BAP: Anomalochromis thomasi

[mchambers]

I had about a dozen Anomalochromis thomasi left over from a spawn in our pond last summer, all in a 29 gallon. Several of them had developed breeding colors earlier this spring and occasionally I saw fish dancing abound one another, but no eggs or fry. About three weeks ago, I moved six into the pond and left six in the 29. Saturday, I saw a pair in the pond guarding fry. This morning, I saw a pair in the 29 guarding fry. (For those of you who don't know, A. thomasi is a mild-mannered dwarf cichlid from the rivers of West Africa. Anton Lamboj once described it as the perfect beginner cichlid. Here's a nice story about A. thomasi by Paul Loiselle: https://www.cichlidae.com/article.php?id=53)

 

[chriscoli]

Congrats! Mine spawned once and I missed pulling the fry.

 

[mchambers]

Mine spawned last summer in the pond. The fish that are spawning were born a year ago.

I think I'll just let the fry stay in the 29. There are relatively few threats in that tank. Maybe I should move the two emperor tetras out, though.

 

[chriscoli]

sounds good. How parental are the adults being toward the fry?

 

[mchambers]

Very, both in the tank and in the pond. At least, when I see them in the pond, I see two parents and a cloud of fry, but it's not often that I see them.

 

[Becca]

Nice !

 

[mchambers]

Parents still doing a good job in the tank. Saw the thomasi in the pond today, too, and the fry are doing well and growing rapidly.

 

[mchambers]

Looks like the parents did a great job. I've still got a couple of boatloads of fry. Here they are, chowing down on Repashy Igapo Explorer.