Mugwump's Fish World

THE POND-THE FRESHWATER PLACE => Discus => Topic started by: Mugwump on July 18, 2013, 07:09:42 PM

Title: So is Liz going to....
Post by: Mugwump on July 18, 2013, 07:09:42 PM
..start breeding her discus now???...stay tuned.... ;D
Title: Re: So is Liz going to....
Post by: Barb on July 18, 2013, 08:09:15 PM
I bet she will!!
Barb
Title: Re: So is Liz going to....
Post by: Mugwump on July 18, 2013, 08:24:46 PM
Quote from: Barb on July 18, 2013, 08:09:15 PM
I bet she will!!
Barb

Let's hope so.....maybe she'll document the proceedings here??....pics??
Title: Re: So is Liz going to....
Post by: LizStreithorst on July 19, 2013, 07:55:57 AM
I'm afraid it's up to the fish.
Title: Re: So is Liz going to....
Post by: Mugwump on July 19, 2013, 07:58:50 AM
RAH! RAH! SIS BOOM BA !........GO LIZ!!!!!! GO LIZ !!!!!!... ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D
Title: Re: So is Liz going to....
Post by: LizStreithorst on July 25, 2013, 08:15:44 PM
Actually, I got eggs from a teenage first time pair in the juvie community Discus tank.  The male appeared to be confused and ate some.  Then he make a tentative run.  I expected them to be gone the next morning, but they were not.  The parents took turns guarding them just as they should.  If there was a white egg, them must have picked it off because I never saw a white egg. 

By last night it sure looked like they would hatch out, but I had them in tap and I have NEVER gotten a Discus hatch in my tap, ever!  By this morning they had hatched and the parents were moving them.  That's a sign of good parenting.  After work today they were gone and the pair were bowing and shaking to one another and staring lovingly at the cone once again.

Title: Re: So is Liz going to....
Post by: Mugwump on July 25, 2013, 08:19:00 PM
Excellent....congrats on the new pair....cool
Title: Re: So is Liz going to....
Post by: Barb on July 25, 2013, 08:42:12 PM
Quote from: Barb on July 18, 2013, 08:09:15 PM
I bet she will!!
Barb

So Liz, do I win the bet?? ;D
Barb
Title: Re: So is Liz going to....
Post by: LizStreithorst on July 25, 2013, 08:52:51 PM
Not yet, Barb.  Wigglers do not a breeder make :P
Title: Re: So is Liz going to....
Post by: b125killer on July 26, 2013, 07:32:42 AM
That awesome Liz. I think that wigglers do make it a breeder. They are alive and hatched they just don't swim yet. :D
Title: Re: So is Liz going to....
Post by: PaulineMi on July 26, 2013, 08:03:57 AM
I think Liz is referring to the quality of the discus...shape, color size.   ;)
Title: Re: So is Liz going to....
Post by: LizStreithorst on August 15, 2013, 04:49:38 PM
Got wigglers again.  This time from a better quality pair of the same strain that spawned in the commumity tank.  These are alone in a 40 cube.  Only 50 or 60 of them, I'd guess.  That's OK with me.  I've gotten so I prefer smaller spawns.  I can leave the parents in with them longer.
Title: Re: So is Liz going to....
Post by: Mugwump on August 15, 2013, 05:02:04 PM
Cool beans!!!!...........pics?? ;D
Title: Re: So is Liz going to....
Post by: LizStreithorst on August 15, 2013, 05:27:02 PM
All it is  is a bunch of black dots with tails on a ceramic thing with algae on it.
Title: Re: So is Liz going to....
Post by: Mugwump on August 15, 2013, 05:56:35 PM
Nice...gotta like fry....neat little things
Title: Re: So is Liz going to....
Post by: PaulineMi on August 15, 2013, 05:57:59 PM
That's great. Best of luck with them
Title: Re: So is Liz going to....
Post by: LizStreithorst on August 15, 2013, 06:37:47 PM
They ain't fry to me until the free swim and attach.  I'll be on pins and needles.  This is a nice young pair of F1 Cuipeau.  The female is especially nice, but she has yellow eyes.  The male overall isn't as good, but he has one perfect red eye and one yellow.    I need the red eye. 

I didn't used to care much for the wild types.  My tastes have changed.  They have a subtle beauty that the highly refined strains lack.  And these are extremely well shaped for F1's.
Title: Re: So is Liz going to....
Post by: Mugwump on August 15, 2013, 06:46:03 PM
Agreed..the wild types bring a simple beauty ......
Title: Re: So is Liz going to....
Post by: PaulineMi on August 15, 2013, 07:51:25 PM
I agree.  I think, in most cases, it's a taste that's developed over time with experience.
Title: Re: So is Liz going to....
Post by: Barb on August 15, 2013, 08:05:09 PM
That;s good news Liz, hope they do well!
Barb
Title: Re: So is Liz going to....
Post by: LizStreithorst on August 15, 2013, 08:18:40 PM
I am so hopeful, but I can't let myself count my chickens before they're hatched.  These guys just started wiggling this morning.  One can't expect for everything to progress as one hopes.  Don't ask me how I know.
Title: Re: So is Liz going to....
Post by: Mugwump on August 16, 2013, 01:42:41 PM
So how's the fry doin' ?... ;D
Title: Re: So is Liz going to....
Post by: LizStreithorst on August 16, 2013, 03:43:08 PM
parents still guarding them.
Title: Re: So is Liz going to....
Post by: LizStreithorst on August 17, 2013, 01:33:55 PM
I expect the wigglers to go free swimming tomorrow.  I have to replace cracked glass on two 100's  that I got from Boozer.  I'll be in the fish room all day today and tomorrow so I won't miss the event.  The pair is young.  This is the first time they've even seen wigglers.  What they'll think when the little guys start to free swim and eat off their sides?  I'm on pins and needles.
Title: Re: So is Liz going to....
Post by: Mugwump on August 17, 2013, 01:39:10 PM
Cool...fry and first time parents...awesome  !!....
Title: Re: So is Liz going to....
Post by: LizStreithorst on August 17, 2013, 02:00:28 PM
They ain't fry to me until they free swim and attach.  From laying to attachment I can do little but have faith in the parents. 

The fun starts for me around 3 weeks after attachment.  That's when I do my first cull.  It's not a fun job, but it makes you look hard at your fish, and the results of your hard hardheartedness is worth the pain.  I hate to cull, but I love the results.  I guess that's part of what makes me a breeder.

Look at me.  I'm being too optimistic.  I don't even have attachment and I'm already looking forward to my first cull...
Title: Re: So is Liz going to....
Post by: Mugwump on August 17, 2013, 02:08:37 PM
Quote from: LizStreithorst on August 17, 2013, 02:00:28 PM
They ain't fry to me until they free swim and attach.  From laying to attachment I can do little but have faith in the parents. 

The fun starts for me around 3 weeks after attachment.  That's when I do my first cull.  It's not a fun job, but it makes you look hard at your fish, and the results of your hard hardheartedness is worth the pain.  I hate to cull, but I love the results.  I guess that's part of what makes me a breeder.

Look at me.  I'm being too optimistic.  I don't even have attachment and I'm already looking forward to my first cull...

Optimistic???....naw....just a trained eye knowing the path to good results  ;D
Title: Re: So is Liz going to....
Post by: PaulineMi on August 17, 2013, 02:26:38 PM
Liz do keep sharing your thoughts and progress with us.  You're keeping it exciting...I feel a little bit like a relative waiting for a birth.
Title: Re: So is Liz going to....
Post by: LizStreithorst on August 17, 2013, 02:43:05 PM
OK
Title: Re: So is Liz going to....
Post by: b125killer on August 17, 2013, 03:56:41 PM
Good luck with them. I don't like to cull. It's hard for me to do it still. I put them in the culling department and let my other fish take care of it. For some reason I find that better. That way I'm not the one doing the dirty work. 
Title: Re: So is Liz going to....
Post by: LizStreithorst on August 18, 2013, 07:19:57 AM
Ladies and Gentlemen, we have attachment.
Title: Re: So is Liz going to....
Post by: Mugwump on August 18, 2013, 08:10:42 AM
That's great!!!!!!!!... ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D
Title: Re: So is Liz going to....
Post by: LizStreithorst on August 18, 2013, 08:35:04 AM
Crappy pic, I know.  You can see some of them on Dad's dorsal in the back ground.  That's Mom in the foreground.  Nice fish for an F1 wild, don't you think?
Title: Re: So is Liz going to....
Post by: LizStreithorst on August 18, 2013, 08:36:33 AM
Oops.  This is the one I intended to post.
Title: Re: So is Liz going to....
Post by: Mugwump on August 18, 2013, 08:38:36 AM
Liz, those are gorgeous parents....and F1's too....zounds!! very nice...they'll be some healthy fry for sure.... ;D
Title: Re: So is Liz going to....
Post by: Barb on August 18, 2013, 09:33:03 AM
Yaaaaay ;D
Barb
Title: Re: So is Liz going to....
Post by: BallAquatics on August 18, 2013, 10:01:02 AM
Well done Liz!   :-*

Dennis
Title: Re: So is Liz going to....
Post by: ilroost on August 18, 2013, 04:05:20 PM
Great job!!
Title: Re: So is Liz going to....
Post by: PaulineMi on August 18, 2013, 05:23:19 PM
Wonderful! Congratulations Liz.
Title: Re: So is Liz going to....
Post by: wiggs on August 18, 2013, 07:38:10 PM
Great job Liz. I would like to try some Discus, but I will wait until I retire, so I can give more time to the hobby. I also would like to get more cories and raise them.
Title: Re: So is Liz going to....
Post by: b125killer on August 18, 2013, 08:10:45 PM
That's awesome news Liz. congratulations on your success. 
Title: Re: So is Liz going to....
Post by: LizStreithorst on August 21, 2013, 09:08:38 PM
The pair spawned again today.  This is not good news.  Either the existing fry or the new babies will be eaten.  Nothing to do but wait and see.
Title: Re: So is Liz going to....
Post by: Mugwump on August 22, 2013, 05:35:17 AM
Quote from: LizStreithorst on August 21, 2013, 09:08:38 PM
The pair spawned again today.  This is not good news.  Either the existing fry or the new babies will be eaten.  Nothing to do but wait and see.

Or...they'll let the fry feast on them...
Title: Re: So is Liz going to....
Post by: LizStreithorst on August 24, 2013, 05:29:50 PM
The new batche hatched out this morning.  Only 30 or so hatched.  The parents guarded them when they were eggs but they have no interest in them now that they are wigglers.  Looks like they've decided to concentrate on the older ones.  I'm glad of that.
Title: Re: So is Liz going to....
Post by: Mugwump on August 24, 2013, 05:34:56 PM
Quote from: LizStreithorst on August 24, 2013, 05:29:50 PM
The new batche hatched out this morning.  Only 30 or so hatched.  The parents guarded them when they were eggs but they have no interest in them now that they are wigglers.  Looks like they've decided to concentrate on the older ones.  I'm glad of that.

Here's hoping that they surprise you and raise em both....I've had that happen a few times  ;D
Title: Re: So is Liz going to....
Post by: b125killer on August 24, 2013, 05:44:17 PM
That would be awesome if they raised them both. Good luck with them
Title: Re: So is Liz going to....
Post by: LizStreithorst on August 24, 2013, 07:18:06 PM
They won't raise them both.  I know of only one Discus guy who had parents that raised both spawns.  I'll be happy with one batch.
Title: Re: So is Liz going to....
Post by: Mugwump on August 24, 2013, 07:18:53 PM
Quote from: LizStreithorst on August 24, 2013, 07:18:06 PM
They won't raise them both.  I know of only one Discus guy who had parents that raised both spawns.  I'll be happy with one batch.

Then you'll be the first gal, right?  ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D
Title: Re: So is Liz going to....
Post by: LizStreithorst on August 27, 2013, 07:32:12 AM
As I expected, the parents ate the youngest batch when they went free swimming this morning.  The older batch is doing great.  They finally started really going after the BBS this morning.  Up until now the parents were producing so much slime for them that the babies didn't care about BBS.
Title: Re: So is Liz going to....
Post by: Mugwump on August 27, 2013, 07:48:24 AM
SUPER !!!!......eating bbs is great, now they really start growing well.. ;D
Title: Re: So is Liz going to....
Post by: LizStreithorst on August 27, 2013, 02:34:56 PM
A larger spawn would have started eating it between 3 and 5 days of free swimming.  Until then their mouths are too small.  These guys are a decent size for their age, but they didn't care about the BBS because they were getting all they needed from their parents.  It's fun to see them leave their parents sides and hunt it down when I toss it in now. 
Title: Re: So is Liz going to....
Post by: LizStreithorst on September 01, 2013, 04:08:02 PM
I just culled my first one.  I gave it to the cat but she wasn't interested.  I guess it will flop to death.  This one was smaller than the others and didn't swim right.  Not a belly slider.  I have had no belly sliders.

They will start showing their finnage in another week and it will be time to do a second cull.  It's hard to start culling for shape until they are 4+ weeks old.
Title: Re: So is Liz going to....
Post by: PaulineMi on September 01, 2013, 04:49:31 PM
Liz!!!  :o.  Do you put the culls on ice or use some sort of "quick kill" method normally?
Title: Re: So is Liz going to....
Post by: LizStreithorst on September 01, 2013, 05:14:50 PM
I am inhumane with fish are this small.  I gave it to the cat live.  Found out that the lazy ass cat didn't look at it.  All John Nicholson has to do is toss a live Discus out the door and His Dachshund recycles it immediately.  None of my 10 dogs nor my cat appear to like live fish.  Next cull, I will go back to my old humane way.  I will net them out and slap them down hard on the concrete.  They are dead in ia instant.

I know about clove oil.  I know about the freezer.  I like my way better.  It's hard enough to cull with out someone questioning me about my methods.  I am a breeder.  Culling is necessary. I don't enjoy it but I have to do it. 
Title: Re: So is Liz going to....
Post by: PaulineMi on September 01, 2013, 05:25:11 PM
Absolutely culling is necessary.  I've done it myself and agree it's not pleasant.  Putting the method out on the forum does leave it open to questions and discussions though.
Title: Re: So is Liz going to....
Post by: Mugwump on September 01, 2013, 05:54:54 PM
I use ice water, with lots of ice....the second they water they're goners....freezers to slow for me, seems cruel, the slow death...
Title: Re: So is Liz going to....
Post by: PaulineMi on September 01, 2013, 06:18:56 PM
I ice them also.  Have used clove oil with and without vodka and the freezer method.  When I learned about ice and used that method it seemed to be the quickest. 
Title: Re: So is Liz going to....
Post by: LizStreithorst on September 01, 2013, 06:19:51 PM
Slapping them on the concrete is the fastest way
Title: Re: So is Liz going to....
Post by: Mugwump on September 01, 2013, 06:25:13 PM
Quote from: LizStreithorst on September 01, 2013, 06:19:51 PM
Slapping them on the concrete is the fastest way

noisiest too....LOLOLOLOLOL...couldn't resist it ;D
Title: Re: So is Liz going to....
Post by: PaulineMi on September 01, 2013, 06:38:17 PM
Title: Re: So is Liz going to....
Post by: Mugwump on September 01, 2013, 06:46:28 PM
LOL...I remember that too....... ;D
Title: Re: So is Liz going to....
Post by: LizStreithorst on September 01, 2013, 07:00:13 PM
That is funny.
Title: Re: So is Liz going to....
Post by: LizStreithorst on September 02, 2013, 08:55:47 AM
Time for another pic of the little darlin's.  They sure don't look like much at this age, do they?  Hard to believe that they grow into such majestic fish.
Title: Re: So is Liz going to....
Post by: PaulineMi on September 02, 2013, 10:07:23 AM
Very cool Liz. 

Sent from my Kindle Fire using Tapatalk 2

Title: Re: So is Liz going to....
Post by: Mugwump on September 02, 2013, 11:04:43 AM
Looks like they're doing well.... ;D
Title: Re: So is Liz going to....
Post by: b125killer on September 02, 2013, 01:49:08 PM
Nice, there getting bigger.
Title: Re: So is Liz going to....
Post by: LizStreithorst on September 02, 2013, 01:52:31 PM
lol.  It's their job to get bigger.  Give them a couple more weeks and they'll start rounding out.  They look more like bullets than Discus now, but that's the way discus babies look at two weeks of age.
Title: Re: So is Liz going to....
Post by: Mugwump on September 03, 2013, 08:26:04 AM
Liz, do you have well water??..how often is it tested?....just curious
Title: Re: So is Liz going to....
Post by: LizStreithorst on September 03, 2013, 09:09:27 AM
No.  I'm on community water.
Title: Re: So is Liz going to....
Post by: LizStreithorst on September 13, 2013, 06:27:37 PM
Time for another pic of the little darlin's.  They're 4 weeks old now.  I told you that they would round out, bet you didn't believe me!  If everything is right they really start being Discus between 3 and 4 weeks.  It's a critical period in their development.  They're about 1" now, and looking round as they should.  I'm pleased.
Title: Re: So is Liz going to....
Post by: ilroost on September 13, 2013, 06:51:57 PM
You should be pleased. Looking good!!
Title: Re: So is Liz going to....
Post by: Mugwump on September 13, 2013, 07:06:47 PM
Yep, yep, yep....you should be pleased....growing nicely.... ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ( I give them 5 smiles )
Title: Re: So is Liz going to....
Post by: b125killer on September 14, 2013, 04:23:19 PM
There so cute. 
Title: Re: So is Liz going to....
Post by: PaulineMi on September 15, 2013, 04:21:41 AM
Very nice babies Liz.  They're coming along great.

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Title: Re: So is Liz going to....
Post by: Mugwump on September 25, 2013, 02:42:13 PM
Your fry must be growing nicely by now??....any new pics?
Title: Re: So is Liz going to....
Post by: LizStreithorst on September 25, 2013, 07:09:50 PM
I tried last week end, but they weren't in the mood to cooperate for the camera.  I'll take some this weekend.
Title: Re: So is Liz going to....
Post by: Mugwump on September 25, 2013, 07:26:24 PM
Cool....they coloring up well??
Title: Re: So is Liz going to....
Post by: LizStreithorst on September 25, 2013, 08:27:54 PM
About what I expect at this age.  At this age you look mostly for shape.  There are too few fish in the tank to cull for anything but "butt ugly"  and runts of which there were three..  They like a large group of friends.   I'm not ready to kill the ones I know won't make the cut because of shape.

Their growth is a little slower than I'm used to, but the eye to body ratio is excellent which means they are just slower growing not stunted.  Could be because they're F2 wild caught.  This is my first experience with fish from wild blood.  I can see that their parents have not yet reached their full size.
Title: Re: So is Liz going to....
Post by: LizStreithorst on September 25, 2013, 09:00:22 PM
Go figure.  They just decided to pose!
Title: Re: So is Liz going to....
Post by: Mugwump on September 26, 2013, 05:00:14 AM
Nice, very nice....good job...what are you feeding now?...the parents are F2's ??...then these are F3's, right?
Title: Re: So is Liz going to....
Post by: LizStreithorst on September 26, 2013, 07:45:22 AM
Right now they bet BBS first thing in the morning, a big blob of live CBWs before I leave for work (gives them something to graze on all day),  more bbs and a cube of my turkey mix in the afternoon, and pellets after WC.

Parents are F1's  These are F2s.
Title: Re: So is Liz going to....
Post by: Mugwump on September 26, 2013, 07:48:02 AM
F2's, that's great stock to work with....nice I've noticed that with angels the F3 generations are when they really start to sparkle....seems like the genes settle in for their new non-wild environment.
Title: Re: So is Liz going to....
Post by: LizStreithorst on September 26, 2013, 07:59:11 AM
That's good to know, Mug.  Thanks.
Title: Re: So is Liz going to....
Post by: LizStreithorst on October 06, 2013, 06:59:34 PM
I don't know if y'all can see it, but I can.  The little darlin's are starting to color up.  Look hard and you can see the red coming in in the middle of the body.
Title: Re: So is Liz going to....
Post by: Mugwump on October 06, 2013, 07:04:15 PM
Growing nicely... ;D..........good pic
Title: Re: So is Liz going to....
Post by: PaulineMi on October 06, 2013, 07:27:17 PM
I can see the red coming in. They sure are growing nicely.

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Title: Re: So is Liz going to....
Post by: LizStreithorst on October 06, 2013, 08:33:09 PM
They are growing slowly, but as long as they grow and the eye to body ratio is OK I'm fine with it.  Some people on Simply who know wild Discus told me that it's normal for them to grow more slowly than the ones that have been domestically bred for ever and ever.
Title: Re: So is Liz going to....
Post by: LizStreithorst on November 09, 2013, 07:06:52 PM
I haven't taken pics of them in a while.  Look how they've grown and colored up.
Title: Re: So is Liz going to....
Post by: Mugwump on November 09, 2013, 07:22:21 PM
Pretty bunch there.....nice job of raising them. ;D
Title: Re: So is Liz going to....
Post by: PaulineMi on November 09, 2013, 07:53:18 PM
Lovely group of youngsters Liz.
Title: Re: So is Liz going to....
Post by: ilroost on November 09, 2013, 07:54:39 PM
Very nice. They sure have grown.
Title: Re: So is Liz going to....
Post by: LizStreithorst on November 09, 2013, 08:07:36 PM
I was surprised to see that most of them are right on the money as far as growth.  They'll be 3 months in a few days and most are coming on 3".  A few not so good ones will have to go when they start to outgrow their tank but that shouldn't be for a month or so.