Leulepi spawning question

[ptran]

My Leulepi has spawn about 5 days ago. I see many babies underneath the holey rock where they made it into a cave. Can I do my weekly water change like usual? Or should I wait a few days? How long should I wait?
Please advise. Thanks.

This is a 100 gallon Tanganyika community tank.

[johnnymisty]

I would just continue like normal just be careful if you vaccum the gravel/sand you dont suck up the fry

[specialone0812]

congrat man. I cannot believe they start breeding that quick for you.

[ptran]

Hey man. Thanks and thank you for the Leulepi. That monster male is a stud. One week after going into the tank, he mated with my female that I got from T&T and I got some fry, but they got eaten by the other tank mates. I hope the fry will survive this time hiding under the holey rock. If I decided to set up another tank for them, what size should the tank be?

congrat man. I cannot believe they start breeding that quick for you.

[specialone0812]

I do not know how many you have, but if you just want to set up a species tank for leleupi breeding, a 55g should be good for a group of 8 (2m/6f). with a lot rock for hiding. i have seen setup like that, and the owner get frys every other week.

[crazy42bmx]

Have you ever breed Leleupi before ? Whats in the 100 community that you have ?

You can do normal wc , just siphon from the top water and be careful when filling as to not move a bunch of sand/gravel as you may crush or bury the fry. Do you plan on keeping them in the 100 to breed or are you going to set up a separate tank for them ?

I breed these fish along with many other tangs so im just trying to help u out ! Any questions shoot me a pm and id be glad to help.
Donovan

[ptran]

Thanks Donovan. I never breed Leulepi before, so I am very excited. My current stock list for 100 gallon tank as follow:

1. 7 F1 cypho moba around 3"
2. 7 F1 cypho moba around 1"
3. 2 Neolamp Brichardy around 2"
3. 1 Neolamp Julidochromis around 2"
4. 6 clown loach around 3"
5. 1 yellow severum around 5" (temp refugee)
6. 2 short body green terror around 3" (temp refugee)
7. colony of 2 male 3 females Neolamp Leulepi around 4"-5"
8. 1 black calvus around 3"
9. 1 Rubescens around 3" (temp refugee)
10. 2 BN pleco around 3"

Filtration include 2-2217 and 2-powerhead with sponge. Water stays very clean with 1 50% water change per week.
The tiny fry is already free swimming and stay with the parents most of the time under the rock. I don't think I can move them out at this point because I don't have a separate tank ready. I am going to set up a 75 gallon tank and move all the Neolamp out. Maybe another 20 gallon setup for the fry later. What do you all think?
Thank you for all your suggestion.

[crazy42bmx]

Ill be honest here, your probably going to loose quite a few fry to some of those fish. The black calvus is a fry snatcher, and some of the other Neolamps may eat some as well.

If you plan on setting up a tank to breed these fish a reg 29 will do just fine. Thats what mine are in. And id just keep the single pair together as the male will fight off other sub males. As you have most likely seem already the male Leleupi has been on guard and keeping most fish away from the fry nest area. If and when u get the fry out they can be fed ground up flake food.

[ptran]

Ill be honest here, your probably going to loose quite a few fry to some of those fish. The black calvus is a fry snatcher, and some of the other Neolamps may eat some as well.

If you plan on setting up a tank to breed these fish a reg 29 will do just fine. Thats what mine are in. And id just keep the single pair together as the male will fight off other sub males. As you have most likely seem already the male Leleupi has been on guard and keeping most fish away from the fry nest area. If and when u get the fry out they can be fed ground up flake food.

If I just leave the fry in the 100 community tank, do you think any of them will survive and grow out? I can see that their parents are very aggressive and defend the nesting ground religiously, but other fish seem very interested in the young sushi. Maybe I have to wait and see and perhaps have to sacrifice this batch.

The wifey has approved for getting a 75 gallon this morning, so I will get that and set it up for the Leulepi colony. I did bought a 29 gallon for the fry today but won't have time to set it up in due time to rescue them out. Would the sponge filter be adequate for the 29 gallon?

[crazy42bmx]

A good size hob should work for the 29, if u plan o keep the pair in there. And yes the other fish will eventually get most of the fry. In a tank fish naturally dont have the territory that they would in the wid. So predators are much closer. If u do give them the 29. Make sure u have cover and areas the female can be alone with the eggs as the male is a bit harassing sometimes. Iv been breeding these fish for many years. So my methods do work and i have the fry to show. Yes this first bacth your most likely gona loose all them , but u have a pair and they WILL pair up and spawn again given the chance too.

[ptran]

I never have hob filter before because I think it make some noise of water splashing.
Nevertheless, what do you recommend for the hob size and brand specific for the 29?
For now, my wife has an idea to build a divider to keep other fish out until the fry get a little bigger (and get moved out to the fry tank). Would the divider made out of egg crate work?

[ptran]

Add a video

Sorry about the low quality video. I rearranged the rock and add some more plants around the nest to help with more hiding place for the fry. If they survive another 2 weeks I can move them out to the fry tank (hopefully will be ready by then).