Apistogramama Sp. Steel Blue

Well, I bought two pairs of these fish and collected them on Saturday, and by Monday, one of the pairs was sitting on some eggs (well actually sitting under the eggs)! Not a lot, but eggs none the less!

I will try to get some pics to post, but just wanted to share!

Regards
G!

 

Well done big G!

 

Awesome....
they are great looking fish, I lost my male so if you are successful in breeding I might order a male from you...

 

Seriously, what do you put in your water?

 

it must have been the stress caused by the move that made them spawn

sorry I couldt resist :bigsmile:

seriously, well done!

 

Haha! You are probably right Dolphin, but at least they are spawning!

The guy I got them from had them in bare bottom tanks for about three months before I could get them from him, and he said they were dropping fry regularly! I guess he had pots/coconut shells on the bare bottom?

@Gaawie - I was asked that same question yesterday, and this is the answer I gave.... I wee in the water!! Lol!! Seriously though, I wee in the water!! Ok, you got me, I don't! But if anyone wants a Litre of my magic Apisto spawning solution (that looks and smells like wee), it'll cost you a crate of Windhoek draft! Lol!!

Cheers
G!

 

Nice one big g... Kids love your guppies. Yes they are still alive !

 

Good to hear Milsky! So they arrived there all safe and sound then!?

I'm glad the kids like em'. They are beauties!!

Regards
G!

 

Yip, I am thinking a little longer term abt both tanks, discus will have to wait untill I have the large tank sorted, has co2 now and some average lighting but need to now understand and focus on ferts, so I assume things are going to bounce around for a while... the Jewel 180l that has guppies, gouramis and and others is my next project...am ordering flourite and will see how things progress from there... i know it is going to break the bank but I have heard too many good things to not try. I will be thinking about how to stock this tank...apistos look awesome, so keep breedin mate .. keep breedin...

 

Thanks man!

I'm awaiting my fishroom lights to come on so I can try and get some pics, but I doubt that I'll be able to show the actual eggs. Too dark inside flower pot!!

Regards
G!

 

cool man... my suggestion is that you can ship them to my house next time you want them to spawn ha ha.... how r ur plants coming on ? Still waiting waiting for my drops, methinks the prof is busy, I know I am short on some key elements but tired of being sold the wrong thing at lps so hanging in there for now... dolphin is bringing in new plants soon... yipee, hope they dont die on me ha ha

 

Congrats Big G - father of many

 

So, I was checking the cave and found that the eggs are now gone! So, either they have been eaten or there are wrigglers where I can't see them?? I suspect the former! Still, the female is guarding the cave, so we'll see in a few days?

Anyhow, I was looking in another tank which contains the other pair of Apistogramma Sp. Steel Blues I got the same day, and I caught them in the act of laying the actual eggs! I didn't get any pics as I didn't want to interupt them too much! I went back afterwards, and around 50 or so eggs are in the cave!

I'll be keeping a close eye on these!

Heres some pics....

Male 1....



Same Male (Couldn't get any pics of Male 2)



Female 1 - The latest Egg layer who shares tank with Male 1...



Female 2 - The first to spawn



Enjoy!
G!

 

Ok, update time!

Pair 1 (first to lay eggs) did not have any fry hatch, unless they ate them very quickly, but the second pair emerged today with around 15 -20 fry! There may be more, but thats all I can count to! Lol!!

I'll try and get some pics!

Regards
G!

 

Great going! In addition to another thread you started, about the fish to avoid, I stand to be corrected, but for interest sake, Ap. Steel blue to 'all' knowledge is a hybrid. When last I read they still have not been found in the wild, and initially all these fish came from breeders in asia. There is no knowledge of how or where they were found, and spawnings first aquarists had resulted in low hatch rates and weak fry. They were later cross bred with other Ap.'s (Agassizi if I'm not mistaken) and back bred to strengthen the line. For quite some time only males were available. Its interesting as today its kept all across the world, yet according to most, Steel Blue's are a man made species.

 

This is very true! No one actually knows the true origins of the Ap. Sp. Steel blues, and it is most likely a Hybrid, although between Ap. Caetei and perhaps something from the Regani complex? Perhaps we'll never know?

As for the other thread I started, I at no point suggested that Hybrids were an issue, unless their quality of life is affected. Anyhow that is another debate for another thread. Hehe!

Regards
G!

 

No I get you G, dont worry. Was not trying to point to a contradiction. Rather highlighting the fact that Hybrids are not always 'monsters', as with Steel blue's if they actually turn out to be hybrids. Anyhow, congrats and good going. What are you feeding the fry-BBS?

 

Ok, heres a few pics!

Female 1 with Fry....



And the second Female fanning eggs that were laid yesterday....



Oh, and yer Marco BBS will be their main course!

Regards
G!

 

It's nice to see the orange tummies of the fry! It look like they get enough BBS.
This also make them more visible, and it's also a tell-tale that they eat enough.
How do you feed the bbs to them? do you use a airline tube, or turkey baster?
Nice going!
Gert

 

Syringe! Without the actual needle on it! I use this for normal feeds for the adults too. Defrost the frozen foods, and then use the syrunge to suck up and feed.

I find it usually has a lot more control, but can occasionally slip!

Regards
G!