My First Baby Pictures!

ValRasbora · 07-07-2009, 01:04 PM

awww junior is so adorable. You might have an easier time figuring out who the parents are once he gets his markings... maybe not... lol congrats

Cichlidoclus · 07-07-2009, 02:45 PM

Hello there ValRasbora!

Actually, I already know who his parents are. It is Bully Boy and female #1.

Today, Junior is 3 weeks old since he was released by momma.

He is almost an inch long, I'd say.

He has now developed some distinct yellowish-orange color in his dorsal fin, ventral fin, and tail.

His main body color is now a rather light greyish-bluish hue.

If I recall correctly, he may also have some light vertical bars. Bully Boy has about 3 and a half dark vertical bars which start at his belly, and go about half way up his body before they fade into the blue.

I've been trying hard to get some new pics of Junior, but this little guy darts around too fast, so all of my pics have been blurry thus far. He is also becoming much bolder, and has now explored about half the tank -- the left side -- but still seeks the safety of the rocks quite often. However, he does cruise the open water a bit in the upper levels of the tank, just above the rocks, where he knows the rest of the fish rarely go.

Cichlidoclus · 07-07-2009, 03:31 PM

Hello again everyone!

Well, today completes three weeks since little Junior was released by momma. As you may recall, his parents are Bully Boy and female #1.

Junior is now almost an inch long, I'd say.

He has developed some distinct yellowish-orange color in his dorsal fin, ventral fin, and tail.

His main body color is now a rather light greyish-bluish hue. It depends a lot on what light he is under.

If I recall correctly, he may also have some light vertical bars. Bully Boy, his father, has about three and a half dark vertical bars which start at his belly, and extend about halfway up his body before they fade into his main blue body color.

Lately, I've been trying hard to get some new pics of Junior, but this little guy darts around too fast, so all of my pics have been blurry thus far.

Junior is also becoming much bolder, and has now explored about half the tank -- the left side -- but he still seeks the safety of the rocks quite often. However, he does cruise the open water a bit in the upper levels of the tank, just above the rocks, where he knows the rest of the fish rarely go.

He's one "aquarium-smart" little fish!

ValRasbora · 07-09-2009, 05:42 PM

Congrats again. Great that you know who Mom + Dad are. He sounds very pretty... I love orange and blue together. sounds very nice! Good luck on getting pics... I can't wait to see them

!

Cichlidoclus · 07-09-2009, 08:23 PM

I suspect that the yellowish-orange color came from his mother, as she likewise has faint hints of that same color in the same places, while Bully Boy has absolutely none.

And speaking of this lovely pair, today there was quite a stir in the tank, as Bully Boy went totally berserko and was on the rampage again, seriously persecuting the other three males.

I immediately suspected what was going on; and sure enough, when I caught sight of her, female #1's ovipositor was extended again, and she was holding for the second time. The first time was on June 1st, so this makes her second spawn in exactly forty days. I knew that her time was near, as she was really gobbling down food during the past week, getting ready for the long incubation period ahead, during which time she would do without food. Last time, it lasted for seventeen days before she released her fry, and began eating again.

I am not certain who fertilized her eggs this time. I suspect that it may have been Bully Boy again, but with the other three males fully mature now, going crazy in the tank, and aggressively flirting with female #1, who knows. Maybe it was a case of fish polygamy! Eek!

Anyway, earlier, I had decided that this time around, I would just leave female #1 in the main tank, and let the fry take their chances with all of the adult mbunas. However, once again, I am already softening in my stance, because it is apparent that she is not going to get any rest; and as long as she is in there holding eggs, Bully Boy is going to be on the war path with the other males.

The thing is, there are so many rocks in the tank, stacked in such a particular order in order to create an established network of caves and tunnels, and now nicely covered with algae, that just the idea of tearing down the tank in order to catch her, does not appeal to me. I am thinking that maybe if I drain the water really low, she might come out into the open, and I will have an opportunity to catch her and put her in one of the waiting twenty-gallon tanks. Of course, if I lower the water level, Bully Boy will really have the other three males cornered, and will probably do a number on them.

And then there is dear little Junior. I would really feel terrible if the little guy became somebody's snack while the water level is low. He has been doing so well with his survival skills; and I have great faith that he will continue to elude the hungry mouths in the tank. But if I lower the water level, will that turn out to be a fatal mistake?

ValRasbora · 07-10-2009, 01:18 PM

There's alot of risks there. Be careful!

Cichlidoclus · 07-10-2009, 02:56 PM

Well, I've decided that unless there is a really easy opportunity to remove her from the tank, I am just going to leave female #1 in there. I simply can't be disrupting the entire tank every time that she spawns. It would be too much work.

ValRasbora · 07-13-2009, 11:39 AM

Very true. Any pics of Junior yet?

Cichlidoclus · 07-13-2009, 06:26 PM

Sorry, no new pics of Junior yet...and it is not due to lack of opportunities either. He has been out in the open quite a bit. The problem is that I can't remember the camera settings that I used in order to obtain the original clear images of him. I've tried a few times now, but they keep coming out fuzzy or too dark. I'm sure that I'll figure it out eventually, so please just be patient until then.

ValRasbora · 07-15-2009, 10:52 AM

Hm. Try using the flash. IT might help

07-07-2009, 01:04 PM	#11
ValRasbora Large Fish Join Date: May 2009 Location: Atlantic Canada Posts: 603	awww junior is so adorable. You might have an easier time figuring out who the parents are once he gets his markings... maybe not... lol congrats __________________ Fish aren't boring like everyone says! 20 gallon planted swordtail, platy, neon tetra, harlequin rasbora, albino corydoras, otocinclus Betta bowl (heated) nothing so far. soon to do a 10g betta tank with betta imbellis. Work in progress !

07-07-2009, 02:45 PM	#12
Cichlidoclus Teenie Weenie Fish Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Guam, Mariana Islands Posts: 47	Hello there ValRasbora! Actually, I already know who his parents are. It is Bully Boy and female #1. Today, Junior is 3 weeks old since he was released by momma. He is almost an inch long, I'd say. He has now developed some distinct yellowish-orange color in his dorsal fin, ventral fin, and tail. His main body color is now a rather light greyish-bluish hue. If I recall correctly, he may also have some light vertical bars. Bully Boy has about 3 and a half dark vertical bars which start at his belly, and go about half way up his body before they fade into the blue. I've been trying hard to get some new pics of Junior, but this little guy darts around too fast, so all of my pics have been blurry thus far. He is also becoming much bolder, and has now explored about half the tank -- the left side -- but still seeks the safety of the rocks quite often. However, he does cruise the open water a bit in the upper levels of the tank, just above the rocks, where he knows the rest of the fish rarely go. __________________ TheFishGuy's Personal Log My current aquariums: (1) 45 gallon freshwater cichlid tank (2) 20 gallon freshwater tanks (currently empty) (2) 5 gallon freshwater tanks (currently empty) Cichlids I've kept in recent years: Copadichromis Borleyi, Melanochromis Johanni, Melanochromis Cyaneorhabdos, Labidochromis Caeruleus, Discus, Angels

07-07-2009, 03:31 PM	#13
Cichlidoclus Teenie Weenie Fish Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Guam, Mariana Islands Posts: 47	Hello again everyone! Well, today completes three weeks since little Junior was released by momma. As you may recall, his parents are Bully Boy and female #1. Junior is now almost an inch long, I'd say. He has developed some distinct yellowish-orange color in his dorsal fin, ventral fin, and tail. His main body color is now a rather light greyish-bluish hue. It depends a lot on what light he is under. If I recall correctly, he may also have some light vertical bars. Bully Boy, his father, has about three and a half dark vertical bars which start at his belly, and extend about halfway up his body before they fade into his main blue body color. Lately, I've been trying hard to get some new pics of Junior, but this little guy darts around too fast, so all of my pics have been blurry thus far. Junior is also becoming much bolder, and has now explored about half the tank -- the left side -- but he still seeks the safety of the rocks quite often. However, he does cruise the open water a bit in the upper levels of the tank, just above the rocks, where he knows the rest of the fish rarely go. He's one "aquarium-smart" little fish! __________________ TheFishGuy's Personal Log My current aquariums: (1) 45 gallon freshwater cichlid tank (2) 20 gallon freshwater tanks (currently empty) (2) 5 gallon freshwater tanks (currently empty) Cichlids I've kept in recent years: Copadichromis Borleyi, Melanochromis Johanni, Melanochromis Cyaneorhabdos, Labidochromis Caeruleus, Discus, Angels

07-09-2009, 05:42 PM	#14
ValRasbora Large Fish Join Date: May 2009 Location: Atlantic Canada Posts: 603	Congrats again. Great that you know who Mom + Dad are. He sounds very pretty... I love orange and blue together. sounds very nice! Good luck on getting pics... I can't wait to see them ! __________________ Fish aren't boring like everyone says! 20 gallon planted swordtail, platy, neon tetra, harlequin rasbora, albino corydoras, otocinclus Betta bowl (heated) nothing so far. soon to do a 10g betta tank with betta imbellis. Work in progress !

07-09-2009, 08:23 PM	#15
Cichlidoclus Teenie Weenie Fish Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Guam, Mariana Islands Posts: 47	I suspect that the yellowish-orange color came from his mother, as she likewise has faint hints of that same color in the same places, while Bully Boy has absolutely none. And speaking of this lovely pair, today there was quite a stir in the tank, as Bully Boy went totally berserko and was on the rampage again, seriously persecuting the other three males. I immediately suspected what was going on; and sure enough, when I caught sight of her, female #1's ovipositor was extended again, and she was holding for the second time. The first time was on June 1st, so this makes her second spawn in exactly forty days. I knew that her time was near, as she was really gobbling down food during the past week, getting ready for the long incubation period ahead, during which time she would do without food. Last time, it lasted for seventeen days before she released her fry, and began eating again. I am not certain who fertilized her eggs this time. I suspect that it may have been Bully Boy again, but with the other three males fully mature now, going crazy in the tank, and aggressively flirting with female #1, who knows. Maybe it was a case of fish polygamy! Eek! Anyway, earlier, I had decided that this time around, I would just leave female #1 in the main tank, and let the fry take their chances with all of the adult mbunas. However, once again, I am already softening in my stance, because it is apparent that she is not going to get any rest; and as long as she is in there holding eggs, Bully Boy is going to be on the war path with the other males. The thing is, there are so many rocks in the tank, stacked in such a particular order in order to create an established network of caves and tunnels, and now nicely covered with algae, that just the idea of tearing down the tank in order to catch her, does not appeal to me. I am thinking that maybe if I drain the water really low, she might come out into the open, and I will have an opportunity to catch her and put her in one of the waiting twenty-gallon tanks. Of course, if I lower the water level, Bully Boy will really have the other three males cornered, and will probably do a number on them. And then there is dear little Junior. I would really feel terrible if the little guy became somebody's snack while the water level is low. He has been doing so well with his survival skills; and I have great faith that he will continue to elude the hungry mouths in the tank. But if I lower the water level, will that turn out to be a fatal mistake? __________________ TheFishGuy's Personal Log My current aquariums: (1) 45 gallon freshwater cichlid tank (2) 20 gallon freshwater tanks (currently empty) (2) 5 gallon freshwater tanks (currently empty) Cichlids I've kept in recent years: Copadichromis Borleyi, Melanochromis Johanni, Melanochromis Cyaneorhabdos, Labidochromis Caeruleus, Discus, Angels

07-10-2009, 01:18 PM	#16
ValRasbora Large Fish Join Date: May 2009 Location: Atlantic Canada Posts: 603	There's alot of risks there. Be careful! __________________ Fish aren't boring like everyone says! 20 gallon planted swordtail, platy, neon tetra, harlequin rasbora, albino corydoras, otocinclus Betta bowl (heated) nothing so far. soon to do a 10g betta tank with betta imbellis. Work in progress !

07-10-2009, 02:56 PM	#17
Cichlidoclus Teenie Weenie Fish Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Guam, Mariana Islands Posts: 47	Well, I've decided that unless there is a really easy opportunity to remove her from the tank, I am just going to leave female #1 in there. I simply can't be disrupting the entire tank every time that she spawns. It would be too much work. __________________ TheFishGuy's Personal Log My current aquariums: (1) 45 gallon freshwater cichlid tank (2) 20 gallon freshwater tanks (currently empty) (2) 5 gallon freshwater tanks (currently empty) Cichlids I've kept in recent years: Copadichromis Borleyi, Melanochromis Johanni, Melanochromis Cyaneorhabdos, Labidochromis Caeruleus, Discus, Angels

07-13-2009, 11:39 AM	#18
ValRasbora Large Fish Join Date: May 2009 Location: Atlantic Canada Posts: 603	Very true. Any pics of Junior yet? __________________ Fish aren't boring like everyone says! 20 gallon planted swordtail, platy, neon tetra, harlequin rasbora, albino corydoras, otocinclus Betta bowl (heated) nothing so far. soon to do a 10g betta tank with betta imbellis. Work in progress !

07-13-2009, 06:26 PM	#19
Cichlidoclus Teenie Weenie Fish Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Guam, Mariana Islands Posts: 47	Sorry, no new pics of Junior yet...and it is not due to lack of opportunities either. He has been out in the open quite a bit. The problem is that I can't remember the camera settings that I used in order to obtain the original clear images of him. I've tried a few times now, but they keep coming out fuzzy or too dark. I'm sure that I'll figure it out eventually, so please just be patient until then. __________________ TheFishGuy's Personal Log My current aquariums: (1) 45 gallon freshwater cichlid tank (2) 20 gallon freshwater tanks (currently empty) (2) 5 gallon freshwater tanks (currently empty) Cichlids I've kept in recent years: Copadichromis Borleyi, Melanochromis Johanni, Melanochromis Cyaneorhabdos, Labidochromis Caeruleus, Discus, Angels

07-15-2009, 10:52 AM	#20
ValRasbora Large Fish Join Date: May 2009 Location: Atlantic Canada Posts: 603	Hm. Try using the flash. IT might help __________________ Fish aren't boring like everyone says! 20 gallon planted swordtail, platy, neon tetra, harlequin rasbora, albino corydoras, otocinclus Betta bowl (heated) nothing so far. soon to do a 10g betta tank with betta imbellis. Work in progress !