Blind Mexican Cavefish Question
#1 Guest_fundulus_*
Posted 10 November 2010 - 08:06 PM
Hello,
I am a researcher at the Univ of Cincinnati - I have studied a freshwater tetra called the blind Mexican cavefish (Astyanax mexicanus) for several years. I am having a good deal of difficulty breeding this species. I was given your organization's name as a potential contact for receiving help in attempting to get my animals to breed. Is there anyone that may have an interest in assisting me and my lab in getting our fishes to breed?
With many thanks,
Josh
Joshua Gross, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor
Department of Biological Sciences
University of Cincinnati, 816 Rieveschl Hall
312 College Drive
Cincinnati, OH 45221
Email: joshua.gross at uc.edu
Phone: 513-556-9708 Fax: 513-556-5299
#2 Guest_EricaWieser_*
Posted 10 November 2010 - 11:34 PM
Edit: They're in Cincinnati. I hate asking something a Ph.D. has probably already considered, but what are their pH and general hardness?
Edit #2: And usually with tetras the issue is not that the fish aren't spawning, it's that you never see any young because they all get eaten. Tank setup and plant density are very important.
Edited by EricaWieser, 10 November 2010 - 11:48 PM.
#3 Guest_exasperatus2002_*
Posted 11 November 2010 - 10:58 AM
#4 Guest_EricaWieser_*
Posted 11 November 2010 - 11:27 AM
I concur, while I havent kept that species, I have bred threadfin rainbowfish. Try a marble bottom or a screen material with holes large enough for eggs to pass but not the adults. I dont think in your case, plants were the problem as would other tetra's since your fish are cavedwellers (insufficient light for plant growth). So spawning would be enviromentally stimulated (temp changes from incoming flood/rain waters as opposed to seasonal water temp changes like out native darters/daces).
Mesh is a really great idea. Agreed.
I also once heard of a person spawning zebra danios inside of a plastic breeding separator with the bottom cut out. The parents spawn in the box and their eggs drop through the mesh or fine holes into the main section of the tank.
Like this but with the bottom cut out: http://s3.amazonaws....dard/504672.jpg
Or a mesh model like this: http://ecx.images-am...L500_AA300_.jpg
I constructed such boxes myself using nothing more than a needle, thread, and a $5 spool of fiberglass screen from Home Depot. Very handy.
You can also move the parents to a new tank, let them spawn, and then remove them back to their original tank. The fry can grow up in the second tank.
Edited by EricaWieser, 11 November 2010 - 11:32 AM.
#5 Guest_fundulus_*
Posted 11 November 2010 - 12:30 PM
#6 Guest_EricaWieser_*
Posted 11 November 2010 - 02:21 PM
Thanks for your insight to date. But Josh Gross isn't on the Forum, please direct any suggestions for him at his email address.
I thought non-members could see our forum posts? *is confused*
#7 Guest_fundulus_*
Posted 11 November 2010 - 03:02 PM
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