two fish that have paired up.

having said that, it would appear that the are going to be removed from the revised list... lets hope.

also from what i understand, the Hemichromis letourneuxi is not on the current list. (see previous posts).

NOTE: they become real aggresive when they breed, so best keep the breeding pair alone, which as I have discovered presents all sorts of other problems as far as keeping the tank clean is concenred. Thier appetite also fluctautes, so some days they eat alot and others nothing...more cleaning problems... "wit spook poep" growing all over the show...

[solex69]

I find Jewels very stunning...pity they are blacklisted.

I know of a petshop here in CPT that has a tank full of them...saw them there last time I was there.

Cheers
Dale

[Scaly]

Just an update... It turns out the Jewels are not that good at looking after the young... they ate them!

Seems like a lot of work for a little sushi...

[Dolphin]

:mad: ... its their first batch, I'm sure they'll soon "learn" to tend to the babies with time - probably after the next 2 or 3 batches...

[Slummies]

sorry to hear..

one of my jewels has turned a bit red around the face area and is much larger than the others. does this mean anything?

[Scaly]

He is horny. (Can I say that on this forum?) Look out for the mate, it will also show breeding colours...

The next step is an erratic rubbing, scratching against a smooth surface. Apparently to clean it before laying eggs... if they do pair up, get ready to move you other fish though...

[Slummies]

what will female breeding colours be? i hope the other two are female.. or else his going to stay .. as you put it.. horny.

does he need a cave?

[Scaly]

To be honest, I cannot really tell the difference between the two, they both go crimson red eventually. The female is a bit smaller though.

The lay eggs on top of a flat rock (see pics above) then they move the little guys into holes they dig all over the tank...

[Slummies]

i have a BB tank.. im guessing i would have to add gravel?

[Scaly]

I really don't know.

Sorry.

[solex69]

Went to visit a good friend of mine over the weekend and his dwarf jewels bred after only being added to a tank 2 weeks. There is over 200 free-swimming fry and the parents protect them like crazy. Beautiful to see their devotion to their young

[Scaly]

So long and thanks for the fish.... (hitchhikers guide to the galaxy)

I bid farewell to my Jewels (Bonnie & Clyde)today... they will be missed as they are probably one of the most beautiful fish this continent has to offer (my opinion)... i even had them eating out of my fingers ..."sniff"

[Andre]

What happened?

[Scaly]

They are in good hands...(just not mine anymore) The "problem" was that they paired up and did not tolerate any other fish in the tank. Which meant that algae started taking over. I have "Malaysian ferns" -I think that's what they are called and they started getting overgrown with algae...which really make the tank look unkempt. I like it spotless...I even tried introducing snails (full grown MTS) but they also got nailed...

I did like them but can't bring myself to keep fish in a barren tank...

On the bright side, I have an empty tank that needs new inhabitants, I was thinking brackish, but I am a little afraid about the algae still as I don't know of anything that will keep it under control. Also I not sure if the ferns will tolerate salinty...

mmm maybe I'll put my Bolivian rams there with a small pleco...or ...endless posibillities.... ;)

[Dolphin]

thanks Vince! :bigsmile:

B & C are happy in their new home... will take some pics once they settle down.

[oscar freak]

lovely fish just very aggressive i had a pair that were about 6cm and they bred every 2nd week i had to give the babies away to the local pet shop,gorgeous fish when they breed though

[Henk Hugo]

go read the rules - you are breeding and selling illegal fish