Eggs in my new tank!

Hi.

I've had an albino BN for quite some time in my cichlid tank. Just this past week I had upgraded my tank and bought another BN. The first day they met there was a 10 second long fight and then they went on about their ways through the tank.

But just a few days later I just noticed this!




I am not too familiar with BN. What should I do now?

Thank you for your advice!

nothing, leave them be. he will be a great dad

Hi,what kind of cichlids have you got?They may eat the fry when they leave the cave.

Bristlenoses

Bristlenoses wrote:

Hi,what kind of cichlids have you got?They may eat the fry when they leave the cave.

Bristlenoses

Well, contrary to popular opinion, I have a very mixed cichlid tank.

I have mostly Malawi cichlids, 2 tangs, 1 central american, and 3 victorians.

However, everything is great, no aggression issues (don't have any real aggressive mbuna like kenyi, auratus, etc.), and not only are the BN breeding, but one of my peacocks is holding along with an elongatus ruarwe.

just becasue there is no aggression among your cichlids doesn't mean they won't eat the fry BN

Brandon O wrote:

just becasue there is no aggression among your cichlids doesn't mean they won't eat the fry BN

I don't doubt it...

I just hope a few survive.

And an update, the male has been busy fanning away. All day!

Ah, help!

The female came in and started eating the eggs!
The male wasn't too aggressive to her, but he finally got her to move out of the way and he is back to his fanning.

Is there anything I should do or just leave it be?

Edit: the two continue to fight. I feel like the male will get tired out if this keeps up, along with his fanning, along with not eating much and stressing about the eggs.

Hi,unless you have another tank there isn't much you can do about it unless you part with the female.It is very unusual for the female to bother with the cave or eggs after laying them.The cave itself is a little exposed though.I hope some survive and then the fry have got to try and survive the cichlids so good luck with them.

What are you feeding the bristlenoses?


Bristlenoses

Bristlenoses wrote:

Hi,unless you have another tank there isn't much you can do about it unless you part with the female.It is very unusual for the female to bother with the cave or eggs after laying them.The cave itself is a little exposed though.I hope some survive and then the fry have got to try and survive the cichlids so good luck with them.

What are you feeding the bristlenoses?


Bristlenoses

I have hikari algae wafers that I feed them, otherwise they are eating plants, or w/e algae/moss they can find.

I am uploading a video soon that I will give a link for to show you what's happening.

And I just set up a small 10 gallon with old tank water with a DIY sponge filter, but put one of my holding cichlids in there.

h-t-t-p:-/-/w-w-w-.- youtube.com/watch?v=nujoKhtFzlo

Here is the link.

Sorry it's jarbled, they won't let me post external links for 7 days.

Hi,I have watched the vid and it is the first time i have ever heard of this.The only thing i can think of is that she is either extremely hungry or there is something else going on.
Have you tried feeding them a more varied diet such as cucumber/zuccini,courgette,canned green beans,deshelled peas,tetra pro veg crisps or other veg ?

bristlenoses

Hi Kaenon, Congratulations on the spawn!

Just to add my two cents, as Bristlenoses noted, the cave your male is bravely attempting to protect is awfully exposed. I would try to position some more rock or driftwood around the opening to close it off to just big enough for the male. As long as you do it slowly, and without moving the cave itself it shouldn't upset the male too much, mine always seem grateful!

That will make it much easier for him to defend which should lessen his stress. He may even come out to eat once in a while if he knows no one can sneak past him and get to the eggs.

Good luck!

Bristlenoses wrote:

Hi,I have watched the vid and it is the first time i have ever heard of this.The only thing i can think of is that she is either extremely hungry or there is something else going on.
Have you tried feeding them a more varied diet such as cucumber/zuccini,courgette,canned green beans,deshelled peas,tetra pro veg crisps or other veg ?

bristlenoses

Thanks for the advice.
I am not very well-versed in the Bristlenose world, but I am learning more here than ever.
I have tried cucumber in the past, but I heard zucchini works better. How is it best to hold it down in the tank?

Sarahdd wrote:

Hi Kaenon, Congratulations on the spawn!

Just to add my two cents, as Bristlenoses noted, the cave your male is bravely attempting to protect is awfully exposed. I would try to position some more rock or driftwood around the opening to close it off to just big enough for the male. As long as you do it slowly, and without moving the cave itself it shouldn't upset the male too much, mine always seem grateful!

That will make it much easier for him to defend which should lessen his stress. He may even come out to eat once in a while if he knows no one can sneak past him and get to the eggs.

Good luck!

Thank you.
And I will try to give him some more privacy.

I never intended to breed the two, and I didn't even know they were opposite sexes (luck of the draw I suppose).
I never intended that the small hole in that rock be a cave either HAHA. But they made do.

I will add more foods to their diets and hide the eggs a little better.

Thanks again.

Hi,I weigh mine down by threading plant weight through it and bending it round but some people just push a stainless steel spoon through it to hold it down.Try not to disturb him too much or he may abandon the eggs.

Bristlenoses

Hey everybody, thanks for all your help.

An update.
The female has been leaving the area alone. I have moved the rock closer to the glass so there is no room for other fish to swim too close nearby and I have been adding more BN-related foods for the female.

Looking inside the hole I noticed a large amount of eggs gone and I was a little taken back, thinking the female may have gotten them. But upon further inspection, I have wigglers!




I do have one small peacock cichlid that has been "observing" the egg hideout for days now, only 1.5". He has been chased off a couple of times by the male. But he just sits there, all day.

Thanks for the update! What a good little Dad.

Hi,congrats on the wrigglers,when they leave the cave i have a feeling they gonna be eaten,i hope this isn't the case though.Also you will have to make sure you put food in every day so the babies can eat constantly when they leave the nest.Cucumber is good for the babies to graze on or zuccini and also the other foods i mentioned earlier.Has the female been tucking into the new foods? Good luck and please keep us informed.


Bristlenoses

Bristlenoses wrote:

Hi,congrats on the wrigglers,when they leave the cave i have a feeling they gonna be eaten,i hope this isn't the case though.Also you will have to make sure you put food in every day so the babies can eat constantly when they leave the nest.Cucumber is good for the babies to graze on or zuccini and also the other foods i mentioned earlier.Has the female been tucking into the new foods? Good luck and please keep us informed.


Bristlenoses

Would you suggest I transfer the rock/cave and dad into my hospital tank which is currently home to my holding elongatus ruarwe?

Hi, is the hospital tank fully cycled ?


Bristlenoses

Bristlenoses wrote:

Hi, is the hospital tank fully cycled ?


Bristlenoses

It was filled with 100% tank water from main (off the top) and then I added a DIY sponge filter.

Hi,no if i was you i wouldnt risk it as it will not be cycled.What filters are in your main tank ?

Bristlenoses

Congratulations on the hatch Kaenon!

Hopefully you will have some filter media from the main tank that you can use to speed up the cycle on your other tank before your little ones venture out - they are pretty irresistible to other species with their worm- like wiggling!

Good luck and keep us posted!

Bristlenoses wrote:

Hi,no if i was you i wouldnt risk it as it will not be cycled.What filters are in your main tank ?

Bristlenoses

I have 3 AC 70s.

One with standard media, the other two with double sponges and ceramics.

Hi,if you had put one of the ac 70s into the hospital tank from the begining you could of moved them over but as you have had a new filter in it i wouldn't risk it.If it had been running at least 6 weeks and all tests were good throughout etc then i would of said go ahead but i feel it would probably kill the fry if you move them into it at this point.

Its a difficult situation but a few may survive where they are.Are there lots of hiding spaces and plants etc and bottom cover for them to hide in?


Bristlenoses

Bristlenoses wrote:

Hi,if you had put one of the ac 70s into the hospital tank from the begining you could of moved them over but as you have had a new filter in it i wouldn't risk it.If it had been running at least 6 weeks and all tests were good throughout etc then i would of said go ahead but i feel it would probably kill the fry if you move them into it at this point.

Its a difficult situation but a few may survive where they are.Are there lots of hiding spaces and plants etc and bottom cover for them to hide in?


Bristlenoses

Yup. Many rock formations and driftwood with many little hiding spots. Some plants and such.