BrownEyes Posted January 16, 2009 Share Posted January 16, 2009 Hi everyone, complete noobie here. My hubby and I have a tank which houses 3 red forest jewels, 2 yoyo loaches, 2 bristlenose and 3 kuhli loaches. The other day the cichlids were acting funny, digging around and sort of "dancing". I researched a bit, and came to the conclusion that they were getting ready to spawn. A day later, yep our terracotta pot in the tank has got eggs covering the bottom of it. I've tried to research more, and read forums, but I just can't get the exact answers that I would really like. Some people say remove the parents, others say take out the other fish, some say take the eggs out into a different tank. I'm really really confused!! We have taken out the bristlenose and one of each of the kuhli and yoyo loaches, the others we couldn't catch, and we've also left the other jewel in the tank. He's getting chased around and is totally grey. My question is, is this set up alright? Should we remove the eggs into another tank? Or let nature take it's course? I've also heard that when the eggs do hatch you shouldn't have a filter running. Is this right? I have a friend who breeds bettas coming over in a day or so with a brine shrimp hatchery and an extra tank if we need it. By no means did we want to breed our fish, it's just happened, and I would like to be able to give them the best chance I can. If nature takes it's course and nothing happens then that's ok also. Some friendly advice from some more experienced fish owners would be very much appreciated. Thank you!!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
krellious Posted January 16, 2009 Share Posted January 16, 2009 Hi everyone, complete noobie here. My hubby and I have a tank which houses 3 red forest jewels, 2 yoyo loaches, 2 bristlenose and 3 kuhli loaches. The other day the cichlids were acting funny, digging around and sort of "dancing". I researched a bit, and came to the conclusion that they were getting ready to spawn. A day later, yep our terracotta pot in the tank has got eggs covering the bottom of it. I've tried to research more, and read forums, but I just can't get the exact answers that I would really like. Some people say remove the parents, others say take out the other fish, some say take the eggs out into a different tank. I'm really really confused!! We have taken out the bristlenose and one of each of the kuhli and yoyo loaches, the others we couldn't catch, and we've also left the other jewel in the tank. He's getting chased around and is totally grey. My question is, is this set up alright? Should we remove the eggs into another tank? Or let nature take it's course? I've also heard that when the eggs do hatch you shouldn't have a filter running. Is this right? I have a friend who breeds bettas coming over in a day or so with a brine shrimp hatchery and an extra tank if we need it. By no means did we want to breed our fish, it's just happened, and I would like to be able to give them the best chance I can. If nature takes it's course and nothing happens then that's ok also. Some friendly advice from some more experienced fish owners would be very much appreciated. Thank you!!!! it may be there first spawn so better let them get used to it buy keping them in with the eggs. Chances are all the eggs will be gone in a few days as loaches are in my experience lovers of fish eggs. If you want to raise fry wait till the parents have spawned a few times then get alot more tanks to keep them in:P as for filter. just put whay do you have? if it is a caniseter just tie a sticking over the intake so the fry dont get sucked up. But if you turn the filter of all together you may lose you other fish to lack of oxygen. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chorrylan Posted January 16, 2009 Share Posted January 16, 2009 hi, I'd probably remove the other jewel as he'll either get beaten up really badly or will snack on the fry when they hatch (or both). The others I wouldn't bother about unless the parents have difficulties keeping them away. Jewels are usually good parents (my cichlid addiction was triggered by watching a pair of red forest jewels hatching and raising their fry... *sigh*) so I would expect they can keep the loaches and catties at bay. Keep the filter going but put something like a block of sponge over any intakes so babies don't get sucked in and don't have too much current (or the parents will have real difficulties keeping the kids in control). Then sit back and watch your jewels learn how much fun it is to take care of several hundred pre-schoolers :-) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BrownEyes Posted January 16, 2009 Author Share Posted January 16, 2009 Thanks so much for the replies!! I noticed that most of the eggs were gone, so I'm not sure if they've been eaten or burried in the substrate as daddy jewel had dug a huge hole! We have removed all the other remaining fish in the tank, and put in some other rocks that we had in our other tank. They seem to be dancing around again, and shaking and digging heaps so I dont' know if that means there's another spawn on the way. Oh, and we also put some gauze around the filter intake, just in case some of the eggs did survive and the fry hatch! thanks again Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chorrylan Posted January 16, 2009 Share Posted January 16, 2009 The pit is most likely what they're plannign on using as a nursery. Jewels will usualyl lay eggs on a rock or wood surface then just as they hatch will transfer them mouthful at a time to a pit they will have dug somewhere. Then they will spend the next few days des;erately trying to keep the bubs in the nursery and the baddies out. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BrownEyes Posted January 21, 2009 Author Share Posted January 21, 2009 Hi there Quick update, it's been a week since the jewels laid their eggs, and there are no fry in the tank, so I'm concluding that a naughty yo-yo loach is responsible! Which is ok. HOWEVER, I have just gotten home to see the jewels laying more eggs on one of the new rocks. I'm not sure if this is normal, but the male keeps pushing the female off and nipping at her, not hard, but enough to make her swim off for a second or two. Is this normal behaviour? She is still coming back and laying more eggs. At the moment there is still the other jewel in the tank, but he seems to have taken up residence at the other end to where the jewels are laying, and he's still eating and no nips taken out of him, there's just not enough room to put him in our other tank. Hopefully hubby will come home with another tank in a day or two. So, I'm still going to let nature take it's course. If fry hatch, woohoo, if they don't, ces le vie. Any other tips or advice to help them along? Thanks again Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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