Breeding timeline info for first-timer?

[johnnotis]

I finally decided to try some dwarf cichlids about a month ago, and I now I see why there are so many fans! I got a pair of A. nijsseni from the lfs to be the lower level inhabitants of my community tank, and they have become my instant favorites. Tons of personality, beautiful to look at, and fun behavior. And, now they've spawned and I have no idea what to do.

I'm pretty sure there are eggs under a piece of broken stoneware pot. The gravel's been piled up in front of the entrance, and the female squeezes in and out about once a minute. I saw them playing "nice" a few days ago, but I wasn't too hopeful after all the things I've read about this species.

Can I stick my hand in there and lift the nest cover without causing trauma? I don't want her to panic and eat her eggs because I'm curious.

What is the timeline for laying, hatching, larval stages? I'm trying to decide if I should scoop the eggs (and parents?) out to a small tank to give them a chance of survival. The dozen or so green tetras and seven red-eye tetras in there will no-doubt devour any little guys that come out of cover. If I leave everything alone, and there are actually eggs which become fry which become snacks, what happens then? Would I expect this pair to keep trying at intervals?

Thanks in advance!

-John

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[fishgeek]

i think 3-5 days from egg to hatch or wrigglers
then usually about 10 days from egg to coming out and being free swimming fry

how are they doing

some have basically put a small plastic tub into the aquarium and slipped this under the spawning cave to remove egg's and mother to another tank
the parents usually provide good care
and yes if the fry are lost most fish will go on to spawn relatively easily the second and third times