|
Factoids |
|
Basic
Diet
|
Aqualand tropical Flakes and TetraMin ProMin |
|
Breeding
Quarters
|
55
with UG filter and small Madagascar lce plants |
|
Other Fish |
One ryukin and three red lizard fish |
| Temperature |
76
F |
|
Water
|
Did
not check pH. Just aged water. |
|
Water Changes |
Frequent |
| Behavior |
Much chasing |
|
Pre-Spawning
Clues
|
None -- None expected because of orandas young age |
Prologue: We received 10 nice orandas by accident. We
ordered red fantails but got the orandas instead. Not being
whiners, we put them in a 55-gallon because they looked so good.
They were some 2-2.5 inches long. We did not expect them to spawn.
We just planned to display them and sell them. I planned to add a
couple breeder angels but then they caught ich. We treated them with
Livebearer (a protozoan killer). I was giving them their morning feeding
and noticed this spawning activity today. Aug 24, 2007 LA
LA
One male driving this female very hard in a nearly bare 55 gallon tank..
LA
Occasionally a third male would join the chase.
LA
She ran all over the tank trying to escape their amorous attentions.
LA
Vertically.
LA
Horizontally.
LA
And then, we added a watersprite plant wit lots of roots -- a perfect
egg-catching device..
LA
She sought shelter in the vegetation still pursued by the males.
The calico ryukin was bored.
LA
But the male orandas were so attentive they pushed her out of the water.
LA
More of them joined the party.
LA
And she would take occasional breaks (still pursued).
LA
Then returning again to the spawning grounds.
LA
Impossible to tell if all the males were "working" or just there for the
caviar.
LA
She was still the undisputed queen of the ball.
LA
With many suitors vying for her attention -- some more forceful than
others.
LA
LA
More joined the egg fest.
LA
Still, no eggs were visible.
LA
Plenty of apparent spawning going on.
LA
LA
Epilogue:
Since we observed no eggs, we decided they were all eaten. We
tossed in some flakes to distract them from egg eating.
Unfortunately, it also instantly halted all egg-laying activity.
LA
LA
Male oranda pursuing large over-the-hill fantail added August 26, 2007.
Post-Epilogue: During my lunch hour, someone traded in a large
over-the-hill fantail. This little male thought she looked full of
eggs. She just loafed on the bottom and ignored his amorous
attentions. LA
LA
She eventually got off the gravel but was totally bored with all the
attention.
LA
Better pic (but not much better).
LA
Good eater.
LA
One week later he's got her "cornered."
LA
He worked for hours but no eggs.
LA
Two weeks later, they're at it again. Sept 6, 2007
LA
Once started, more join in.
LA
The more the merrier.
LA
Any eggs produced were likely eaten.
© 2007
LA Productions
aqualandpetsplus.com
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Sixth Avenue
Corner
of Sixth & Euclid Avenues
Des
Moines, IA 50313
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