breeding nightmare

[Stephen Provis]

hi, I currently have a 5ft mbuna tank, established for about four years, the
problem I have is they are prolifically breeding, most of the young are
surviving as I have plenty of rock and I will occasionally fish them out and
grow them on in the fish room until they are large enough for my local fs to
take, unfortunately I have more young mbuna than he can handle (approx 50
growing on) and the adults are still at it! any tips on how to slow them
down?

[Stephen Provis]

"NetMax" > wrote in message
...
> "Stephen Provis" > wrote in message
> ...

>
> Remove some rock cover, reduce water temperature to about 74F, decrease
> feedings etc.
> --
> www.NetMax.tk
>
I've tried that, I wouldn't mind so much but I have seen at least 15 in the
5ft, I have about 50 in the fish room and I took 45 to my local shop 2 weeks
ago.
will a pictus cat be ok with synodontis? cause i have 2 of those in the tank

[NetMax]

"Stephen Provis" > wrote in message
...
> hi, I currently have a 5ft mbuna tank, established for about four years,
> the
> problem I have is they are prolifically breeding, most of the young are
> surviving as I have plenty of rock and I will occasionally fish them out
> and
> grow them on in the fish room until they are large enough for my local fs
> to
> take, unfortunately I have more young mbuna than he can handle (approx 50
> growing on) and the adults are still at it! any tips on how to slow them
> down?


Remove some rock cover, reduce water temperature to about 74F, decrease
feedings etc.
--
www.NetMax.tk

[Stephen Provis]

"CanadianCray" > wrote in message
. ..
> What kind of Synos do you have??? Some Multipuctatus (sp) would help cut
> down on the baby cichlids by switching their eggs.
>

decorus

the fish are all mouthbrooders so wouldn't work that way

[Stephen Provis]

> > "NetMax" > wrote in message
> > ...
> >> "Stephen Provis" > wrote in message
> >> ...
> >
> >>
> >> Remove some rock cover, reduce water temperature to about 74F, decrease
> >> feedings etc.
> >> --
> >> www.NetMax.tk
> >>
> > I've tried that, I wouldn't mind so much but I have seen at least 15 in
> > the
> > 5ft, I have about 50 in the fish room and I took 45 to my local shop 2
> > weeks
> > ago.
> > will a pictus cat be ok with synodontis? cause i have 2 of those in the
> > tank
>
>
> No problem I can envision. Pictus are non-stop vacuum cleaners on
steroids
> (highly food motivated and food focused).
> http://fish.mongabay.com/species/Pimelodus_pictus.html
> I've had them in 8.4pH mbuna tanks. They just need lots of roaming room,
5
> feet is good.
> --
> www.NetMax.tk
>
thanks for that, i'll give it a go

[Stephen Provis]

> >
> >
> Mine are prolofic breeders as well but I haven't got to your stage. I'm
> wondering if the Plec keeps the numbers down - he never feeds on
> anything other than what is in the tank even if offered....
>
> If it does become a problem I will also consider the pictus
>
> Gill

its only in the past few months its got this bad, I have no idea why they
are surviving so well, I have 2 plecs and 2 synodontis which I thought would
help but the young are very very good at hiding even getting them out of the
tank is like a military operation thats why I leave it as long as possible
so as not to disrupt the fish too often, although at one point we were
removing 20+ young every three weeks, i'm desperate now, if only there was
the fish equivalent of bromide!

[CanadianCray]

Get some smaller fish that can eat the babies like rock dwelling or
shellies.

"NetMax" > wrote in message
...
> "Stephen Provis" > wrote in message
> ...
>> hi, I currently have a 5ft mbuna tank, established for about four years,
>> the
>> problem I have is they are prolifically breeding, most of the young are
>> surviving as I have plenty of rock and I will occasionally fish them out
>> and
>> grow them on in the fish room until they are large enough for my local fs
>> to
>> take, unfortunately I have more young mbuna than he can handle (approx 50
>> growing on) and the adults are still at it! any tips on how to slow them
>> down?
>
>
> Remove some rock cover, reduce water temperature to about 74F, decrease
> feedings etc.
> --
> www.NetMax.tk
>

[Daniel Morrow]

Bottom posted.
Stephen Provis wrote:
> hi, I currently have a 5ft mbuna tank, established for about four
> years, the problem I have is they are prolifically breeding, most of
> the young are surviving as I have plenty of rock and I will
> occasionally fish them out and grow them on in the fish room until
> they are large enough for my local fs to take, unfortunately I have
> more young mbuna than he can handle (approx 50 growing on) and the
> adults are still at it! any tips on how to slow them down?

You might try a function fish, like a big old aggressive cichlid, MAYBE one
angelfish, that would eat the young? Just an idea.... Good luck and later!

[NetMax]

"Daniel Morrow" > wrote in message
...
> Bottom posted.
> Stephen Provis wrote:
>> hi, I currently have a 5ft mbuna tank, established for about four
>> years, the problem I have is they are prolifically breeding, most of
>> the young are surviving as I have plenty of rock and I will
>> occasionally fish them out and grow them on in the fish room until
>> they are large enough for my local fs to take, unfortunately I have
>> more young mbuna than he can handle (approx 50 growing on) and the
>> adults are still at it! any tips on how to slow them down?
>
> You might try a function fish, like a big old aggressive cichlid, MAYBE
> one
> angelfish, that would eat the young? Just an idea.... Good luck and
> later!


Good idea, but with a pictus catfish maybe, not an Angelfish.
--
www.NetMax.tk

[Stephen Provis]

with mine, the female lays her eggs and the male is right behind her
fertilising them, she then scoops them up so they are moving in circles, if
any of the others get close the male chases them off and the female gives up
so the male has to follow her and try again, possibly in a smaller tank
where there are less breeding it would work cause the fish wouldn't be left
to it too much but in mine the syno would have to be in 3/4 places at the
same time, I am wary of putting too many synos in the tank as the 2 I have
decorus & schoutendini(sp?) are very territorial even if I move their hiding
places they and the 2 plecs will still stay in the same area defending it
from eachother
"CanadianCray" > wrote in message
.. .
> What do you mean it wouldn't work. That's what syno multi cats do. They go
> around scooping up the eggs as the female cichlid lays her eggs & then
> deposits her own before the cichlid scoops them up into her mouth.
>
> "Stephen Provis" > wrote in message
> ...
> >
> > "CanadianCray" > wrote in message
> > . ..
> >> What kind of Synos do you have??? Some Multipuctatus (sp) would help
cut
> >> down on the baby cichlids by switching their eggs.
> >>
> >
> > decorus
> >
> > the fish are all mouthbrooders so wouldn't work that way
> >
> >
>
>

[Stephen Provis]

i'm desperate enough to try anything right now!
"CanadianCray" > wrote in message
...
> You've gotta figure though that even if they take care of half of the
babies
> that's a good start. This is how they survive so the male chasing them off
> is not an issue. The male & female synos actually tag team the other
> cichlids.
>
>

[Stephen Provis]

"Gill Passman" > wrote in message
.. .
> > its only in the past few months its got this bad, I have no idea why
they
> > are surviving so well, I have 2 plecs and 2 synodontis which I thought
would
> > help but the young are very very good at hiding even getting them out of
the
> > tank is like a military operation thats why I leave it as long as
possible
> > so as not to disrupt the fish too often, although at one point we were
> > removing 20+ young every three weeks, i'm desperate now, if only there
was
> > the fish equivalent of bromide!
> >
> >
>
> Know what you mean about the bromide - LOL
>
> My tank hasn't quite got as bad as you describe but there are rather a
> lot of fry of varying sizes - I haven't taken any to the LFS yet mainly
> because the thought of tearing down the rock work to catch them is quite
> daunting. I checked on the synodontis and am wondering if I might get
> some of these to help control things before it gets too bad.
>
> Gill

the first few times were hell as I had loads of rock in there, i've had to
cut it down to try and reduce the number of hiding spaces, what hasn't
helped id the plecs/synos are not interested in the young so they are
happily swimming round and only hiding when an adult decides to chase them a
bit.
what makes fishing them out even worse is that the tank is over 2ft deep and
even standing on a ladder I can hardly reach some of the rock

Chelle(posting from her husbands email)

[CanadianCray]

Pictus cat. Awesome idea.

At least then you will have some babies worth something

"NetMax" > wrote in message
. ..
> "Daniel Morrow" > wrote in message
> ...
>> Bottom posted.
>> Stephen Provis wrote:
>>> hi, I currently have a 5ft mbuna tank, established for about four
>>> years, the problem I have is they are prolifically breeding, most of
>>> the young are surviving as I have plenty of rock and I will
>>> occasionally fish them out and grow them on in the fish room until
>>> they are large enough for my local fs to take, unfortunately I have
>>> more young mbuna than he can handle (approx 50 growing on) and the
>>> adults are still at it! any tips on how to slow them down?
>>
>> You might try a function fish, like a big old aggressive cichlid, MAYBE
>> one
>> angelfish, that would eat the young? Just an idea.... Good luck and
>> later!
>
>
> Good idea, but with a pictus catfish maybe, not an Angelfish.
> --
> www.NetMax.tk
>

[NetMax]

"Stephen Provis" > wrote in message
...
>
> "NetMax" > wrote in message
> ...
>> "Stephen Provis" > wrote in message
>> ...
>
>>
>> Remove some rock cover, reduce water temperature to about 74F, decrease
>> feedings etc.
>> --
>> www.NetMax.tk
>>
> I've tried that, I wouldn't mind so much but I have seen at least 15 in
> the
> 5ft, I have about 50 in the fish room and I took 45 to my local shop 2
> weeks
> ago.
> will a pictus cat be ok with synodontis? cause i have 2 of those in the
> tank


No problem I can envision. Pictus are non-stop vacuum cleaners on steroids
(highly food motivated and food focused).
http://fish.mongabay.com/species/Pimelodus_pictus.html
I've had them in 8.4pH mbuna tanks. They just need lots of roaming room, 5
feet is good.
--
www.NetMax.tk

[CanadianCray]

What kind of Synos do you have??? Some Multipuctatus (sp) would help cut
down on the baby cichlids by switching their eggs.


"NetMax" > wrote in message
...
> "Stephen Provis" > wrote in message
> ...
>>
>> "NetMax" > wrote in message
>> ...
>>> "Stephen Provis" > wrote in message
>>> ...
>>
>>>
>>> Remove some rock cover, reduce water temperature to about 74F, decrease
>>> feedings etc.
>>> --
>>> www.NetMax.tk
>>>
>> I've tried that, I wouldn't mind so much but I have seen at least 15 in
>> the
>> 5ft, I have about 50 in the fish room and I took 45 to my local shop 2
>> weeks
>> ago.
>> will a pictus cat be ok with synodontis? cause i have 2 of those in the
>> tank
>
>
> No problem I can envision. Pictus are non-stop vacuum cleaners on
> steroids (highly food motivated and food focused).
> http://fish.mongabay.com/species/Pimelodus_pictus.html
> I've had them in 8.4pH mbuna tanks. They just need lots of roaming room,
> 5 feet is good.
> --
> www.NetMax.tk
>

[Gill Passman]

Stephen Provis wrote:
>>>"NetMax" > wrote in message
...
>>>
>>>>"Stephen Provis" > wrote in message
...
>>>
>>>>Remove some rock cover, reduce water temperature to about 74F, decrease
>>>>feedings etc.
>>>>--
>>>>www.NetMax.tk
>>>>
>>>
>>>I've tried that, I wouldn't mind so much but I have seen at least 15 in
>>>the
>>>5ft, I have about 50 in the fish room and I took 45 to my local shop 2
>>>weeks
>>>ago.
>>>will a pictus cat be ok with synodontis? cause i have 2 of those in the
>>>tank
>>
>>
>>No problem I can envision. Pictus are non-stop vacuum cleaners on
>
> steroids
>
>>(highly food motivated and food focused).
>>http://fish.mongabay.com/species/Pimelodus_pictus.html
>>I've had them in 8.4pH mbuna tanks. They just need lots of roaming room,
>
> 5
>
>>feet is good.
>>--
>>www.NetMax.tk
>>
>
> thanks for that, i'll give it a go
>
>
Mine are prolofic breeders as well but I haven't got to your stage. I'm
wondering if the Plec keeps the numbers down - he never feeds on
anything other than what is in the tank even if offered....

If it does become a problem I will also consider the pictus

Gill

[CanadianCray]

What do you mean it wouldn't work. That's what syno multi cats do. They go
around scooping up the eggs as the female cichlid lays her eggs & then
deposits her own before the cichlid scoops them up into her mouth.

"Stephen Provis" > wrote in message
...
>
> "CanadianCray" > wrote in message
> . ..
>> What kind of Synos do you have??? Some Multipuctatus (sp) would help cut
>> down on the baby cichlids by switching their eggs.
>>
>
> decorus
>
> the fish are all mouthbrooders so wouldn't work that way
>
>

[CanadianCray]

http://www.aquarticles.com/articles/breeding/Walker_Synodontis_multipunctatus.html

"Stephen Provis" > wrote in message
...
>
> "CanadianCray" > wrote in message
> . ..
>> What kind of Synos do you have??? Some Multipuctatus (sp) would help cut
>> down on the baby cichlids by switching their eggs.
>>
>
> decorus
>
> the fish are all mouthbrooders so wouldn't work that way
>
>

[CanadianCray]

You've gotta figure though that even if they take care of half of the babies
that's a good start. This is how they survive so the male chasing them off
is not an issue. The male & female synos actually tag team the other
cichlids.


"Stephen Provis" > wrote in message
...
> with mine, the female lays her eggs and the male is right behind her
> fertilising them, she then scoops them up so they are moving in circles,
> if
> any of the others get close the male chases them off and the female gives
> up
> so the male has to follow her and try again, possibly in a smaller tank
> where there are less breeding it would work cause the fish wouldn't be
> left
> to it too much but in mine the syno would have to be in 3/4 places at the
> same time, I am wary of putting too many synos in the tank as the 2 I have
> decorus & schoutendini(sp?) are very territorial even if I move their
> hiding
> places they and the 2 plecs will still stay in the same area defending it
> from eachother
> "CanadianCray" > wrote in message
> .. .
>> What do you mean it wouldn't work. That's what syno multi cats do. They
>> go
>> around scooping up the eggs as the female cichlid lays her eggs & then
>> deposits her own before the cichlid scoops them up into her mouth.
>>
>> "Stephen Provis" > wrote in message
>> ...
>> >
>> > "CanadianCray" > wrote in message
>> > . ..
>> >> What kind of Synos do you have??? Some Multipuctatus (sp) would help
> cut
>> >> down on the baby cichlids by switching their eggs.
>> >>
>> >
>> > decorus
>> >
>> > the fish are all mouthbrooders so wouldn't work that way
>> >
>> >
>>
>>
>
>

[Gill Passman]

Stephen Provis wrote:
>>>
>>Mine are prolofic breeders as well but I haven't got to your stage. I'm
>>wondering if the Plec keeps the numbers down - he never feeds on
>>anything other than what is in the tank even if offered....
>>
>>If it does become a problem I will also consider the pictus
>>
>>Gill
>
>
> its only in the past few months its got this bad, I have no idea why they
> are surviving so well, I have 2 plecs and 2 synodontis which I thought would
> help but the young are very very good at hiding even getting them out of the
> tank is like a military operation thats why I leave it as long as possible
> so as not to disrupt the fish too often, although at one point we were
> removing 20+ young every three weeks, i'm desperate now, if only there was
> the fish equivalent of bromide!
>
>

Know what you mean about the bromide - LOL

My tank hasn't quite got as bad as you describe but there are rather a
lot of fry of varying sizes - I haven't taken any to the LFS yet mainly
because the thought of tearing down the rock work to catch them is quite
daunting. I checked on the synodontis and am wondering if I might get
some of these to help control things before it gets too bad.

Gill

[NetMax]

"Gill Passman" > wrote in message
.. .
> Stephen Provis wrote:
>>>>
>>>Mine are prolofic breeders as well but I haven't got to your stage.
>>>I'm
>>>wondering if the Plec keeps the numbers down - he never feeds on
>>>anything other than what is in the tank even if offered....
>>>
>>>If it does become a problem I will also consider the pictus
>>>
>>>Gill
>>
>>
>> its only in the past few months its got this bad, I have no idea why
>> they
>> are surviving so well, I have 2 plecs and 2 synodontis which I thought
>> would
>> help but the young are very very good at hiding even getting them out
>> of the
>> tank is like a military operation thats why I leave it as long as
>> possible
>> so as not to disrupt the fish too often, although at one point we were
>> removing 20+ young every three weeks, i'm desperate now, if only there
>> was
>> the fish equivalent of bromide!
>>
>>
>
> Know what you mean about the bromide - LOL
>
> My tank hasn't quite got as bad as you describe but there are rather a
> lot of fry of varying sizes - I haven't taken any to the LFS yet mainly
> because the thought of tearing down the rock work to catch them is
> quite daunting. I checked on the synodontis and am wondering if I might
> get some of these to help control things before it gets too bad.
>
> Gill

If you look at a pictus's long twin barbels, you get a sense of how they
hunt. They sweep the barbels through the cracks in the rocks, and
frighten the fry momentarily out into the open. They also 'taste' with
the barbels, so they know exactly when to turn their heads and open their
mouths. They are almost always in a forward motion as well, so they have
that advantage as well. Formidable eating machines.

Synodontis typically have branched barbels, more typically designed for
sifting through sand looking for invertebrates. They are (imo)
specialized bottom feeders for smaller prey, while pictus are more
adapted to covering larger areas faster looking for larger prey (fry).
--
www.NetMax.tk

[CanadianCray]

Heres a crazy thought. What about abstinence??? Take out the females &
problem is solved.

"NetMax" > wrote in message
...
> "Gill Passman" > wrote in message
> .. .
>> Stephen Provis wrote:
>>>>>
>>>>Mine are prolofic breeders as well but I haven't got to your stage. I'm
>>>>wondering if the Plec keeps the numbers down - he never feeds on
>>>>anything other than what is in the tank even if offered....
>>>>
>>>>If it does become a problem I will also consider the pictus
>>>>
>>>>Gill
>>>
>>>
>>> its only in the past few months its got this bad, I have no idea why
>>> they
>>> are surviving so well, I have 2 plecs and 2 synodontis which I thought
>>> would
>>> help but the young are very very good at hiding even getting them out of
>>> the
>>> tank is like a military operation thats why I leave it as long as
>>> possible
>>> so as not to disrupt the fish too often, although at one point we were
>>> removing 20+ young every three weeks, i'm desperate now, if only there
>>> was
>>> the fish equivalent of bromide!
>>>
>>>
>>
>> Know what you mean about the bromide - LOL
>>
>> My tank hasn't quite got as bad as you describe but there are rather a
>> lot of fry of varying sizes - I haven't taken any to the LFS yet mainly
>> because the thought of tearing down the rock work to catch them is quite
>> daunting. I checked on the synodontis and am wondering if I might get
>> some of these to help control things before it gets too bad.
>>
>> Gill
>
> If you look at a pictus's long twin barbels, you get a sense of how they
> hunt. They sweep the barbels through the cracks in the rocks, and
> frighten the fry momentarily out into the open. They also 'taste' with
> the barbels, so they know exactly when to turn their heads and open their
> mouths. They are almost always in a forward motion as well, so they have
> that advantage as well. Formidable eating machines.
>
> Synodontis typically have branched barbels, more typically designed for
> sifting through sand looking for invertebrates. They are (imo)
> specialized bottom feeders for smaller prey, while pictus are more adapted
> to covering larger areas faster looking for larger prey (fry).
> --
> www.NetMax.tk
>

[NetMax]

lol, lots of work, but some people have done this with mixed results.
When the fish are old enough to properly identify as males, then everyone
else gets moved out. The problems are: i) the effort of moving
everything out of the tank to do this, ii) what to do with all the
females (and recessive males), iii) you typically end up with very few
species represented in the male-only tank (but they will be gorgeous,
mostly alpha males), iv) they *will* quarrel over the newly arranged
rocks and may not settle down (at least until each species is uniquely
represented), and v) you will invariably miss catching one little fry,
who will of course be a female ;~).

Do I sound like I've done this before?
--
www.NetMax.tk

"CanadianCray" > wrote in message
...
> Heres a crazy thought. What about abstinence??? Take out the females &
> problem is solved.
>
> "NetMax" > wrote in message
> ...
>> "Gill Passman" > wrote in message
>> .. .
>>> Stephen Provis wrote:
>>>>>>
>>>>>Mine are prolofic breeders as well but I haven't got to your stage.
>>>>>I'm
>>>>>wondering if the Plec keeps the numbers down - he never feeds on
>>>>>anything other than what is in the tank even if offered....
>>>>>
>>>>>If it does become a problem I will also consider the pictus
>>>>>
>>>>>Gill
<snip>

[CanadianCray]

Do they sell aquaria contraceptive??

"NetMax" > wrote in message
...
> lol, lots of work, but some people have done this with mixed results. When
> the fish are old enough to properly identify as males, then everyone else
> gets moved out. The problems are: i) the effort of moving everything out
> of the tank to do this, ii) what to do with all the females (and recessive
> males), iii) you typically end up with very few species represented in the
> male-only tank (but they will be gorgeous, mostly alpha males), iv) they
> *will* quarrel over the newly arranged rocks and may not settle down (at
> least until each species is uniquely represented), and v) you will
> invariably miss catching one little fry, who will of course be a female
> ;~).
>
> Do I sound like I've done this before?
> --
> www.NetMax.tk
>
> "CanadianCray" > wrote in message
> ...
>> Heres a crazy thought. What about abstinence??? Take out the females &
>> problem is solved.
>>
>> "NetMax" > wrote in message
>> ...
>>> "Gill Passman" > wrote in message
>>> .. .
>>>> Stephen Provis wrote:
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>Mine are prolofic breeders as well but I haven't got to your stage.
>>>>>>I'm
>>>>>>wondering if the Plec keeps the numbers down - he never feeds on
>>>>>>anything other than what is in the tank even if offered....
>>>>>>
>>>>>>If it does become a problem I will also consider the pictus
>>>>>>
>>>>>>Gill
> <snip>
>

[CanadianCray]

Hey that might make some money. Someone should develop it. LOL


"CanadianCray" > wrote in message
...
> Do they sell aquaria contraceptive??
>
> "NetMax" > wrote in message
> ...
>> lol, lots of work, but some people have done this with mixed results.
>> When the fish are old enough to properly identify as males, then everyone
>> else gets moved out. The problems are: i) the effort of moving
>> everything out of the tank to do this, ii) what to do with all the
>> females (and recessive males), iii) you typically end up with very few
>> species represented in the male-only tank (but they will be gorgeous,
>> mostly alpha males), iv) they *will* quarrel over the newly arranged
>> rocks and may not settle down (at least until each species is uniquely
>> represented), and v) you will invariably miss catching one little fry,
>> who will of course be a female ;~).
>>
>> Do I sound like I've done this before?
>> --
>> www.NetMax.tk
>>
>> "CanadianCray" > wrote in message
>> ...
>>> Heres a crazy thought. What about abstinence??? Take out the females &
>>> problem is solved.
>>>
>>> "NetMax" > wrote in message
>>> ...
>>>> "Gill Passman" > wrote in message
>>>> .. .
>>>>> Stephen Provis wrote:
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>Mine are prolofic breeders as well but I haven't got to your stage.
>>>>>>>I'm
>>>>>>>wondering if the Plec keeps the numbers down - he never feeds on
>>>>>>>anything other than what is in the tank even if offered....
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>If it does become a problem I will also consider the pictus
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>Gill
>> <snip>
>>
>
>

[binyrogger]

The aboriginal few times were hell as I had endless of bedrock in there, i've had to cut it down to try and abate the amount of ambuscade spaces, what hasn't helped id the plecs/synos are not absorbed in the adolescent so they are happily pond annular and alone ambuscade if an developed decides to hunt them a bit.

[Hayes]

hi, I currently have a 5ft mbuna tank, established for about four years, the
problem I have is they are prolifically breeding, most of the young are
surviving as I have plenty of rock and I will occasionally fish them out and
grow them on in the fish room until they are large enough for my local fs to
take, unfortunately I have more young mbuna than he can handle (approx 50
growing on) and the adults are still at it! any tips on how to slow them
down?

What do I do to breed a nightmare all I know is a packhorse but I don’t know how to breed those either

[blooggerr]

Sexy blog :
http://goo.gl/sQhUp