Advice with 397 breeding

[Monarodan]

Hi all new to breeding l numbers have a colony of 5 397 I'm sure 1 male 4 females male was been fanning in his round log since there been in there tank
Did a water change larst night when the storm hit and they where going a bit mad in there all day today male fanning like crazy in and out of cave with one of the girls trying to get in when he goes right in the arother one goes in behind bit of thrashing around then comes out but can not get in frount can some tell me he this is normal or is it a breeding patten cheers

 

[Nat's Fish]

Hi mate, they are basically fighting over him (lucky guy)
They all want to lay their eggs and even if they aren't ready yet they will still try and get in first. Keep an eye out on your tank each day without a torch if possible as even if a female lays eggs the fighting will result in the eggs being thrown out or eaten.
I'm actually after a female L397 so please PM me or text me on 0410410204 if you want to have less competition in there.
Good luck with it!
Cheers
Nat

 

[Monarodan]

Thanks mate its only one girl trying to get in
Will see when I get home today what happened
Will keep colony together at the moment thanks

 

[Nat's Fish]

Give them a month mate and consider adding another male.
If you keep their caves apart you shouldn't have any issues
They are an easy fish to breed and hopefully the pesky female backs off

 

[Monarodan]

Thanks for the help will see what happens the female is as round as a peach

 

[Monarodan]

Ya mate you where right two girls try to get in his cave went to look befor work and found a clump of eggs at frount of tank with male in his cave fanning flat out hope there is still some in there cheers

 

[Nat's Fish]

Is one a bit skinnier now? Maybe remove her overnight and see if the other one lays
Have you saved the eggs? He probably would've still fertilised them if you're able to put them in an egg tumbler or fry saver with an airstone
Cheers,
Nat

 

[Monarodan]

Was on my way to work don't have a tumbler so put he eggs in a net next to the air filter he looks like he could be on eggs still thanks for your help will keep posted

 

[Monarodan]

Found a second lot of eggs yesterday so made a home made tumbler did not no how fragile the eggs are must of been about 20 plus tried to symphony out think I lost about half will see how me go male still fanning like crazy and girlies still hanging around

 

[Nat's Fish]

Good stuff mate. Were the eggs in a clump or broken up?
Pick them up with your hand if you can. I've never had any issues with that.
Hopefully the rest hatch for you!

 

[Frashed]

Hey champ, congrats with the eggs, you may want to follow nat's advice and get an extra male or reduce the amount of females.. Can you possibly post any photos? It would be good to have a look at your setup for anyone else interested in breeding the 397

 

[Monarodan]

No good must have knocked them around to munch no for next time the eggs had a white dot in the middle of them thanks for the advice always learning as I go

 

[Nat's Fish]

Next time mate. If it keeps happening get some methyl blue & give them a soak in bucket of tank water and a drop of that. It will kill the fungus

 

[Monarodan]

Eggs where in a clump they are no good now hope to get it right soon the male has picked tne tightest cave in there don't no how they fit in there mayby they need more room what do you think will have to take a couple of photos

 

[Nat's Fish]

They'll figure it out mate. If he is the biggest and fits then females will be sweet
Don't shine a torch in but have a quick look in the mornings for any eggs that have been kicked out and try to save them

 

[Monarodan]

Just got some mythly blue and orderd a eeg tumbler my mate may have a 397 male hope they keep on laying would you do any water changes at the moment did a 40% change about 2weeks ago now just found a large clump of peppermint eggs in my Saratoga tank

 

[Monarodan]

**** another clump of eggs in the tank all females have spawned with him now will look for another male I think hard to no what to do been trying to take photos of tank setup but to munch reflection