N. viridescens dorsalis eggs

[paul]

It has been a couple of years since my dorsalis bred. They are beginning to lay eggs, and those eggs are white. I can't remember if the previous eggs were white(normally a color associated with infertile eggs), or an amber color. Can anyone refresh my memory?

 

[jennifer]

Congratulations on the eggs!!! As I recall, they are white. Have you raised young ones before? Good luck!

 

[paul]

Thanks for the info. Yes I have raised them before, as a matter of fact these breeders are young that I raised from my first brood. I have extensive experience with breeding tropical fish, so have a plethora of live foods to raise them with, and raised all that hatched the last time. The last batch did not go through the eft stage and remained totally aquatic. They did show a temporary faded red eft coloring for a short while on their way to their final adult dorsalis coloration.

 

[jennifer]

In that case, I'd say you've had much better luck with this species than I have. My attempts to raise dorsalis have been very disaster-prone. But I have raised other species without problems.

Just out of curiosity, what kind of water do you use? Tap water, well water? Soft or hard? Do you ever take the pH of your tanks? I have a theory that dorsalis don't do well in hard, alkaline water (at least that would explain why all my adults died when I moved to a hard water area).

 

[paul]

I use tap water with a pH range of 7.6 - 8.2 and hardness between 140-190 dH, and do not monitor their tank. I haven't been happy with their productivity and have been considering some changes to their care. Maybe I'll try using softer water. I'm also considering a winter cooling period to try to get them on a more natural (and hopefully more productive) cycle. Do you have any ideas as to techniques or procediures that you are aware of.I don't think that nutrition is a problem, as they generally get fed twice a day with everything from pre-soaked cichlid pellets (so they sink),to the assortment of frozen foods that my fish get, to live foods such as daphnia, wax, white, and compost worms. My 3 pair are housed in a 5 gal. tank that is filtered with a sponge filter. The sole decor is a healthy thicket of Elodea, and the temperature stays pretty constant at 67-70. Any feedback or ideas is much appreciated.

 

[jennifer]

I don't have much to suggest regarding productivity. It sounds like they are already very well fed. Mine laid eggs sporadically, sometimes going for years without any. Maybe a lower temperature in winter would help. Also, maybe a larger tank, as 6 of them in 5-gallon sounds a bit crowded. Good luck, and keep us posted.