Simonauv Posted April 16, 2010 Share Posted April 16, 2010 I've had a quartet of small polleni in a 3ft tank for a few months to grow out. They've put on enough size for me to tell which are the boys and which are the girls. The ratio is 1 male to 3 females. Looking for a larger tank now to move a pair into (thinking a standard 6 or a custom 6). The male is now about 10cm long and has gone jet black... his spangles are really shining. The two larger females of the three are darker but not as black as the boy. One, the female in question here, is as large as the male and very nicely conditioned but in true polleni style the boy thinks his women look better with tattered fins She has started to hang out in the front right corner of the tank and has hollowed out a pit in the fine deep sand... my reading (like this: http://www.cichlidae.com/article.php?id=76), indicates this is normal as they will lay eggs in a depression in the substrate; especially if it's fine (as it is in this tank). Everything I've read about them says they are quite secretive spawners, or at least appreciative of some privacy from outside traffic, so just in case they did spawn early, because I've read there is some evidence to suggest they may be capable of spawning at quite a young age (I've had mine for about a year now bought as 3cm fish), I put big expanses of sand up behind some rocks... for privacy. The tank is only partly lit with swords growing in the lit end. She's hollowed out a pit in the dark end, however,the spot she has chosen is in full view under the flow of the H.O.B filter (inlet not near the hollow). To give her some privacy I've stuck a sheet of opaque contact on the glass to screen off the corner of the tank (not pretty but it works). Every time the male swims over she lays on her side and does a little shimmy for him. His reaction clearly shows he thinks she is fine These guys would be 10cm long... 13cm tops... do you reckon this is fore-play, getting ready for the real-deal,or what? Also in the tank is a non-breeding pair of jewels and some cory... I'm thinking all hell is going to break lose way before I'm ready... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Link2Hell Posted April 18, 2010 Share Posted April 18, 2010 Hey Simon you could be right about your prediction with only a 3' tank for them once the male bonds and spawning takes place for the other females aggression comes down to the fish and can only hope the pair end up like mine were in behaviour together these guys are substrate spawners and they lay eggs in clumps that have attaching filaments and these form up into strings of eggs they seem to prefer to dig the spawning pit next to structure (rock or timber) that they can hide the eggs under Great fish that I would keep again an African with the attitude of an American keep us updated Simon Chris Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cooder Posted April 18, 2010 Share Posted April 18, 2010 Hi, Sounds to me like they are preparing to spawn! Are Polleni Jaguar cichlids? If Polleni are Jags, i dont no anything about there breeding but you can tell with any cichlid that there about to spawn or are at least pairing up. By what you say the male is colouring up and the female has dug a hole and is displaying, deffinetely about to spawn. Is it a display tank? your tank seems fairly small for a breeeding Jag pair (if they are jags ) and its good that you have done some research. I would be careful with them in the tank with other fish and if they get to aggressive, move them to a different tank or take the other fish out. it isnt always possible because you may not have another tank. If your research contradicts my advice dont listen to me!!! i dont know much about your fish but i hope this helps. Cooder Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Simonauv Posted April 18, 2010 Author Share Posted April 18, 2010 Hey Chris, long time no see They are great aren't they. Do you remember Tim? When polleni first showed up here I got a few fry off him but wasn't able to grow them out long enough before I went overseas for work. Seems like things have come a long way since then and everyone seems to be breeding them I've got a few larger tanks lined up (5s and 6s) and plan to move a pair of polleni into one of these and keep another female as a back-up. Just didn't think I'd have to worry about it just yet! Have you ever heard of a polleni male 'rebonding' with a new female if the previous one dies? From what I hear the males tend to kill quite a few females but everything I've read so far suggests they are pretty much monogamous. Hi Cooder, Please make sure you have a look at the link I refer to in the opening post. It shows clearly what polleni (Paratilapia polleni) are. They are Madagascan cichlids that weren't, until recently, spawned in aquaria. They are very beautiful fish but quite aggressive and as time has gone by I've heard of more and more successful spawnings and Paul's article linked to above is about the most detailed account of it that I have read. None of my tanks seem to be display tanks anymore They are either grow out tanks, as this one is, quarantine tanks, or breeding tanks This is the second time I have kept polleni in the last 20 years. The first time I had to sell them before they matured as I was heading o/s for work. Feel free to ask any more questions and I'll be glad to help out Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cooder Posted April 18, 2010 Share Posted April 18, 2010 Oh ok so they are not jags? my bad! I will have a look at that link, thanks. I dont know anything about them and i was only trying to help No I dont have any more questions and what made me think that they were jags, i put it into gooogle and gave a quick glance at the photos, but at further inspection after i posted i saw i was wrong! Cooder Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Link2Hell Posted April 19, 2010 Share Posted April 19, 2010 Hi Si It is so good to find some of the old crew still around on here Haven't heard from Tim for ages where is he now ? Anita is in WA and has started up again after a break you can find her on PCS site http://www.perthcichlid.com.au I'll PM my details for you and we can catch up my male Polleni used to sook if he was seperated from his girl he was around 20cm and she was about 15cm they had to live in a 2ft tank at one stage and he was never hard on her on the other hand they can be murderous on each other growing up but leave everything else alone Chris Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Citypainter Posted April 19, 2010 Share Posted April 19, 2010 Oh ok so they are not jags? my bad! I will have a look at that link, thanks. I dont know anything about them and i was only trying to help No I dont have any more questions and what made me think that they were jags, i put it into gooogle and gave a quick glance at the photos, but at further inspection after i posted i saw i was wrong! Cooder Hi Cooder. I always Google image when I don't know a fish. Sometimes they are unreliable with the pics that come up. Don't lose heart. Its best to double check though. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dobbin4 Posted April 20, 2010 Share Posted April 20, 2010 Wise move Dave, adds to ones knowledge as well.Even the search button above is a help. Great fish thats not about much, Lg spawns. Looks like they want to pair up but the other females are going to get a hard time in a tank that small are they not ?.Hope you have some hiding places. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Simonauv Posted April 22, 2010 Author Share Posted April 22, 2010 G'Day Chris, I'm just starting up again after a break too. Got a few tanks going now but nothing too serious just yet (though will need to get off my a$$ to get a bit more serious by the look of things here). I'd really like to get some balzani again too and maybe some uaru this time round. Thinking about putting more into it this time and buying a permit (you need one down here to sell fish.. I figure it's worth it and is probably a good thing... stops the fly-by-nighters and profiteers) so I can supply some of the local lfs and get a bit more diversity happening here. Haven't decided yet. I bought a small farm down here and have a few acres with a big, 25m x 25m shed... I'm thinking it's looking like a good fishroom atm. I haven't heard from Tim for a good 15 years I reckon... not sure where he ended up. Baz hadn't heard from him last time I spoke to him about it a few years back either. I'm sure he still has too many tank busters and not enough tanks and spending big $$$ on things like he did back then too Thanks for the PM, I'll get onto contacting Anita (should get her back on here), and will keep it filed here to save your contact details So do you want some polleni if I can get them to breed? Things have quietened down in the tank a bit now. Digging has stopped. Displaying has stopped. I think it was a test run to see if all the 'equipment' works properly. The biggest female got tired of the male's lack of committement to the cause and gave him a whoopin too... nothing serious except a seriously dented ego... hell hath no fury etc etc Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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