how to hatch apisto agassizi eggs?

[Benjamin Lee]

hello,

so my apistogramma agassizi have spawned twice this week and both times the eggs have disappeared. i'm wondering if my pleco or the other apistos ate the eggs. the eggs tend to disappear at night. does anyone have tips in how i can increase my hatch from from 0% to anything? i really want to spawn these fish but just haven't had much luck yet...

i have a 40 gallon breeder with 2 roseline shark, 1 bristlenose pleco, and 3 apistogramma

here are some solutions that i've been thinking about.

- buying a breeding box and with the first sign of eggs moving the mom and eggs into it?
- remove the pleco in case it's the one eating the eggs?
- remove the male apisto?

thanks,
ben

 

[dw1305]

Hi all,

.....- remove the pleco in case it's the one eating the eggs?.......

Probably the Plec.

cheers Darrel

 

[yukondog]

I know my Pleco. will eat all the eggs pretty quick, removed him and eggs hatch. If your wanting fry I would remove all of them and through in some dithers, I use guppy's.

 

[Happyfins]

There is another solution. A cave with a smaller entrance.

 

[Benjamin Lee]

so i isolated the pleco and my female laid eggs again but day by day the eggs would be less and less.

is my female apisto eating them?
is she eating because they are infertile?
the eggs are an amber red and i have a sexed male in the tank as well.
how do i get her to stop eating?
is it possible to artificially hatch the eggs without the mom?

 

[Mike Wise]

You could have any of a number of causes for egg loss. Females often take 1, 2, 3 or more spawn s before they get it right. Not knowing your water values, this might be a problem, too. IMHO if you can see the eggs then the spawning site is too exposed. This can stress the female, especially if she can see potential egg predators. Better for her to eat them and get the nutrition than another fish. It takes quite a bit of care and attention to get apiso eggs to hatch and become freeswimming fry without their mother. For me, artificially hatching the eggs of aggies (or most commercially available apistos) is not worth the effort.

 

[Benjamin Lee]

You could have any of a number of causes for egg loss. Females often take 1, 2, 3 or more spawn s before they get it right. Not knowing your water values, this might be a problem, too. IMHO if you can see the eggs then the spawning site is too exposed. This can stress the female, especially if she can see potential egg predators. Better for her to eat them and get the nutrition than another fish. It takes quite a bit of care and attention to get apiso eggs to hatch and become freeswimming fry without their mother. For me, artificially hatching the eggs of aggies (or most commercially available apistos) is not worth the effort.

thanks for the input! i'll just wait it out and hopefully get a successful spawn.

 

[gerald]

Diet could also be a factor, if the mother is not getting enough of the right fats and proteins to make nutrient-rich egg yolk.