Loaches Online Forum

After feeding my loaches a lot of live tubifex worms... (hey, i like fat loaches, who doesn't? )

I noticed two of my dojos swimming up and down in the tank with no space between them. I've never seen them do this before so I sat down watched for a bit longer. I then realized that the female was extra fat and the one chasing her around was male. Then I saw the most interesting thing: The male tried to wrap itself around the female.

So, if this is breeding behavior, I have a few questions:

1. How do I know if they did it successfully?
2. How do I keep the fry alive and away from being eaten?
3. Do Dojos eat their young?
4. Do Dojos eat their eggs?
5. Has anyone else experienced this?
6. Is there anything else I should know that I'm sure I don't?

I've also observed them passing sand and some fine pebbles from their mouths and out their gills when they stick their heads in the substrate.

I cannot wait to hear what the answers are, because I have two dojos that have been doing the same exact things!!!

In the wild, the fish breed in early spring. In the aquarium, several weeks of shortened lighting, colder tank temperatures and a reduced water changes, followed by a large water change and increased temperatures triggers spawning behavior.

The female will get much larger as she produces eggs. The pair will swim together in a beautiful dance, then the male wraps himself around the female, fertilizing the eggs as the female expels them.

The greenish eggs usually attach to the plants. They hatch in 3-5 days. There is no parental care, so eggs can be removed immediately if desired. Be sure to check your filters after a while - the fry can easily end up in your filter!!

The fry can be fed on infusoria and baby brine shrimp. They grow very quickly, and within a few days will be able to take crushed flake/catfish pellets and various frozen foods.

©Loachaholic

Can you send some fry for me, Rocco?8)

If I get them, yes, I can send you some fry. In exchange, can you send me some levamisole if I can't get it here?

Rocco wrote:If I get them, yes, I can send you some fry. In exchange, can you send me some levamisole if I can't get it here?

Why not?:lol: