Spawning Report: Microglanis iheringi

Microglanis iheringi

South American Bumblebee Catfish

Method of Reproduction: Egg Scatterer

Sex Distribution: 2 males, 3 females

Wild Caught.

Approximate number of eggs or fry: 100+ eggs

Date of Hatch or Birth: Hatched 10/26 (laid 10/25).

Date of Free Swimming If Hatched 10/28/21

Approx. Number of Fry at 30 Days:50

Approx. Number of Fry at 60 Days: 25 (we're at almost 60 days).

Aquarium Conditions:

pH (0 to 14): 7.2-7.6

Average Temperature (F): 78-82

Salinity (if brackish or marine)

Average Nitrate (ppm)

Aquarium Size (L X W X H and Gallons): 24x13x16 (20 gallon high)

Water Source: Tap

Water Changes (how much and how often): 50% every 1-2 weeks.

Filtration System(s): Air-driven sponge

Additives (Salt, iron, etc.)

Décor (Please include all that apply):

Live Plants

Wood

Rocks

Marbles

False bottom made of egg crate and plastic canvas.

Substrate (Gravel/Pea size gravel/Sand/None/Other; Please Specify)? Marbles on a false bottom.

Lighting Type and Timing: LED, 12 hours

Food Fed to Parents and How Often: North Fin Community Pellets every 1-2 days, occasional frozen.

Food Fed to Fry and How Often: BBS, decapsulated BBS eggs, microworms, small/powdered prepared foods, frozen cyclops. 1-3 times daily.

My understanding from some of the speakers from this year's Catfish Cataclysm is that I'm the first person to have raised fry from these fish AND documented the spawn. Some people have found a smaller fish in a tank here or there, and one witnessed and wrote about spawning for TFH in 1997, but no one has actually seen the fish lay eggs and hatched the eggs. I'm a little surprised by this, but here we are... In 2022, I'll have an article in TFH about my experience.

Should you wish to try your hand at spawning these, make sure you have rockpiles, a way to prevent egg predation, and rear the fish like tetras. The eggs hatch in 18-24 hours and, if I'm being generous, about 50% are fertile. This is the third time I've hatched eggs and the first time I've been successful rearing fry. Photos coming soon.