Spawning report: Girardinus metallicus

Spawning Report: Girardinus metallicus

Name: John Satterlee

Scientific Name of Fish: Girardinus metallicus

Hobby Name of Fish: Black chin/metallic livebearer

Method of Reproduction: Livebearer

Number and Gender Distribution of Parents: 1 male and 2 females

Origin of Parents: Tank Raised, from PVAS auction several months ago

Approximate number of fry: 30

Date of Hatch or Birth: Sep 17, 2022

Date of Free Swimming If Hatched: N/A

Approx. Number of Fry at 30 Days: TBD

Approx. Number of Fry at 60 Days:

Aquarium Conditions:

pH: 7.2

General Hardness: 150 ppm

Average Temperature (72-76 F)

Salinity: none

Average Nitrate: < 40 ppm

Aquarium Size: standard 5 gallon

Water Source: Rockville MD tap water with Seachem Prime

Water Changes: 80% once a month

Filtration System: sponge filter

Additives: ½ cup of crushed coral

Décor:

Live Plants: Water lettuce, guppy grass to keep nitrates down

Spawning mops and sponge filters to provide hiding spots

Substrate: 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 other day.

Food Fed to Fry and How Often: Finely ground dry fry food morning and evening, Freshly hatched baby brine shrimp every other day.

Additional comments: These fish are quite hardy and have been breeding like clockwork with large numbers of fry. This latest batch of fry are enjoying their new abode using “Dean’s Fry System”. It is very convenient for feeding the fry and for keeping track of their growth. The fry are kept with the overhead lights off, so they only receive indirect lighting from nearby tanks. Also they have a little guppy grass for cover and to provide some biofilm/nutrients.