Baby Zippers?

[RMau]

Yes, the fry are weeks, if not months old. They are about 3/4" and 1" in total length.

Just saw the two of them together for only the second time since we moved them. Here is a terrible picture, but it does show them both. Look in the circles.



And here is one of the larger of the two.



I wish I had better camera skills.

Rick

[mikev]

Rick,

I'm a little curious about the color: there seems to be a brown tint to your zippers. Is it real or a camera artifact?
(Mine are gray with maybe a little green, but certainly no brown).

[sophie]

I really like that "let's confuse the predators by pretending to have two heads" look that one has!

[RMau]

Mikev,

I think the color cast is mostly poor lighting and very 'tan' surroundings in the tank. In our haste to get any pictures we didn't pay much attention to the set-up for photography. The glass top of the tank ws still on and very dirty. We were hand holding the camera and afraid to use the flash for fear of glare.

Now that we have taken a breath, we fixed a few of the problems and will continue to expreiment. Here is a new photo, glass tank top removed, camera on a tripod, flash on.



The other fish is a Silver Tip Tetra. The heater in the backgound is a standard issue aquarium heater, about an inch in diameter.

Rick

[Graeme Robson]

Keep us updated, Rick!

Superb images!

[RMau]

I have to take a moment to thank everyone for their excitement and encouragement on this thread. My wife and I have been taking turns watching over the two 'kids' and trying to get pictures and answer questions and in all of that, I haven't taken the time to say 'Thank You' to everyone who has posted and commented. I sure do apprecaite it.

Rick

[RMau]

Early on in this thread I mentioned that I found these babies when changing ghe gravel in one of our tanks. Here is a shot of the old gravel, a couple of regular AA batteries and the new tank gravel in the background. You cna see that the old gravel made a good place for eggs to 'hide' and hatch in the spaces in between the pieces. Much more likely than with smaller gravel sizes or sand.

Now, I have no idea if that is what really happened. Just a theory that I'll toss out for consideration.



Rick

[mickthefish]

hi rick i think your right in thinking the eggs were hidden down in the gravel,
i used marbles when i spawned my loaches with the idea that the parents could'nt get to the eggs, and i was right.

once again well done with your babes and pics.

mick

[Graeme Robson]

This is making me remember years ago with siphoning gravel without a care. Cause loaches don't breed.......Arrgg!!

Nice comparison picture Rick.

[Martin Thoene]

Rick, I've added pictures and text to the species profile, thanks so much.

http://www.loaches.com/species-index/ac ... itis-botia

Martin.

[chris1932]

Congrats. They are very cute. I have taken to not siphoning sand. Insted I swish around with the heel of my hand and try to get as much as I can. Then I let the hang on backs run till the tank is clear and then swap elements.

[RMau]

Martin, thank you very much. It was my pleasure to be able to add to the body of loach knowledge that all of you have spent so much time assembling.

I'll post updates and pictures on occassion as the babies mature.

Rick

[Martin Thoene]

That's great Rick, I can add stuff in. Seeing them grow up will be interesting.

Martin.

[RMau]

Here are two new pics of the young Zippers, taken yesterday.

This is the roughly the same position as one of the first pictures posted. You can see the tip of the heater in the bakground.



This is the pair of youngsters. They are both over an inch in total length now.



Rick

[Graeme Robson]

Excellent view of the eye spot and it's purpose.

Superb pictures!