I have Multi Babies!

[Skittyfish]

I am now a grandmother! I knew I had a couple shacked up in a shell together, but had not seen anything. Well today I looked (really close) and counted at least 3 babies. Pretty much look like eyeballs with a bit of tail. I'm so excited. I'll try to get picks of them in a few days. They pretty much blend in with the gravel. I can only see them when they swim up a bit.

[Dangerdoll]

what kind are ya talking about skitty? (btw, congrats!! :D )

[Jayhawk]

Mutlis are such cool little fish and make such great parents. Congrats on the little ones!

[Skittyfish]

Dangerdoll-they are Neolamprologus Multifasciatus. Shellies.

I love them.

I also think I am getting ready to have some baby kribs.....Yahoo!

Now, where on earth am I going to put all of these new fishies?

[Jayhawk]

I'm not sure about the kribs (mine pair just ate their first batch of eggs - the stinkers), but leave those multi babies with the parents. They'll form a lovely colony just like dwarf brichardis who hang out in shells.

Eric

[Dangerdoll]

sounds like you have a happy & healthy tank there Skitty!! WAHOOOOOO for ya!! :D ;) :D

[Skittyfish]

*sigh** I had to give one of my adults away. The others had it pinned to the top corner for three days. I was afraid it would die, it wasn't being allowed to eat or find a new home.

Right now I am watching the parents gaurd the babies. Pushing and shoving the others out of the way.

[valerie]

Do all shelldwellers form colonies with generations of fry? I'm asking since i'm going to be getting a pari of N.brevis soon and want to know if i could jsut leave the fry in with the parents.

[Harry Tolen]

Most shelldwellers will tolerate large family colonies, with multiple successive spawns surving quite easily close to the parent's shell.

I have done N. brevis, N. multifasciatus, N. ocellifer, and N. signatus, and all but N. signatus seemed happy with multiple spawns all growing up simultaneously.

What size tank do you have these in, by the way? Also, what kind/how many shells do have for them? Might be a factor.

[Jayhawk]

Harry,

I'm suprised your brevis allowed the fry to hang around. Maybe it was just my pair, but they were terrible parents (I had them for about 8 spawns) who showed no parental care...but they were a devoted couple who just like to eat their kids after a few weeks. Perhaps the tank was too small - although it was a 20 long.

Eric

[Harry Tolen]

Jayhawk: well, tank size certainly wasn't your problem. My shelldwellers have always been in 10's or 5's (although in a newer reorg they will be going into a 50). Did you ever remove and raise any of the fry?

[Jayhawk]

Harry,

no, I didn't remove and raise the fry. At first, I kept hoping they'd become better parents and I might make some money at fish club auctions. However, my multis were "muliplying" in my downstairs tanks - so I eventually decided just to let nature take its course in my brevis tank. :rolleyes:

Eric