Pelasgus marathonicus

Male Pelasgus marathonicus from Orchomenos springs

My original broodstock of this Greek species consisted of two females and four males which were collected from Orchomenos springs at the Kiffisos River in late 2011. The fishes were most likely hatched in 2011. All survived the first winter well but spawned very early, still in the winter facility and all eggs were eaten by other fishes. In the outside tank, they did not spawn again in 2012 or spawning was not successful. All spawners survived the second winter and both females were full of eggs in early April, when placed outside in a 140 x 70 tank full of willow sticks with many roots. The adults were placed outside just after the ice cover has vanished in the second week of April 2012. Obviously they spawned almost immediately as many eggs were found in the algae one week later. During the last days of April 2013, the larvae hatched. Already, large amounts of filamentous algae were present in the tank and I decided not to separate the larvae from the adults. To my surprise, very small larvae could be found again in middle May, early June, late June and again and again until middle August. They are fractional spawners as the other Pelasgus. When cleaning the outside tanks in November a good number of nicely grown young could be harvested. The adults and juveniles spawned again in 2014 and I was flushed by this species. Since, I breed the species without problems. Obviously a very easy to breed minnow.