Ohmigod -- I have rainbow cichlid eggs!!!

[hollyfish2000]

I'm sure you guys who do all the breeding are rolling your eyes like "oh, big deal," but I am soooooo excited! This is the rainbow cichlid pair I got only about a month+ ago via Aquabid. They were not a bonded pair, but they did very well with each other and I'd moved them into the main 58-gallon planted tank a few weeks ago. They had both put on size and recently been doing quite a bit of flirting. This morning, the girl was mustard yellow and the boy was orange. This afternoon, I have eggs completely covering a small river rock! The girl is doing most of the fanning. Fortunately, it's a nice out of the way place but in the foreground, so I can see things unfold. The other fish are steering clear, but the rainbows are not being at all obnoxious to anyone.

So what happens next? How long to hatch? Will the babies just get picked off by the cories, tetras and BN or do they have a chance? I'd prefer not to interfere if possible . . .

 

[Spine]

The parents will probably keep everyone at bay until the eggs hatch. If you remove all the dithers you run the risk of the parents turning on each other.

 

[jonclark96]

Congrats on the spawn Holly. I know how you feel with the eggs. I still get excited every time I see eggs in one of my tanks. Kevin's advice is spot on. Leave the dithers, it will give the parents something to chase.

Nice meeting you at TFW last weekend.

Jon

 

[hollyfish2000]

Oh Lord. I had no intention of removing dithers -- I have 20+ tetras for starters. I was thinking of whether or not I had to remove the rock with the eggs or sucking up the babies when they're born to raise in a separate tank. I'd really prefer not to do that.

If they hatch -- what do I feed them???

The parents are being so vigilant. So **** cute.

 

[MonteSS]

Gratz Holly. Since its their first spawn, I would leave them alone and let them learn how to parent. Thats what I did with my Oblongum and they do a great job every spawn. Taking the babies away could break the pair bond too.

Watching the parenting skills always amazes me.

GL and we need pics/vids....Bill

 

[hollyfish2000]

Eggs are still there. woo hoo! Mom appears, still, to be doing most/all of the work. I thought I'd read that Dad guards the eggs? Anyway, still impressed that while she won't tolerate cories nearby and pokes at them, the area she wants clear of other fish is really quite small and she's not damaging anyone. I had deliberately replanted the foreground recently to make two territories and she's not even completely claiming one of the territories. When the eggs hatch, I believe the parents dig a pit for the babies? I'm a bit afraid they'll do that in the "hinterlands" of the planted tank where I won't be able to watch. Well, we'll see. I have a turkey baster and I can "shoot" very well ground up LFS flake food. Will that work for them? If not, what are my other options? Would the babies like a zuccini slice or cucumber? (Obviously I"m counting my rainbows before they're hatched!)

 

[Spine]

I usaully grind up flake food with my fingers. I also use baby brine shrimp or decapulated brine shrimp eggs

 

[MonteSS]

pM my your address and I will mail you some de-encapsulated brine shrimp eggs out tomorrow. Yo have plenty of time tho, since they wont really eat for up to a week after free swimming.

...Bill

 

[hollyfish2000]

Bill -- thank you. I sent a PM.

But I'm a bit worried now. The parents are eating some of the eggs. Uh oh. Are they only eating "bad" ones or is this the beginning of the end of the eggs! Oh, I hope not.

If so, I assume they'll spawn again. How long does that usually take?