Rasboras

(having found rec.aquaria and sci.aquaria deserted, I posted over in
alt.aquaria, and was directed here as perhaps being where everyone was,
so I'll try posting this here, too)

After several years of dry tank (for a combination of reasons) I'm
filled up again to provide the Harlequin Rasboras from my wife's biology
teaching room a place to live over the summer while the building is
remodeled. Years ago I made semi-serious attempts to get R. Heteromorpha
to breed, with no success. Since they'll be here, I'll make another
attempt, though it might be somewhat half-hearted, given past history.
It would be rather nice to have 30-50 or so running around the 30 gallon
aquarium, but I don't want to buy that many. In looking for up-to-date
information, I found at least one (web) source claiming that the old
acid water advice was off - only soft, not acid is required, they claim.
I could not find much else.

http://www.dfki.uni-kl.de/~elst/html...lekine_info.ht
ml

I found several un-replied-to posts requesting R.H. breeding tips in my
searches though the newsgroup archives.

Anyone with success to share, etc? Given my overall experience with
aquarium plants, anyone know if they'll use plastic broad-leaved plants
instead of real ones to lay their eggs? Suggestions for a foolproof real
broad-leafed plant? If I use collected rainwater for water changes to
keep the water soft, will they eat any mosquito larvae that might be
present?

I haven't bred any rasboras myself, but from my readings rasboras will
enjoy live food, particularly daphnia or brineshrimp.you should
increase the amount you give when you decide to breed and slowly
increase the temperature to about 24 oC.

Plant one end of the tank. Their eggs should stick to even the finest
leaves. Once laid you should keep them away from the eggs as they might
eat them.

As for the water, according to my info, they seem to prefer soft acidic
water. You can soften the water by distilling it.

hope this helps

Ecnerwal wrote:
(having found rec.aquaria and sci.aquaria deserted, I posted over in
alt.aquaria, and was directed here as perhaps being where everyone was,
so I'll try posting this here, too)

After several years of dry tank (for a combination of reasons) I'm
filled up again to provide the Harlequin Rasboras from my wife's biology
teaching room a place to live over the summer while the building is
remodeled. Years ago I made semi-serious attempts to get R. Heteromorpha
to breed, with no success. Since they'll be here, I'll make another
attempt, though it might be somewhat half-hearted, given past history.
It would be rather nice to have 30-50 or so running around the 30 gallon
aquarium, but I don't want to buy that many. In looking for up-to-date
information, I found at least one (web) source claiming that the old
acid water advice was off - only soft, not acid is required, they claim.
I could not find much else.

http://www.dfki.uni-kl.de/~elst/html...lekine_info.ht
ml

I found several un-replied-to posts requesting R.H. breeding tips in my
searches though the newsgroup archives.

Anyone with success to share, etc? Given my overall experience with
aquarium plants, anyone know if they'll use plastic broad-leaved plants
instead of real ones to lay their eggs? Suggestions for a foolproof real
broad-leafed plant? If I use collected rainwater for water changes to
keep the water soft, will they eat any mosquito larvae that might be
present?

My shoal of five closely related T. espei spawned in my tank twice now.
I haven't tried to save eggs or raise fry. I have two males and three
females - I didn't know which were which until they colored up in
spawning colors and the males went red.

Both times they spawned, I was feeding live food or frozen bloodworms
for at least one of the two daily feedings for a couple of weeks and
then changed water twice 2 or 3 days apart. I haven't used particularly
soft water and pH was 7.4 the first time and 7.6 the second, but my
reading suggests that soft water is necessary for eggs to actually
hatch. I would use peat filtered water if I wanted to save eggs and
grow out the fry. Oh - I've also heard that you may need to have crypts
growing, and my tank does.

My tank is heavily planted, and both times they chose the tallest plant
they could find. The first time, in the 5 gallon, it was the Saggitaria
graminea and Alternantheria. The second time, in the new 15 gallon,
they were laying under the Crypt. balansae and java moss. Both of those
plants are pretty foolproof.

Sorry I don't have more info on raising fry, but I hope this helps.

--
Elaine T __
http://eethomp.com/fish.html '__
rec.aquaria.* FAQ http://faq.thekrib.com