Hypsophrys nicaraguensis pair/spawn

I have a total soft spot for nics.. This little pair just spawned for me yesterday. My camera washes out their colors but believe me they are bright in person. An awesome species, if you haven't owned them, I would highly recommend it. Anyone else keeping nics or neets?

[You must be registered and logged in to see this image.]

I have a small pair myself. The male is about 3 1/2" and the female 2.5". Beautiful fish. Even at this size.

nice looking fish

What is that sand Is it silica mixed with some Pfs?

madness wrote:I have a small pair myself. The male is about 3 1/2" and the female 2.5". Beautiful fish. Even at this size.

Thank you very much! Your A. hogaboomorum is a stud!

aaronfeeney wrote:nice looking fish

Thanks!

Maccoy wrote:What is that sand Is it silica mixed with some Pfs?

It's my own my mix I stir up for fry and juvies. I hate bare bottom tanks so I use a mix of 80% Quickrete "media" (very fine white silica) and 20% Lapis Lustre #1C. It helps cut down on left over food. The fine white make food obvious to the fry and doesn't get lost down in larger grains. I only mix in the Lapis Lustre for a more natual look. Do you like it or hate it? Be honest Mac!

I picked up 4 Honduran Red Points and 3 Neets today. Awesome little fish. Kevin at A Place For Pets in Burien gave me a great deal. Real happy with these little guys.

Heck Spy, if you wanted HRP, I have 4 pairs, I could of sold you one of them.

JK47 wrote:

madness wrote:I have a small pair myself. The male is about 3 1/2" and the female 2.5". Beautiful fish. Even at this size.

Thank you very much! Your A. hogaboomorum is a stud!

aaronfeeney wrote:nice looking fish

Thanks!

Maccoy wrote:What is that sand Is it silica mixed with some Pfs?

It's my own my mix I stir up for fry and juvies. I hate bare bottom tanks so I use a mix of 80% Quickrete "media" (very fine white silica) and 20% Lapis Lustre #1C. It helps cut down on left over food. The fine white make food obvious to the fry and doesn't get lost down in larger grains. I only mix in the Lapis Lustre for a more natual look. Do you like it or hate it? Be honest Mac!

Well it sounds very useful and I Love it

My male nic was about 8 inches long and just died last week, my jag pair (thought they were both female) spawned and killed a 8 inch nic and a 9 inch male friedrichsthalli... I was sad, but now I have a bunch of managuenses fry.... will have to get some more nics for another tank...

I heard these were difficult to spawn in captivity, would you mind giving some details please ie: water perm., tanks size, tankmates, trigger used to get them started? Thanks.

fish_n_vw wrote:I heard these were difficult to spawn in captivity, would you mind giving some details please ie: water perm., tanks size, tankmates, trigger used to get them started? Thanks.

I'm really sorry I missed your question! I don't think they are hard to spawn at all, most people who have spawned them may never know they did since the eggs get sucked up into the filters right away. This species is one of the only species I am aware of that the eggs do not have any adhesive quality as in they do not stick to pots, rocks etc.. They are substrate spawners so what I do is wait for them to dig a pit and then I kill the FX5 so the eggs don't get sucked up. I keep sponges inside the FX5 so they are always cycled. I pull out the sponges and turn them onto air power and the tank never misses a beat. Add a devider so the other grow out fish can't get to them and there you have it.

Tank: 125 gallon w/ one FX5 and a 40 watt UV (overkill I know but it is moving over to the 600 gallon soon) stocked with some festae growouts from rattles old pair and a small H. carpintis 'escondido' pair. 50% WC once a week, 78 degrees and pH 7.6.

Wow, I had a "pair" that showed intrest in eachother all the time, but no results.. so how big are the fry now? Let me know when your ready to sell some off.

JK47, Didn't know you had these going. I will likely get a pair down the road. the male @ WWOP is not that great looking, and the pair @ A2Z is overpriced for the pair!

fish_n_vw wrote:Wow, I had a "pair" that showed intrest in eachother all the time, but no results.. so how big are the fry now? Let me know when your ready to sell some off.

I rarely (depends on the species) grow out fry very far, I take them in to the LFS's in my area as soon as they'll take them. I don't have any fry ATM.

sonnys503 wrote:JK47, Didn't know you had these going. I will likely get a pair down the road. the male @ WWOP is not that great looking, and the pair @ A2Z is overpriced for the pair!

Yeah I have had them going for a while now, a nice species to have around. You'll get to see them when you pick up your RTM pair this week

JK47 wrote:
Yeah I have had them going for a while now, a nice species to have around. You'll get to see them when you pick up your RTM pair this week

RTM pair? I have been looking for a male for like EVER....... And your an active moderator on MFK, and thats where I have been trying..... And you have had a pair this whole time????? What else do you have, that your only telling a select few?
You know that you live in Washington? NOT OREGON!!!!!! I cant believe the non Washington loyalty.

I just dont know what else to say.

madness wrote:

JK47 wrote:
Yeah I have had them going for a while now, a nice species to have around. You'll get to see them when you pick up your RTM pair this week

RTM pair? I have been looking for a male for like EVER....... And your an active moderator on MFK, and thats where I have been trying..... And you have had a pair this whole time????? What else do you have, that your only telling a select few?
You know that you live in Washington? NOT OREGON!!!!!! I cant believe the non Washington loyalty.

I just dont know what else to say.

Haha sorry Shawn LOL! I posted them for free a month or so ago, you should have hit me up! I didn't know you were looking for rtm until I saw you picked up your male. This pair would be too small for you anyway (3", they are only bonded). This is my extra pair, I have a showpiece 'rio blanco' pair in the house. As far as other speices for am getting rid of, I x4 Herichthys carpintis 'escondido' left after my pair. I sold off most excess species since I am switching tanks around in the garage to upgrade the dovii pairs tank.