64 Aquatic Lite 
Circumventing 
Nature in Breeding Three Fishes 
ERNEST LEITHOLF 
Necessity is the mother of invention 
and, when it becomes necessary to meet 
unusual deviations from the normal in 
breeding fishes, is also the mother of 
discovery! Hence this article, which 
concerns unusual and original means 
used to propagate three popular species 
of exotic fishes by members of the 
Pittsburgh Aquarium Society. 
Mr. H. L. Dolde was repeatedly dis- 
appointed in his efforts to breed the 
Chanchito, Cichlasoma facetum. ‘The 
fish spawned a number of times, but in- 
variably devoured the eggs. Finally he 
decided to strive for success in a new 
way. When the next lot of eggs was 
discovered the stone to which they were 
attached was removed and placed in an- 
other aquarium containing old clear 
water and thriving plants. Here the 
temperature varied between 70 and 75 
degrees. It soon became apparent that 
the eggs had not suffered and were de- 
veloping normally. After five or six 
days the heads of the fry began to break 
through the egg shells. With posterior 
ends still attached to the stone, the mass 
of fry began the swaying movement or 
agitation characteristic of this period in 
their development. The continuous 
movement gradually severed the attach- 
ment and soon all had tumbled helplessly 
on to the bottom of the tank. Then fol- 
lowed several days of floundering about 
the bottom with frantic efforts to swim, 
after which the “pseudo-orphans” gain- 
ed control of the situation and eagerly 
chased any particle that looked like 
food. From this time on their develop- 
nent was normal and nothing untoward 
resulted in the absence of parental care. 
We secured several from this brood, and 
they are now an inch and a half long. 
Later the parents reformed and spawn- 
ed repeatedly, displaying all the tender 
solicitude of the species for its eggs and 
young. 
The experiment of Mr. Adolph Stucky 
concerns surgery. He possessed a fine 
female specimen of Platypoecilus macu- 
latus rubra, which became ill and failed 
to respond to treatment. Finally, when 
the fish was so weak that respiration 
was scarcely perceptible, he decided to 
attempt to save the unborn young by 
performing a “Caesarian operation,” us- 
ing a keen razor for the purpose. The 
majority of the fry were dead, but eight 
were delivered alive, and seven were liv- 
ing and well when the writer saw them 
a month later. Mr. Stucky values these 
fish more than any others in his collec- 
tion, and they are probably the first 
members of the finny tribe that have 
started their career after the manner of 
the immortal Caesar ! 
While it is the custom to segregate the 
mouth-breeder, Haplochromis strigigena, 
my brother Oscar and I have not found 
it necessary. The species will breed in 
association with other fishes. When seg- 
regation is practiced, the male is removed 
from the female, after she has taken the 
We reverse this 
a female 
eggs into her mouth. 
When we observe 
carrying eggs in a family tank we re- 
process. 
move her to solitary confinement, there 
to incubate the eggs and care for the 
young undisturbed. The success of this 
method depends upon the rapidity of 
the transfer. If the female is harassed 
and frightened while attempting to cap- 
ture her, or if she is retained in the net 
more than an instant, she will unfailingly 
disgorge the eggs, which spells failure. 
All must be accomplished quickly with 
the new aquarium close at hand. 
OO 
‘If we knew better we would all do 
better. 
