AboutRon Coleman Expertise I am an expert on cichlid fishes, particularly New World cichlids. My broader expertise includes the behavior, ecology and reproduction of fishes in general. (I am NOT an expert on Goldfish. Please do not ask me questions about why your goldfish are sick -- they are almost always sick due to the way that they are sold). Also, please do not use abbreviations, such as "my GT has a swollen
eye" because I don't know what a "GT" is. The more clearly you can explain your question, the better chance I have of understanding what it is that you seek. Thanks.
Experience I teach at the California State University, Sacramento in the Department of Biological Sciences, and I run a website, called the Cichlid Research Home Page . I also write for many popular aquarist magazines, and I am editor of Cichlid News magazine. I am a scientist and I spend my time teaching fish biology, ecology, behavior and evolution and doing research on the reproductive biology of fishes, particularly cichlids. I do research in the laboratory and in Costa Rica, Nicaragua and Mexico. My main interest is understanding the evolution of parental care in fishes. I am interested in encouraging greater public awareness, understanding and participation in science.
Organizations belong to American Cichlid Association, Pacific Coast Cichlid Association, American Society of Ichthyologists and Herpetologists, etc
Publications Cichlid News, Tropical Fish Hobbyist, Freshwater and Marine Aquarium, Science, Behavioural Ecology and Sociobiology, Copeia, Canadian Journal of Zoology, Trends in Ecology and Evolution, AUK, Environmental Biology of Fishes
Expert: Ron Coleman Date: 5/8/2008 Subject: my tiger barb is extreamly fat all at once
Question QUESTION: i have isolated what i think is a pregnant tiger barb in a breeding net. i noticed she was extremely fat last night when in gave my fish their midnight feeding and went straight to the store and got a net to isolate her in. I was reading online that you need to have the male in with her so that he can fertilize the eggs when she scatters them if in fact this is a fish with babies. the problem is i have around 6 of the tigers and i don't know which one to put in with her to take care of the eggs. What kind of advise do you have for me?
ANSWER: Hi Glenn,
Tiger barbs are indeed egg layers and I strongly suspect that putting her in a net will cause her not to lay the eggs. Unfortunately, you can't just choose a male for her and expect her to mate with him in a confined area. I would let her go and see what happens.
-- Ron
rcoleman@cichlidresearch.com
Cichlid Research Home Page <http://cichlidresearch.com>
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QUESTION: i let them all lose in the 55 gallon tank but i am afraid that if she lays the eggs they will not survive because of the other fish in the tank. there are close to 50 fish all together. i have tetras, garoumies, a bala shark, paradise fish i think that about covers my fish but i am afraid they will not survive but i am trying what you suggested thank you very much i hope it works i am very excited over this.
Answer Hi Glenn,
You are probably right, most if not all will get eaten; that is why fish like barbs lay so many eggs -- most don't make it. The alternative is to take out all the other fish. Or, just let things happen and see what happens. I feel that too often people get caught up in trying to make more fish. It is great if it happens but I wouldn't wreck a well-functioning aquarium just to isolate a few fish so that they MIGHT breed. My advice is to focus on enjoying the fish and if they successfully breed, consider that a great bonus.
-- Ron
rcoleman@cichlidresearch.com
Cichlid Research Home Page <http://cichlidresearch.com>
