It’s been quite a while since I posted about any of my fishes. There has been a lot of activity in the 46-galon tank lately. First, I lost the last of my Florida flagfish (Jordanella floridae).
Florida Flagfish Lost
She had a fungal growth problem that appeared to be healing nicely without intervention, but a few days later, I noticed the operculum covering the right gill had been damaged. Fishes in decent conditions can survive with that kind of damage, but two days later, dead.
New Fry!
So that’s the bad news. The good news I have some new fry in that same tank. The tank is shared by a few sailfin mollies (Poecilia latipinna) and a group of Dickfeld’s Julies (Julidochromis dickfeldi).
While I lost the male molly a while back, I have two fry swimming in the tank. Also, this fish will store sperm, so I may find a few more fry over the course of the next six months. Let’s hope I get another male out of this generation.
About a week ago, I discovered several small Julies swimming near the front glass. Apparently I had a pairing off and they spawned. This cichlid will defent their offspring, so it is not uncommon to see the adults driving away the unpaired Julies as well as the mollies.
I also believe there to be additional eggs because one of the julies is defending a cave under a rock.
While I am disappointed that I lost both the last flagfish and the male molly, I am hopeful that these two lines will continue. I probably won;t know the gender of the molly fry until fall, but with six julie fry, I have an excellent chance to take this group into a third generation.
