Substrate Spawners

Slide 1:Substrate Spawners

Slide 2:Artificially Raising Substrate Spawning Fish

Hobbyists have been artificially raising substrate-spawning fish for many years. This technique is popular for angelfish, Central American Cichlids and other substrate-spawning fish with small eggs. Some hobbyists feel that artificially raising fry (i.e. pulling the spawn) weakens the pair bond of the fish. This notion has not been explored scientifically. It should be pointed out the the majority of angelfish breeders (and many cichlid breeders) raise fry artificially.

Slide 3:Angelfish Production

Slide 4:Topics

Background Varieties Water Quality Nutrition Spawning Hatching Juveniles

Slide 5:Angelfish Background

Angelfish Cichlidae family Pterphyllum scalare, P. dumerilii and P. altum Amazon basin and coastal rivers of the Guineas

Slide 6:Varieties

Colors Silver Gold Black Finnage Normal Veil Super veil Scales Normal Pearl scale Operculum Normal Blusher

Slide 7:Silver (wild type)

Slide 11:Water Quality

Temperature 82�F spawning (27.8�C) 76-84�F growout pH 6.8-7.2 Hardness Less than 100 mg/L Daylength 14L � 8D

Slide 12:Nutrition

Breeders Frozen Brine Shrimp in the morning Flakes in the afternoon Juveniles Newly hatched Artemia salina Flakes Fry Newly hatched Artemia salina

Slide 16:Spawning

Broodstock selection Hard to distinguish males from female Natural pairing 6 high quality juveniles in tank Separate when bonding commences

Slide 17:Spawning

Place pair in 10-15 gallon aquarium Water 82�F 14 hrs light Feeding slacked out frozen brine shrimp Flakes Spawning substrate

Slide 21:200-400 eggs per spawn Spawn every 7-10 days

Slide 23:Juveniles

3 months from hatch to market Sizes Dime $0.50 Quarter $0.75 Half dollar $1.00 to 1.50 (These $$ are 1997 data.)

Slide 24:Substrate Spawners (Robbing the Nest)

Rem: there are as many ways to raise fry as there are aquarium hobbyists and scientists. Before you get started� Purchase the necessary supplies. Make sure you have space!!! Decide where you want to place the hatch tank. Observe when your fish spawn. One day post-spawning, you can pull the eggs.

Slide 25:Partial Supply List

Small hatching tank Air Pump (10 gallon size). Standard, plastic airline Gang Valve Small 7.5 Watt Heater Methylene blue (any brand) Small sponge filter Turkey baster Hang-on or floating thermometer

Slide 26:Step 1

Fill a clean, small tank or container with six quarts of water from the spawning tank.

Slide 27:Step 2

Remove the hatch from the spawning tank the day after spawning. Avoid exposing the eggs to air. Invert the spawning surface (rock, etc.) inside a cup or container.

Slide 28:Step 3

Place the spawning surface (rock, etc.) inside the hatching tank.

Slide 29:Step 4

Aerate the water. Take care not to blast the eggs with air. It could damage them.

Slide 30:Step 5

If your room temperature is below 78F, place a 7.5 watt aquarium heater in the tank. Maintain the temperature at 78�81�F. A lid may help in cold rooms.

Slide 31:Step 6

Add 2 drops of Methylene Blue per each quart of water (any brand will do nicely). Methylene Blue kills fungus, which would prevent oxygen exhange across the egg�s outer membrane and ultimatley destroy the eggs. NOTE: Methylene Blue stains clothes permanently!

Slide 32:Step 7

Methylene Blue stains the water a deep blue. Eggs are light sensitive� do not put a light over the tank.Your water should be darker than the picture at right.

Slide 33:Step 8

Use a strong flashlight and check the hatch daily. Most eggs hatch within 48-72 hours. At 6 to 9 days post-spawn, the fry should be free of the spawning surface at the "belly whomper" stage� not quite able to swim, but hopping on the bottom. Remove the spawning surface (rock, etc.).

Slide 34:Step 9

As soon as the fry are belly whompers, start small, daily water changes. Remove a quart of water from the tank. Replace it with fresh, dechlorinated water. As you do more water changes, the water will get lighter and lighter.

Slide 35:Step 10

Carefully remove the debris using a turkey baster or small siphon.

Slide 36:Fry care�

When the fry are free-swimming, add a small, seasoned sponge filter to replace the airstone. At this point, start feeding freshly hatched baby brine shrimp. Feed until the tummies are nice and round! Prepare a ten-gallon, grow-out tank. Use a sand or bare bottom, heater and sponge filter.

Slide 37:Continue feeding baby brine shrimp. -21 days post hatch: Begin feeding finely crushed flake food -30 days fry should be off brine shrimp. -Weekly, 50% water changes are critical for fry growth.

Slide 38:Spawning Substrate

What if you want a natural set up?? Depending on the fish species, you may choose to utilize aquatic vegetation to complete your fish�s life cycle with. Aquarium plants & Breeding Fish by Robert Paul H Plants play an important role in breeding many types of fish and protecting fry. Choosing the right plants for your fish depends on the growing habits and leaf structure of the plant, and the breeding habits of the fish. � Here are some examples: (Click on the images for a larger view) � ��������������� Cabomba caroliniana Spawning plant for many barbs and characins. Suitable for cold water fish. Needs bright light. � � � � � ��������������� � Hornwort, Ceratophyllum demersum Rootless, floating stem plant. This hardy, easy to grow plant can be anchored to the substrate, (but it will never grow roots), or allowed to float. Great spawning plant for all fish and gives hiding places for females and fry. � � � � ��������������� Water sprite, Ceratopteris Planted or floating, suitable for larger fish and bubble-nest builders. Easy to care for plant. � � � � � � � � ���������������������������������Marble Queen Sword, Radican Sword Large broad leaf plant suitable for large fish who like to lay eggs on large flat surfaces, such as Angelfish � � � � � � � � ���������������Egeria najans Stem plant with small leaf whorls, moderate light, grows planted or floating and suitable for free-spawning fish in cooler water � � � ���������������Hygrophila difformis, Water Wisteria Stem plant with thick lacey growth that needs bright light. Suitable for larger free spawning fish. � � � � ���������������Ambulia, Limnophila Tall growing stem plant with thick, feathery leaf clusters. Requires bright light. Spawning plant for all free-spawning characins and barbs. � � � ���������������Ludwigia repens Stem plant that needs moderate to bright light, planted or floating, can be used in cool water, suitable for fish that like to spawn on smaller leaf surfaces such as Chessboard cichlids � � � ���������������Foxtail, Myriophyllum Stem plant with soft, fine-plumed leaves. Needs moderate to bright light and suitable for small free spawning fish. � � � � � � � Floating plants for bubble-nest builders and Killifish: Water lettuce Duckweed Riccia Water hyancinth � � Java moss Provides a thick mossy cushion on the tank bottom or attached to wood or rock. Free spawning fish such as barbs, characins, and rainbow fish respond well to it. Requires only low to moderate light.

Slide 39:Spawning Substrate Plants

Slide 40:Plants, Plants, Plants�

Plants play an important role in breeding many types of fish and protecting fry. Choosing the right plants for your fish depends on the growing habits and leaf structure of the plant, and the breeding habits of the fish. Aquarium plants & Breeding Fish by Robert Paul H Plants play an important role in breeding many types of fish and protecting fry. Choosing the right plants for your fish depends on the growing habits and leaf structure of the plant, and the breeding habits of the fish. � Here are some examples: (Click on the images for a larger view) � ��������������� Cabomba caroliniana Spawning plant for many barbs and characins. Suitable for cold water fish. Needs bright light. � � � � � ��������������� � Hornwort, Ceratophyllum demersum Rootless, floating stem plant. This hardy, easy to grow plant can be anchored to the substrate, (but it will never grow roots), or allowed to float. Great spawning plant for all fish and gives hiding places for females and fry. � � � � ��������������� Water sprite, Ceratopteris Planted or floating, suitable for larger fish and bubble-nest builders. Easy to care for plant. � � � � � � � � ���������������������������������Marble Queen Sword, Radican Sword Large broad leaf plant suitable for large fish who like to lay eggs on large flat surfaces, such as Angelfish � � � � � � � � ���������������Egeria najans Stem plant with small leaf whorls, moderate light, grows planted or floating and suitable for free-spawning fish in cooler water � � � ���������������Hygrophila difformis, Water Wisteria Stem plant with thick lacey growth that needs bright light. Suitable for larger free spawning fish. � � � � ���������������Ambulia, Limnophila Tall growing stem plant with thick, feathery leaf clusters. Requires bright light. Spawning plant for all free-spawning characins and barbs. � � � ���������������Ludwigia repens Stem plant that needs moderate to bright light, planted or floating, can be used in cool water, suitable for fish that like to spawn on smaller leaf surfaces such as Chessboard cichlids � � � ���������������Foxtail, Myriophyllum Stem plant with soft, fine-plumed leaves. Needs moderate to bright light and suitable for small free spawning fish. � � � � � � � Floating plants for bubble-nest builders and Killifish: Water lettuce Duckweed Riccia Water hyancinth � � Java moss Provides a thick mossy cushion on the tank bottom or attached to wood or rock. Free spawning fish such as barbs, characins, and rainbow fish respond well to it. Requires only low to moderate light.

Slide 41:Cabomba caroliniana

Spawning plant for many barbs and characins. Suitable for cold water fish. Needs bright light.

Slide 42:Hornwort, Ceratophyllum demersum 

Rootless, floating stem plant. This hardy, easy to grow plant can be anchored to the substrate, (but it will never grow roots), or allowed to float. Great spawning plant for all fish and gives hiding places for females and fry.

Slide 43:Water sprite, Ceratopteris

Planted or floating, suitable for larger fish and bubble-nest builders. Easy to care for plant.

Slide 44:Cryptocoryne blassi

Broad leaf plant, moderate light, grows fairly tall, suitable for fish that like to spawn on large flat surfaces, such as Angelfish

Slide 45:Marble Queen Sword, Radican Sword

Large broad leaf plant Suitable for large fish who like to lay eggs on large flat surfaces, such as Angelfish

Slide 46:Foxtail, Myriophyllum

Stem plant with soft, fine-plumed leaves. Needs moderate to bright light and suitable for small free spawning fish.

Slide 47:Water Wisteria, Hygrophila difformis 

Stem plant with thick lacey growth that needs bright light. Suitable for larger free spawning fish.

Slide 48:Floating plants for bubble-nest builders and Killifish:

Water lettuce Duckweed Riccia Water hyancinth water hyacinth