Marisseas

I found eggs in my community tank. By doing some researched and observing I reliazed they were weather loach eggs and moved them to a one gallon breeder tank with a make-shift sponge filter (out of the material used for tutus and some tape). I found these guys on the plants but once removed they sank to the bottom of the one gallons. I was quite surprised as I have my loaches in unideal water temperatures at 80 degrees (F) and a pH of 7. These guys can't be more than two years old and 4-5 inches either yet none of the other tankmates are capable of breeding eggs at this time as all are too young or livebearers so it must be the weather loaches. This is pretty uncommon under normal conditions for these guys to breed so I'm really hoping mine will hatch. These are my first egg-breeders so I'm pretty nervous. I never expected them to thrive enough to spawn in my 125 gallon. Hopefully all will work out. I'll send in videos/pictures if they hatch.

iloveengl

Woah cool! Good luck and I look forward to pictures.

bolivianbaby

Congratulations and please keep us posted!

Butterfly

Congrats! here are a couple of articles about Dojos. The first is about them spawning. Maybe something will be helpful
http://forums.loaches.com/viewtopic....awning&start=0

http://www.loaches.com/species-index...guillicaudatus
Can you get pic of the eggs? Are your angels old enough to spawn?
Keep us posted
Carol

Marisseas

Nope. My angels are too young. I've contacted the person (I'm a loach.com member too) and questioned them about what the eggs look like and they fit perfectly. Everything in that tank is not possible of laying these eggs except the dojos so it must be them. Oh, I'll try to get pictures but the eggs are still in the clear "see-through" stage and look like bubbles (which is what I took them for originally).

Found more eggs deposited amoung the wisteria tops tonight.

Butterfly

Please keep us posted This is very exciting. I really love my loaches( Dojos, Clowns and Kuhlis right now)
carol

Marisseas

I moved the eggs to a non-heated tank with a temp around 68 degrees and so far it seems no fry have emerged. Though they should be comfortable in a cool climate such as this...I left a few eggs in the tank but I suspect they were found and eaten if not before, but then soon after hatching. Fry may have hatched, it seems the egg population decreased but I have yet to see any life. I think I've made this spawning unsuccessful. How depressing. Some babies may be hiding in places I've provided I guess...

Butterfly

Dojos are comfortable in cooler temps but I personally wouldn't change the temp eggs are kept in. My thinking(flawed though it may be ) is that the cooler temps might slow down hatching. The eggs will turn an opaque white color if they are no good. Hang in there and give them a couple more days. If they don't hatch there will be another time because if they have spawned once they will again.
Carol

Marisseas

Eggs disappeared in the tank, but no activity...Watched the loaches court today. The female would hide in odd spots for a moment then move in rapid, jerky movements to another spot. The male (I'm guessing) released a cloudy substance that gathered on the tops of my thick wisterias or hovered near them. The female then came to the top, laying on the leaves until once part of her body was out of water. I left her in this stage, I did not want to disturb them as its only their first time (I know of). Some other spawning I'll record. I'm trying to get a 20 gallon tank cycled and planted so the fry can be raised there as they would be much better off. Supposedly they're very active once hatched (I've spoken to someone on loaches.com about this) It has been incredibally fascinating, my advice to however is trying to get theirs to spawn is to use plants that resemble wisteria and let them grow out until they're thick. It seems to have triggered my loaches' spawning and they tend to stay near them now. I've also figured out a few other things about breeding them I though I 'd share though obviously I'm not an expert in it...

1. Sexing them is done easily when in good health because the female is plumper, wider and her pectoral fins are more rounded than a male's.
2. Mine are kept at nearly 80 degrees while most reccomend 68, perhaps this is why some have trouble breeding them?
3. I used natural rocks formed by a river which they really enjoy along with thick live plant clusters.
4. Obviously feeding them meaty foods helps as with most fish.

I might think of others later, but I sincerely hope this helps! Thanks Carol! Watching my loaches spawn has been one of the most amazing experiences in fishkeeping. They're definantly my favorite type of fish. My hope is that I can succeed in spawning these guys and many others! All of this has certainly drawn more interest in the world of fishkeeping for me and I hope it does for eveyone else too! Videos will hopefully be coming soon and any advice is appreciated. I'm going to feed fry a bit of egg mixed in with water (A trick I learned from a fish magazine) if I can get them to hatch.

Butterfly

Keep us posted
Carol

EvFreak

Cool thats very cool Hopefully you have a successful fry hatch, I wish I could have a Baby Dojo Loach they look so cute! only if there was a way you can atleast import me at least 1 mature Dojo Loach from your fry! PM me if you are interested in Selling them later!