What a nice surprise - Aquarium Advice

Jaybird · 08-30-2006, 09:22 PM

I just got home from work to two nice surprises: one, my cable tv and internet are working, and two, my jewel cichlids have finally laid about 200 eggs on an angled rock near the back of the tank. It's hard to get a shot because it isn't that bright and the glass distorts the focus.

They had been doing their little mating dances and excavating for about two weeks now. As I write this, they are taking turns laying close over the eggs and fanning them with their pectoral fins.

Sorry for the picture quality, but it's not that bright and the tank is deep.

rich311k · 08-30-2006, 09:29 PM

Congrats!!! Good luck.

**Zagz** · 08-31-2006, 02:15 AM

Congrats, good luck and keep us updated on progress.

Jaybird · 08-31-2006, 09:40 AM

This is the first time that I have had jewels spawn. Before them, the only others were convicts (no surprise), and my red-hump geophagus had eggs in her mouth, but they didn't last long.

They sure don't seem to be as good parents as convicts. The female is doing most of the work fanning the eggs. When feeding time comes, she waits, comes up to the surface and grabs a pellet, and then heads back to the eggs. The convicts would take turns, but these are not. The male goes and helps from time to time, but isn't as involved as the male convict.

The eggs are still there, so there was no robbery last night.

So far, the jewels have not been as aggressive as the convicts when breeding. They do keep their area clear of all intruders, but they don't rush out at them. They blow out their cheeks and the other fish swims away. No chase. No biting. This might change when/if the eggs hatch.

*******EDIT*******

Well, the eggs are still there and they are still fanning them. So far, nobody has raided the eggs. Now it's just to hope that they hatch in a day or two.

*********EDIT 2**********
The eggs are no longer on the rock. At first I thought that they had been eaten by either the parents or another fish in the tank. That's not the case. It seems that one of the parents have taken the eggs from the rock and put them inside a small cave. Right now I can't tell how many have survived as they are all jumbled together on the floor of the cave. With luck, in a day, or a couple of days, we may have wigglers.

***********EDIT 3*********
It appears that we now have wigglers. It looks like some of the eggs haven't hatched yet. Perhaps they may not ever. Soon we may have some free-swimming fry

Jaybird · 09-04-2006, 07:36 PM

Five days and there are free-swimming fry. The fry are a lot smaller than convict fry of the same age. After moving the eggs from the rock to the cave for the fry to develop to wigglers, they have taken over a second cave and have moved all the fry there.

They are attentive parents, but less aggressive against others than convicts. Well, they just don't chase as much. All they do is a little bluff against anyone who comes too close and they all flee. So, no real damage done due to their increased aggression. I definitely prefer having them in the tank and breeding to convicts.

Hara · 09-04-2006, 07:54 PM

Sweet!

plecoperson · 09-04-2006, 11:22 PM

Awww! I love seeing posts that say nice surprise, rather than horrifying surprise.

Well done, and a great pic, too--

Billsgate · 09-05-2006, 07:17 AM

Congrats on the fry!! And a beautifull adult as well

I hope some of them make it!

Jaybird · 09-13-2006, 12:28 PM

Well, no more fry. They have all been digested by now. What a shame. They were starting to develop this neat black line down the center of their bodies.

The fry haven't been gone longer than two days and the male is already starting to do his little dance for the female. Who knows, maybe they will be more careful the next time.

The problem was that when it came to be time to feed the fish in the tank, both the female and male would rush up with the other fish to try to get food. Well, every once in a while some other fish would cruise by the fry for a quick snack.

Hopefully they will spawn again soon.

toddnbecka · 09-16-2006, 04:57 AM

They will spawn again, though it may take several times before they learn to raise the fry, instead of eating them. Cichlids will also eat eggs or fry if they're too stressed, or unable to prevent other fish from eating them.

09-04-2006, 07:54 PM	#6
Hara Aquarium Advice Addict Moderator Emeritus Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: Louisiana Posts: 6,867 Images: 33	Sweet! __________________ ~~~~~Hara~~~~~~ View My Tanks Visit FantasyReef.com's Databases!

Thread Tools	Search this Thread
Show Printable Version Email this Page	Search this Thread: Advanced Search
Display Modes
Linear Mode Switch to Hybrid Mode Switch to Threaded Mode

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
What a surprise!	daydreamer4186	Freshwater & Brackish - Breeding	1	04-25-2006 08:34 PM
Took him by surprise!	CGGorman	Freshwater & Brackish - General Discussion	10	01-19-2006 05:07 PM
Nice surprise	haus	Saltwater Reef Aquaria	6	08-27-2005 12:21 PM
Surprise!	rubysoho	New Acquisitions	7	04-06-2005 11:56 AM
what a surprise.	thanew	Freshwater & Brackish - General Discussion	4	12-31-2004 04:00 PM

08-30-2006, 09:29 PM	#2
rich311k Aquarium Advice Addict Moderator Emeritus Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Long Island, NY Posts: 8,972 Images: 35	Congrats!!! Good luck.

08-31-2006, 09:40 AM	#4
Jaybird Aquarium Advice Freak Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Nairobi, Kenya Posts: 289 Images: 5	This is the first time that I have had jewels spawn. Before them, the only others were convicts (no surprise), and my red-hump geophagus had eggs in her mouth, but they didn't last long. They sure don't seem to be as good parents as convicts. The female is doing most of the work fanning the eggs. When feeding time comes, she waits, comes up to the surface and grabs a pellet, and then heads back to the eggs. The convicts would take turns, but these are not. The male goes and helps from time to time, but isn't as involved as the male convict. The eggs are still there, so there was no robbery last night. So far, the jewels have not been as aggressive as the convicts when breeding. They do keep their area clear of all intruders, but they don't rush out at them. They blow out their cheeks and the other fish swims away. No chase. No biting. This might change when/if the eggs hatch. *****EDIT*** Well, the eggs are still there and they are still fanning them. So far, nobody has raided the eggs. Now it's just to hope that they hatch in a day or two. *****EDIT 2****** The eggs are no longer on the rock. At first I thought that they had been eaten by either the parents or another fish in the tank. That's not the case. It seems that one of the parents have taken the eggs from the rock and put them inside a small cave. Right now I can't tell how many have survived as they are all jumbled together on the floor of the cave. With luck, in a day, or a couple of days, we may have wigglers. *******EDIT 3******* It appears that we now have wigglers. It looks like some of the eggs haven't hatched yet. Perhaps they may not ever. Soon we may have some free-swimming fry

09-04-2006, 11:22 PM	#7
plecoperson Aquarium Advice Addict Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Evanston, Illinois Posts: 1,161 Images: 3	Awww! I love seeing posts that say nice surprise, rather than horrifying surprise. Well done, and a great pic, too--

09-05-2006, 07:17 AM	#8
Billsgate Aquarium Advice Addict Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Belgium Posts: 1,604 Images: 8	Congrats on the fry!! And a beautifull adult as well I hope some of them make it!

09-13-2006, 12:28 PM	#9
Jaybird Aquarium Advice Freak Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Nairobi, Kenya Posts: 289 Images: 5	Well, no more fry. They have all been digested by now. What a shame. They were starting to develop this neat black line down the center of their bodies. The fry haven't been gone longer than two days and the male is already starting to do his little dance for the female. Who knows, maybe they will be more careful the next time. The problem was that when it came to be time to feed the fish in the tank, both the female and male would rush up with the other fish to try to get food. Well, every once in a while some other fish would cruise by the fry for a quick snack. Hopefully they will spawn again soon.

09-16-2006, 04:57 AM	#10
toddnbecka Aquarium Advice FINatic Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Cumberland, MD Posts: 750	They will spawn again, though it may take several times before they learn to raise the fry, instead of eating them. Cichlids will also eat eggs or fry if they're too stressed, or unable to prevent other fish from eating them.