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The whole blue acara aggression thing. I feel stupid as hell now.

I already posted a pic of a couple of males jaw locking, in the photobooth, like so...

http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a245/longhairedgit/IMG_3370.jpg
they are just over 2 months old...a month ago they were the size of fingernails...

Now we have a happy couple on eggs. They were laid on an amazon sword last night, the eggs are huge and brown, and mom and pop arent letting any fish near them! In fact there is another female who is also protecting the eggs so I wonder if there is some creching going on.

Pics will follow as soon as the water has cleared, I had to clean out the pipes , might be my last chance for a bit, so things are bit misty at the moment.

Is it just me or is this staggeringly prolific for an acara, 3 months to sexual maturity cant be normal surely?

They have been eating a varied diet that includes beefheart, and cockle,various midge larvae, brineshrimp, and a myriad of dry foods and pellets, but should I be worried? Will they burn out?

Still, mustnt moan, its rather nice to wake up in the morning and find out that your a "dad" again.

While im here, I suppose since in a few days all things being well I'll have some fry, I should ask what rearing food people find best for blue acaras. Ive raised angels and rams before , but im a newbie at this species. Any recommendations?

Heres the best piccy I can manage for now.
http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a245/longhairedgit/IMG_3526.jpg

I mix spirulina, freeze-dried bloodworms, shrimp pellets, and NLS Grow into a fine powder. Mix a small amount with water and squirt into the tank with a medicine dropper or baster.

Congrats on the eggs

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There is water at the bottom of the ocean

Thank you! That sounds like a great idea for the feedings.

and since I shall be a smug godfather all day, heres a video too Its quite a quick loader if you have broadband. and yes, i know i got the date wrong .lol

http://s12.photobucket.com/albums/a245/longhairedgit/?action=view&current=Blueacaraeggsmovie.flv

See what I mean about the 3 parents thing? Is that usual? I think 2 females laid in the same location, and one male fertilized the lot, and they seem to have split the responsibilities.I literally have 2 acaras on guard duty patrol keeping the other fish away while one sits the eggs. They swop over about every 2 minutes. It seems to be confusing them a little cos the care of the kids is only given up reluctantly, and it almost looks like theres gonna be a fight about it.


and an update.... HAHAHAHAH!!! as of 13.03 pm we have a pair at the other end of the tank in another swordplant laying and fertilizing.

I dont know whether to laugh or cry!

Methinks its time to launch a rescue mission, this is about to become a species only tank! Ever notice how things go from bad to good then to OH MAAAH GAAAWWWD!

Congrats, LHG. Nice little video. It sounds like to me that you're going to be keeping the local LFS's stocked on Blue Acara's in the near future.

Jim

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Water, taken in moderation, cannot hurt anybody. -- Mark Twain

way cool.its always good to see fish happy and spawning,and yes mine also started breeding young,also wait untill your female gets big,then u will have huge batches of eggs

Id had to admit I had no idea theyd be that prolific, shes only about 3 inches long, and I counted about 380 eggs. I dread to think how many she'll lay when she gets older!

The ironic thing is , the same batch of acaras is still in the shop, and unbelievable as it may sound theyre still on average only half an inch long, and are looking really pale. You seriously would not think my acaras were from the same batch! Serious case of underfeeding in that shop methinks!