South American Community Update - Trapajos Pair Bonding & New Discus

[Tautog]

OK... I just introduced 5 very young Trapajos to my South American community tank a month ago. Two have formed a pair bond and have laid eggs over top of some rocks. The female and the male guard the eggs in a very peaceful way. They don't hurt any Discus, Dwarf Cichlid or schooling fish in guarding the just put up a fin flare and show. Now if its one of the other three Trapajos they do get very rough in pushing them out of the way.

Tonight at feeding time, I put in my usual mix of bloodworms, beef heart, vitimins, small bites and veggies... the female swam as fast as she could to grab a worm and then swam back to the nest just as fast as she could. OK, the two are very young and I thought these two were my males since they have all the color and the other three seem a little bland... I have to study the characteristics a little closer and truth be told, I really want one male and two females rather than 5... These little guys have practically doubled in size since I got them... conditions must be good. Its the first time I have had cichlids spawn... first time for everything I suppose and I really have no expectation of hatching or survival since I have one Discus who just cannot keep his eyes off the eggs... that's interesting behavior as well that the Discus knows what's there and has no fear of the Trapajos...

Here are a few pictures:









Also I have been working my Discus stock... leaning towards more blues and reds... Here are a few new Discus pix...



This Tiger Pigeon is the guy watching the eggs very closely...

[troy tucker]

Thats cool! Congrats. Tapajos can be good parents.

[Tautog]

Thanks... Can the fry survive in a community tank that include Discus? Also do you think they are too young to succeed or is there no real standard maturity break for this group?

[ptran]

The truth is your fry will not survive in the community tank. Set up a fry tank and take that rock out ASAP.

[danielp]

Very cool. They do seem kind of young.

The last discus picture is very nice

[hungvanvo]

Tautog, congratulation . The fry will not survive in the community tank because they are very tiny and with large amount fry the parent can not protect them all. Now is a good time set up a 40Gal tank and have hiding place for the parent. Wait for couple day for the mom get all the egg in the mouth and take both mom & dad to new tank ( no light or low light for 2 days) mine after 7 days the mom release the fry out ( in and out fun to watch) I keep the parent in the tank 4 weeks ( they don't eat the fry great parent) I feed the fry with the powder food ( I use Omega One) and I use the straw to feed for the fry. Your pair kind smaller than mine (6 inch) but it does not matter because your water condition is great and they have good nutrition so the spawn.

[hungvanvo]

Here a video of the fry and parent 2 weeks old http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZOBEK...ature=youtu.be

[papasmurf]

How are the discus doing with the Geo's...

I have been wanting to add discus to my SA community tank and have G. tapajos, G. Winemilleri, and C. Regani "Tapajos" currently in the tank along with some WC peru altums. The angels would be removed if I got some discus but I was curious if the Geo's were too obnoxious for the discus?

[Tautog]

I have 7 Discus living in a 150G XH tank with 5 Trapajos, 5 Rams, 3 exotic Plecos, 18 Rummies, 12 Cardinals, 17 Marbled and Silver Hatchetfish, and 5 Red (Lamp) Eye a Tetras.

The Trapajos are happy and active. They almost doubled in size in a month so when fully grown I want just 3. my preference is prefer 3... 1 male and two females when they reach maturity

To answer your question regarding Discus getting nervous, at first yes. My largest Discus hid under driftwood for a few days. Now they just ignore there eager behavior and live life to fullest. In fact I just had young Trapajos pair off and spawn. The couple guarded the nest and at least one Discus kept trying to invade territory with the objective of stealing eggs. Both the male and female Trspajo would flare fins and swoosh water with there tails and swim sideways toward Discus but never once poked at the Discus. Now if any non pair bonded Trapajo gets near the best that's a different story. Trapjos will poke at each other. Just like Discus poke at each other rather roughly I should add during feeding time or against new kid on block being put in place.

During feeding time all of my SA cichlids feed together and eat like pigs. They only poke at each other in same species. I do believe I have too many Trapajos when fully mature. I will get down to three and focus more on Discus.

My tank is amazing to watch. I have outstanding schooling activity going on right now with very healthy and active Discus and Trapajos. The Rummies especially swim every zone in a tight pack and the Cardinals and Neons are tightly packed as well. The Hatchats have strange active lives when lights get low or dark. I've lost a few to jumping out if canopy left open and I can hear them hit canopy when Discus swim near surface.

The kings and queens of my aquarium are the Discus. They really have no fear. I've read all the journals regarding this subject and really feel if you give them excellent water quality and warm water they stay happy and tolerant. The biggest issue quite frankly is that they get rough with each other sometimes. The new Discus get pushed around until they learn the ropes. Just like people they all respond differently to hazing. Some can take it and push back and others hide until accepted.

[danielp]

Post a full tank shot

[Tautog]

Sure will send some updated full tank shots tonight when I get home. I have a lot to learn about plants and in that area I'm still learning in addition my Trapajos like the tasty treats that build up around roots so they reek a little havoc that I always have to fix.

[Tautog]

Hungvano I may not be able to do this right away and will have try next time if I'm fortunate. I have got a 10G quarantine in my stand with a 2211 Eheim but the system is down until I can fix it maybe this weekend. I truly enjoyed the video and am interested in trying to raise them but I'm just not set up yet. I also think a Discus may have raided the during lights out last when I peeked this morning.

[Tautog]

Here is a full tank view and a couple of close ups







This is a picture of my Red Tail Sternella that I nursed back to health in my quarantine tank... when I got him he was a baby who had been beat up pretty bad by other fish... he has grown back all of his fins and grown in size significantly in the past 2 months. The thing is he only comes out during feeding and its still very hidden. He lives under driftwood and capturing a better picture has been very challenging. By the time I get my iPhone in place to snap the shot, he ducks back into his hiding spot.



Here are few shots of my Snowball Pleco... he is less elusive than the Red Tail Sternella (Cactus).





In case your interested in videos of the tank... here are a few taken tonight before and during feeding...

http://s1344.photobucket.com/user/jscarb639/media/150G%20XH%20Freshwater/Movie-1_zps4e2a9c4f.mp4.html

http://s1344.photobucket.com/user/jscarb639/media/150G%20XH%20Freshwater/Movie-5_zps95391e08.mp4.html

http://s1344.photobucket.com/user/jscarb639/media/150G%20XH%20Freshwater/Movie-4_zpsa4a0d594.mp4.html

http://s1344.photobucket.com/user/jscarb639/media/150G%20XH%20Freshwater/Movie-2_zpsefe63852.mp4.html

[danielp]

Very nice.

Got home this afternoon and noticed that my Tapahos had dug a huge pit. Will see what happens.

[TaTeR ToT]

the geo fry will totally survive in the tank you wont have as many, but yes, i got at least 30-40 viable fry from every sapwn from my pairs imn a community with altifrons, uaru, a. diadema, and heros ntotus. they will be fine. dont remove either parent, let them learn to rear on their own.