a. splendens

Hau kolas..

Hopefully someone can lend some insight..I have a breeding pair of ameca
splendens aka butterfly goodeid but
as of yet have no managed to keep any fry. Female is pregnant with her third
batch and looking nicely plump.
Last time, all fry were born stillborn or were killed shortly after birth
(umbilical still attached). so anyway, the
question is this; I've found reference to a 60 day gestation, but how long
does it take a livebearer in general, or
a. splendens in particular, to "recover" from birthing? In other words,
when is she available for the male to mate
again? I know when she had the last batch, trying to do the math to allow
her isolation early enough to
minimize stress before birthing. Also, there was some speculation that if
fry were stillborn, perhaps born early/late
and perished as a result, so if I can pin down conception, I can look at
that also. Haven't seen these in my LFS
since I picked up this pair, so can't try new male or female to see if
that's the problem. TIA
--
**FREE LEONARD PELTIER NOW**

"Far Thunder" wrote in message
...
Hau kolas..

Hopefully someone can lend some insight..I have a breeding pair of ameca
splendens aka butterfly goodeid but
as of yet have no managed to keep any fry. Female is pregnant with her third
batch and looking nicely plump.
Last time, all fry were born stillborn or were killed shortly after birth
(umbilical still attached). so anyway, the
question is this; I've found reference to a 60 day gestation, but how long
does it take a livebearer in general, or
a. splendens in particular, to "recover" from birthing? In other words,
when is she available for the male to mate
again? I know when she had the last batch, trying to do the math to allow
her isolation early enough to
minimize stress before birthing. Also, there was some speculation that if
fry were stillborn, perhaps born early/late
and perished as a result, so if I can pin down conception, I can look at
that also. Haven't seen these in my LFS
since I picked up this pair, so can't try new male or female to see if
that's the problem. TIA
--
**FREE LEONARD PELTIER NOW**


I have not kept those fish but have livebearers, My female had some
stillborn babies once when I moved her very close to delivery, which I found
out after moving her close to delivery would stress her and could cause that
to happen, so I am guessing stress them in any way could cause the same
thing, I read they don't have a lot of babies because of the babies being
bigger then normal fry, and that it takes two days for the umbilical cord to
fall off. Maybe do a google of complications fry and the type of fish and
see if there is anything on it.
Nik

Far Thunder wrote:
Hau kolas..

Hopefully someone can lend some insight..I have a breeding pair of ameca
splendens aka butterfly goodeid but
as of yet have no managed to keep any fry. Female is pregnant with her
third batch and looking nicely plump.
Last time, all fry were born stillborn or were killed shortly after
birth (umbilical still attached). so anyway, the
question is this; I've found reference to a 60 day gestation, but how
long does it take a livebearer in general, or
a. splendens in particular, to "recover" from birthing? In other
words, when is she available for the male to mate
again? I know when she had the last batch, trying to do the math to
allow her isolation early enough to
minimize stress before birthing. Also, there was some speculation that
if fry were stillborn, perhaps born early/late
and perished as a result, so if I can pin down conception, I can look at
that also. Haven't seen these in my LFS
since I picked up this pair, so can't try new male or female to see if
that's the problem. TIA

Usually, the gestation time is the length between subsequent batches of
fry when a male is around for mating. If the female's pregnant, is
there any reason you can't move her to a fry tank now?

--
Put the word aquaria in the subject to reply.
Did you read the FAQ? http://faq.thekrib.com

FarThunder wrote,
as of yet have no manage to keep any fry......

Agree with Nikki, your doing something to stress the female. *Don't*
put her into one of those breeding nets/traps. A 5 or 10 gal. tank with
quite a bit of java moss, would be great.

I've found reference to a 60 day gestation, but how long does it take a livebearer in general........

Ameca Splendens are one of the few fish that will eat BGA and hair
algae, and hardly ever found in pet stores, which makes their offspring
very easy to sell. I would check back and see if you could pick up
another male and another half dozen females... It's been over 30 years
sence I was breeding them, and I sure don't remember a 60 day
gestation! Like any other platty, their gustation time is 28 days. The
fry are slightly larger than common platties, droping 6 to 8 fry each
batch................. Frank

PS - almost forgot - another reason for stillborn fry and the female
breeder dying after birth is their diet. Pregnant females need somewhat
of a varied diet, fed 4 to 6 times a day............ Frank

"Altum" wrote in message
m...
*snip*
I've found reference to a 60 day gestation, but how long does it take a
livebearer in general, or
a. splendens in particular, to "recover" from birthing? In other wordse
for the male to mate
again?
Usually, the gestation time is the length between subsequent batches of
fry when a male is around for mating.

I'm pretty sure I understand gestation; ie the time betwee becoming pregnant
and birthing. the question phrased another way
is this: how long after birth is the female receptive to mating again? 2
days? 2 weeks?


If the female's pregnant, is there any reason you can't move her to a fry
tank now?

currently the pair is in a cichlid tank due to aggression. their reputation
is deserved, both sexes. I won't be tearing down
that tank for another week or so, and would rather not stress her out
chasing her around the whole tank and rockwork and etc.

TIA
lila pilamaya

"Frank" wrote in message
ups.com...
FarThunder wrote,
as of yet have no manage to keep any fry......

Agree with Nikki, your doing something to stress the female. *Don't*
put her into one of those breeding nets/traps. A 5 or 10 gal. tank with
quite a bit of java moss, would be great.

heavily planted 20G last time, I'll try smaller this time. Several of the
fry showed trauma, most were untouched.
Wasn't there when she gave birth, so don't know if she chased/killed them or
what.

I've found reference to a 60 day gestation, but how long does it take a
livebearer in general........

Ameca Splendens are one of the few fish that will eat BGA and hair
algae, and hardly ever found in pet stores, which makes their offspring
very easy to sell. I would check back and see if you could pick up
another male and another half dozen females...

That's just it, haven't seen them again, so can't establish a harem. should
have gotten more at
the time, but they were a last ditch effort at controlling the very algae
you mention. As time went by
their other qualities won me over, and now I would really like a species
tank of them.

It's been over 30 years
sence I was breeding them, and I sure don't remember a 60 day
gestation! Like any other platty, their gustation time is 28 days. The
fry are slightly larger than common platties, droping 6 to 8 fry each
batch................. Frank

My female is dropping average 15 fry. Perhaps that is the problem. Last
batch, I counted 17 as I was
netting out the corpses. First batch was 11 . this seems consistent with
references on net. And I believe
they are in a different family than platies? Splitting hairs perhaps.

regarding gestation, these all reference 60 days
http://www.gsas.org/Articles/1997/Ameca-sanford.html
http://www.aquarticles.com/articles/...vebearers.html
http://www.ibrox.freeserve.co.uk/article_ameca.htm

thanks for the info, as always.
lila pilamaya

"Nikki" wrote in message
...
*snip*
I have not kept those fish but have livebearers, My female had some
stillborn babies once when I moved her very close to delivery, which I
found out after moving her close to delivery would stress her and could
cause that to happen, so I am guessing stress them in any way could cause
the same thing, I read they don't have a lot of babies because of the
babies being bigger then normal fry, and that it takes two days for the
umbilical cord to fall off.

I had moved her three weeks prior to delivery, but I had that thought
too..someone had mentioned
perhaps that was why she (potentially) may have held the fry too long.
that's the million dollar question.
I remember seeing how *huge* she had become and waiting every day, going
"where's the fry??" Then
1 day I saw she was literally deflated, started lookign for the fry and
found them strewn across the tank,
no survivors. Do livebearers move around whilest giving birth, or they find
a good spot and wait it out?
I've never seen any livebearer I've had ever actually birthing.

Maybe do a google of complications fry and the type of fish and see if
there is anything on it.
Nik

I'll try that..hadn't gone that route, focusing on the mother not the
fry..thanks!

"Far Thunder" wrote in message
...

"Nikki" wrote in message
...
*snip*
I have not kept those fish but have livebearers, My female had some
stillborn babies once when I moved her very close to delivery, which I
found out after moving her close to delivery would stress her and could
cause that to happen, so I am guessing stress them in any way could cause
the same thing, I read they don't have a lot of babies because of the
babies being bigger then normal fry, and that it takes two days for the
umbilical cord to fall off.

I had moved her three weeks prior to delivery, but I had that thought
too..someone had mentioned
perhaps that was why she (potentially) may have held the fry too long.
that's the million dollar question.
I remember seeing how *huge* she had become and waiting every day, going
"where's the fry??" Then
1 day I saw she was literally deflated, started lookign for the fry and
found them strewn across the tank,
no survivors. Do livebearers move around whilest giving birth, or they
find a good spot and wait it out?
I've never seen any livebearer I've had ever actually birthing.

Maybe do a google of complications fry and the type of fish and see if
there is anything on it.
Nik

I'll try that..hadn't gone that route, focusing on the mother not the
fry..thanks!


I watch my fancy guppies have babies all the time, once she is close she
will hang out somewhere usually by the heater or plant, but I have seen her
swimming around dropping babies, I think they are all different. I did read
that unless there are other type of fish in the tank you might not have to
move her because the babies are a little to big for mom and dad to eat....I
let mine have her babies in the tank now and then net the babies, I have had
more luck that way, just make sure they have places to hide.
Nik

"Far Thunder" wrote in message
. ..

"Frank" wrote in message
ups.com...
FarThunder wrote,
as of yet have no manage to keep any fry......

Agree with Nikki, your doing something to stress the female. *Don't*
put her into one of those breeding nets/traps. A 5 or 10 gal. tank with
quite a bit of java moss, would be great.

heavily planted 20G last time, I'll try smaller this time. Several of the
fry showed trauma, most were untouched.
Wasn't there when she gave birth, so don't know if she chased/killed them
or what.

I've found reference to a 60 day gestation, but how long does it take a
livebearer in general........

Ameca Splendens are one of the few fish that will eat BGA and hair
algae, and hardly ever found in pet stores, which makes their offspring
very easy to sell. I would check back and see if you could pick up
another male and another half dozen females...

That's just it, haven't seen them again, so can't establish a harem.
should have gotten more at
the time, but they were a last ditch effort at controlling the very algae
you mention. As time went by
their other qualities won me over, and now I would really like a species
tank of them.

It's been over 30 years
sence I was breeding them, and I sure don't remember a 60 day
gestation! Like any other platty, their gustation time is 28 days. The
fry are slightly larger than common platties, droping 6 to 8 fry each
batch................. Frank

My female is dropping average 15 fry. Perhaps that is the problem. Last
batch, I counted 17 as I was
netting out the corpses. First batch was 11 . this seems consistent with
references on net. And I believe
they are in a different family than platies? Splitting hairs perhaps.

regarding gestation, these all reference 60 days
http://www.gsas.org/Articles/1997/Ameca-sanford.html
http://www.aquarticles.com/articles/...vebearers.html
http://www.ibrox.freeserve.co.uk/article_ameca.htm

thanks for the info, as always.
lila pilamaya



yes its 60 days, maybe that is why their babies are bigger then normal
fry... I understand what you are asking, and again I only know with guppies
its right after birth they get pregnant, but yours are different, guppies
hold sperm from several other males, splendens don't, each time its
separate, ill see if I can find out what the in-between time is.
Nik
I have never had any fry live from using a breeding net either, I have a all
fancy guppy tank, I spent some time trying to interfere with her having
babies and lost a lot of them, even lost my favorite female, then I just got
hornwort and let her have them in her own tank, I will net babies after if I
see them (being hunted but they are usually the slow ones who are not going
to live anyway), but a lot of time I will notice babies who are a little
older who managed to get food and live, which is pretty neat, the funny
thing is they usually look better then the ones I net and take care of.