Spawning Report: Gambusia vittata

Spawning Report:  Gambusia vittata

Name:    John Satterlee

Scientific Name of Fish:  Gambusia vittata

Hobby Name of Fish:  Gulf gambusia

Method of Reproduction:  Livebearer

Number and Gender Distribution of Parents: 5 juveniles I reared

Origin of Parents:  Tank raised

Approximate number of fry:  At least 20

Date of First Hatch or Birth:  Sept 25, 2023

Date of Free Swimming If Hatched:  N/A

Approx. Number of Fry at 60 Days:  >15

Aquarium Conditions:

pH:  7.2

General Hardness:  150 ppm

Average Temperature (72-76 F)

Salinity:  none

Average Nitrate:  < 40 ppm

Aquarium Size:  5.5 gallon

Water Source:  Rockville MD tap water with Seachem Prime

Water Changes:  80% once a month

Filtration System:  sponge filter

Additives:  Crushed coral

Décor:

Live Plants:  Valisneria, hornwort

No hardscape

Substrate:  Home depot pebbles

Lighting Type and Timing:  Home Depot light, 12 hrs on/12 hrs off

Food Fed to Parents and How Often:  Tetra Color Tropical Flakes morning and evening.  Freshly hatched baby brine shrimp every 1-2 days. 

Food Fed to Fry and How Often:  Finely ground dry fry food (Aquarium Coop) morning and evening, freshly hatched baby brine shrimp every 1-2 days.

Additional comments:  They are colony breeding, and the adults for the most part do not appear to eat the fry.  The adults and the fry are extremely skittish making them tough to photograph and to catch.

According to Fishbase: “Etymology: Gambusia: Gambusia: From the Cuban term, Gambusino, which means "nothing", usually in the context of a joke or a farce. Fishing for gambusinos = when one catches nothing (Ref. 45335).”