Bristlenose Breeding

[Ratmando]

Yay! The first ever time my BN's have bred.

Would you believe it, in a skull ornament that I'd placed in my ocean rock.*

I noticed my male was 'missing'. Then I saw him through the eye of the skull. I noticed after 3 days he was still in there. Worried he'd become trapped I removed the skull and he swam out. That's when I found the eggs.

I don't think I'll keep them, they'll probably be eaten now I've disturbed the skull and the rocks, as well as the male. But it is good to know that they are happy in there.

*the skull ornament was my 1st ever ornament I got when I was but 5 years old and I proudly placed it in my unfiltered goldish bowl with 2 goldfish.

[Ratmando]

[chrislowe84]

Good work, reminds me of a friend years ago. He designed a new type of discus breeding cone, he went around selling to specialist shops and everyone seemed to love it.

He had a phone call off one of the shops as few months later asking for a refund on their remaining stock. Reason being the fish room manager took a couple home and put in with his discus, they immediately stopped breeding and didn't start until he put the old ceramic flower pots back in that he'd bought from B&Q for around £1 each.

They know what they like!

[bradderz123]

Great. I've got one dark male and a albino pair - hope they breed in the future like yours.

[Clare]

I had a lovely pair that bred all the time in a little tank in the kitchen. I used to love to watch the Dad look after the eggs and babies. Sadly the dad died but he was over 6 years old. The tank is soon to house my Daughters new Betta when she gets it. Aswel as the BN's which are still in there. You never know, 2 may pair up again in the future.

[Ratmando]

Do they protect the babies as well as the eggs?

It's hard to see now in my tank, but the eggs appear to have gone, but the male is still hanging about in the skull.

[Clare]

Yes they protect the babies until they leave the nest. The age/size depends on the nest and the male.

[Ratmando]

Cool, that's good because I was a bit concerned that my male still hasn't emerged from Castle Greyskull. Been over a week now.

He's about 4" and the female is a little bigger. The eggs have definitely gone but it is way to dark in there to see anything else. Surely they'll all end up dinner for the cichlids and the catfish?

[Clare]

Some may survive, you never know.

[bradderz123]

Had some babies myself from a dark male and albino female - no albino babies. Don't understand how genetics work but that surprised me.