Caecillians

[smart]

today i decided to change my 180lt tank, i wanted to add some gravel (as its been bare bottom for a while) and remove some fish, so started by removing half the water and all the wood, slate etc. the tank remained like this for a couple of hours while i ran a couple of errands and went to the lfs. mean while my 3 caecillians

were left to themselves in the tank.
once i had returned and washed the gravel i started to put the tank back together. no sooner then i had finished topping the water back up i noticed something i hadn't seen before. my female and the smaller male were coupled together and the famale was slowly dragging the subdued male around the tank, i now realise that in dropping the water level and leaving it it simulated their dry season and spurred the mating.

they seemed pretty well attached, both were pulsing and continued this for another hour and a half. this process can continue for another week or so, and will take months to find out if she is pregnant. if all is well then in 11 months she will give birth to babys approx 10-15am long.

 

[Big-B]

Wow. Thats pretty cool :yes::thumbup: Hopefully it took and you get babies. :yes:

 

[FF MkII]

thats very cool mate, well done!!

 

[smart]

yes i've been waiting for this for years, i've had the female for 6-7 yrs now and only managed to get a second one 1-2 yrs ago, and the male thats done the business i only had for about 6 months, i was quite surprised as he is the smallest by far. cant believe i have to wait so long for the results

 

[FF MkII]

Fingers crossed, could this be a first UK documented mating?

 

[bigbird]

Fascinating indeed and great shots. Would be very keen to see in 11months what happens. well done. cheers jk :yes:

 

[smart]

update: i have just seen the male at it again :woohoo: this time with the smaller female hmy:

 

[scatz]

have you not cut one in half yet to see if it grows a new head/tail?
j/k

congrats matey, its cool to see the oddballs being bred, well done

 

[smart]

have you not cut one in half yet to see if it grows a new head/tail?
j/k

how many more time NOOOO! :lol:

cheers matey

 

[JoePlec]

Found this thought id stick it here. http://www.aquarist-classifieds.co.uk/php/detail51_191792.php

 

[smart]

thanks for that JoePlec, personaly i'd give up the cardinals :lol:

 

[JoePlec]

Ha :yes: thought u might have been interested as i dont see them about much :dk:

 

[smart]

update

i have notice my smaller female has been looking quite fat recently so was quite hopeful, yesterday i decided to do another 50% water change and left the water level low for an hour, topped it back up and everything was normal, today i saw a small head appearing from under a piece of wood, i jumped up and this is what i saw.....

:fr::woohoo::woohoo::woohoo::woohoo:

this is only 5months after seeing the mating, much sooner than i had expected, i can only presume they did the deed way before i had witnessed

i think i have 5 in there but difficult to tell, either way i'm a very happy chappy

 

[scatz]

Thats Brilliant weeman, i'm happy for you

 

[FF MkII]

Me too, well pleased.

 

[SmithRC]

So... Is it a uk first?

Nice work eitherway!

 

[smart]

thanks everyone, unfortunately its not a uk first, but certainly quite rare from what i have found, the baby's were feeding within the first 24hrs, and the parents are staying with them most of the time, I'll be keeping a eye on them to observe their behaviour as its now unknown territory

 

[bigbird]

i am absolutely stunned and congratulations...well done :clap:. wow cheers jk :thumbup:

 

[smart]

my second female spawned!! this time i managed to catch them all so managed to get a head count. I now have 9 babys :woohoo::woohoo:

heres a pic of all the babys

 

[bigbird]

:clap: wow you must be doing something right. cheers jk :thumbup: