Question about my new male BN.

Sorry about the stupid question everyone?
He has left the cave, and is feeding on the glass next to the cave, he dashes back every few minutes or so, but is this behavior normal does it mean his eggs have hatched?- parameters Nitrates very low- almost zero, pH 7.3-7.4 am using low light to not disturb him, Ammonia almost zero as well, been doing 10 % water changes everyday as I moved him and his eggs from the community tank because the of goldies would feast on new babies, but is this normal behavior of a male Bn? this is the first time I've noticed him leaving the cave although yesterday I did remove some poop. The last time i had eggs my male passed before they hatched used a fry-saver don't know what any of this means and I'm afraid to disturb him or the cave. should be around 6 to seven days since eggs were laid, he keeps dashing to his cave. I know I should already know the answer to this but have no experience, all my other times did not go this far. this is new territory and I don't want to mess anything up, by ignorance and stupidity.

yeah, its normal. some males are very casual with their fatherly duties, others will not even leave their cave when there is no eggs!

Worst case is the eggs have been eaten. But I'd say they are hatched so he's probably enjoying some food from starving himself. Because of this behaviour he mite let the fry escape earlier than normal. But because they are the only fish in the tank you shouldn't have anything to worry about. At 6 days I reckon it should be safe enough to shine the torch in to have a look.

Thank soo mucc, I will check it out today.

So I took a flashlight and shined it in and there were many empty eggs sacks still attached to the roof of the cave there are a few little guys in the substrate below but most are just no where to be found. Dad has cucumber and zucchini to eat changed daily. The filter is protected with foam so I know none have been sucked up the filter and when I do water changes I am careful to not siphon any of the ones in the gravel and its in a white bucket so if one were to be siphoned up I would be able to see him. I think he has been eating them. This is the only explanation I can come up with. His behavior is interesting though, he is very protective of his cave darts in and out and fans inside the cave, outside and even on the glass; the eggs were albino female x common male. there are still a few dozen left intact I would say, I guess I'll just let nature take its course.

Anyone have any thoughts or comments please feel free. Thanks .

He wouldnt eat them once they hatch, and if he was going to eat them he would eat the whole lot before they hatch. I suspect either they are hiding somewhere (when i count my fry i will only find 20 1cms fish, but a few weeks later i will have 60 2cm fish), or they have died and then been eaten by either the dad/other babies or other fish.

Yes that makes sense. Thanks Doug.

Mine was definately casual, since I did not notice that in between wooshing in and outs he is fanning eggs.
Now I have a 100 or so in the community tank.

Sutpid me, upon my return from abroad my first thought was "What kind of leaves are littering the gravel?!?"

That's so funny!

Update: took another batch of eggs this morning.


Does anyone heard of veggies treated with Viagra in the Central Europe region???
I could not think of enything else.

Must be some kind of wacky hormonal veggies they're eating or something, very funny mmccannon!And Congrats on the eggs, love is in the water!! For Sure!!!