Breeder's Award Program

Crenicichla sp. "Orinoco Dwarf"

Method of Reproduction: Cave spawner

Number and Gender Distribution of Parents: Pair

Origin of Parents: Wild caught

Approximate number of eggs or fry: Initially many eggs (maybe hundreds?) were laid, however the female was a little too excited about fanning them and kept knocking them out of the cave. I managed to salvage a little over a dozen.

Date of Hatch or Birth: Eggs laid on 9/11, hatched about a week later.

Date of Free Swimming If Hatched: 5-7 days after hatch.

Approx. Number of Fry at 30 Days 12

Approx. Number of Fry at 60 Days 10

Aquarium Conditions:

pH (0 to 14): 6.5-7.2

Average Temperature (F) 80-82

Aquarium Size (L X W X H and Gallons): 36x18x18 (40 breeder)

Water Source: Tap and RO mix

Water Changes (how much and how often)25-50% every few weeks.

Filtration System(s): Air driven sponge

Décor (Please include all that apply): wood, leaves, plants, tube caves

Substrate (Gravel/Pea size gravel/Sand/None/Other; Please Specify): Sprinkle of sand and leaves.

Lighting Type and Timing: LED, 12 hours per day

Food Fed to Parents and How Often: Every 1-2 days. Mix of prepared, frozen, and home-grown live

Food Fed to Fry and How Often: BBS, microworms, decapsulated BBS eggs, powdered flake, etc.

Adding photos soon.

Eggs were hatched and fry initially raised in a 6" German breeding ring. Parents had just come inside from an outdoor tub that day. They've spawned many times since and I've been hoping to get them to raise their own fry, but so far, no luck. The female will guard eggs for a day, but usually no longer than that. There are very few spawning reports for this fish globally.