should i protect jack dempsey eggs - Aquarium Advice

willy1094 · 04-23-2008, 07:53 AM

Hello all! I'm new to jack dempseys and got a surprise last night in the form of a lot of eggs. Well, there is a catfish in the tank. Mom and dad was running it off but it kept getting a little bite now and then so i covered the eggs with clear tupperware with holes drilled into it. My question is, should i have done this or do the parents need to be able to get to the eggs? I plan on uncovering them when they hatch and let nature take it's course. Mom and dad are still standing by protecting the eggs so they still know they are there. Any help please. Also, i did this because i do not have another tank to but them in.
Thanks again

willy1094 · 04-23-2008, 08:04 AM

willy1094 · 04-23-2008, 08:07 AM

willy1094 · 04-23-2008, 08:08 AM

willy1094 · 04-23-2008, 08:09 AM

top pic is of eggs in the container with holes... some are white but very few. then a picture of the other fish and then mom and dad. They are all in a 120 gallon tank.

CatatonicBug · 04-23-2008, 10:28 AM

Congrats on the eggs! I don't know anything about the care of them, but I'm sure someone here will be able to help you. Good luck!

cogburn · 04-23-2008, 10:30 AM

congrats... youre gonna be a grandparent...

UniqueMommi · 05-16-2008, 02:11 AM

Are you a Grandparent to those Dempsey's Yet?
UniqueMommi

Dave66 · 05-16-2008, 02:34 AM

Jack Dempseys are excellent parents, and yes, they need to be able to get to the eggs to remove the white (infertile and fungused) eggs before the entire clutch is lost. Your major, major problem is you have other fish in with the parents. Yes, they can guard the eggs and fry admirably, but only during the day. At night, they are defenseless, and in a short time the catfish and other Dempseys will have eaten all the fry.
Your only choice would be to remove the other fish if you want to have any fry to raise. Do so when the room is darkened, like by curtains, and the tank and room lights are off. Wait about an hour after the room and tank are darkened for the fish to relax before you start removing them.
If you remove the fish during the day or with tank lights on, odds are the parents will be so upset they will destroy the spawn.

Dave

willy1094 · 05-16-2008, 07:02 AM

Thanks for the reply... the lfs gave me a bottle of stuff for the fungus said it will keep it clear. Mom and dad have not been removing the bad eggs. They have had two batches...but they have been keeping all the fish away... really the cat is the only one that tries to get at them...the others just hang out on the other side of the tank unless they get scared. I can't wait for the next round to see what happens.

04-23-2008, 07:53 AM	#1
willy1094 Aquarium Advice Apprentice Join Date: Mar 2008 Posts: 19	should i protect jack dempsey eggs Hello all! I'm new to jack dempseys and got a surprise last night in the form of a lot of eggs. Well, there is a catfish in the tank. Mom and dad was running it off but it kept getting a little bite now and then so i covered the eggs with clear tupperware with holes drilled into it. My question is, should i have done this or do the parents need to be able to get to the eggs? I plan on uncovering them when they hatch and let nature take it's course. Mom and dad are still standing by protecting the eggs so they still know they are there. Any help please. Also, i did this because i do not have another tank to but them in. Thanks again

04-23-2008, 08:04 AM	#2
willy1094 Aquarium Advice Apprentice Join Date: Mar 2008 Posts: 19	Last edited by willy1094; 04-23-2008 at 08:06 AM. Reason: picture update

05-16-2008, 02:11 AM	#8
UniqueMommi Aquarium Advice Newbie Join Date: Feb 2008 Posts: 6 Images: 3	Re: Eggs Are you a Grandparent to those Dempsey's Yet? UniqueMommi

05-16-2008, 02:34 AM	#9
Dave66 Aquarium Advice Regular Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Mars Posts: 61	Jack Dempseys are excellent parents, and yes, they need to be able to get to the eggs to remove the white (infertile and fungused) eggs before the entire clutch is lost. Your major, major problem is you have other fish in with the parents. Yes, they can guard the eggs and fry admirably, but only during the day. At night, they are defenseless, and in a short time the catfish and other Dempseys will have eaten all the fry. Your only choice would be to remove the other fish if you want to have any fry to raise. Do so when the room is darkened, like by curtains, and the tank and room lights are off. Wait about an hour after the room and tank are darkened for the fish to relax before you start removing them. If you remove the fish during the day or with tank lights on, odds are the parents will be so upset they will destroy the spawn. Dave __________________ And you know, that you're over the hill, when your mind makes a promise that your body can't fill . . .

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04-23-2008, 08:07 AM	#3
willy1094 Aquarium Advice Apprentice Join Date: Mar 2008 Posts: 19

04-23-2008, 08:08 AM	#4
willy1094 Aquarium Advice Apprentice Join Date: Mar 2008 Posts: 19

04-23-2008, 08:09 AM	#5
willy1094 Aquarium Advice Apprentice Join Date: Mar 2008 Posts: 19	top pic is of eggs in the container with holes... some are white but very few. then a picture of the other fish and then mom and dad. They are all in a 120 gallon tank.

04-23-2008, 10:28 AM	#6
CatatonicBug Aquarium Advice FINatic Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Saint Louis, MO Posts: 503 Images: 6	Congrats on the eggs! I don't know anything about the care of them, but I'm sure someone here will be able to help you. Good luck!

04-23-2008, 10:30 AM	#7
cogburn Aquarium Advice Freak Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: bangor, pa Posts: 287	congrats... youre gonna be a grandparent...

05-16-2008, 07:02 AM	#10
willy1094 Aquarium Advice Apprentice Join Date: Mar 2008 Posts: 19	Thanks for the reply... the lfs gave me a bottle of stuff for the fungus said it will keep it clear. Mom and dad have not been removing the bad eggs. They have had two batches...but they have been keeping all the fish away... really the cat is the only one that tries to get at them...the others just hang out on the other side of the tank unless they get scared. I can't wait for the next round to see what happens.