Caca egg fungus

[RHS788]

I have an orange blaze male and two females. The one female raised about 35 fry successfully, and the second raised about 15. (first round)

Now for round two. I have one on each side of a 10 gallon, and allowed the male to go between them. Each laid about 30-40 eggs under a different clay pot (one on each side of aq). Ironically about 1/2 of the eggs on one side are turning white (fungus), and the other side seems to be doing OK. Any ideas what might be happening? I think the water quality is OK, and the male (same father as the other fry) appeared to be entering both caves, fanning, and having a somewhat amorous, good time.

I finally put up the divider, and left the male on the side where the eggs are fungusing. I am thinking about pulling him.

Ironically in round 1 it seemed no eggs fungused, and the water may not have been changed as often as this round.

I have a light that auto works for about 10 hours per day, would this have any affect on the eggs? I don't recall if it was on during round 1 or not.

Any input is appreciated.

Randy

 

[Mike Wise]

Is it possible that the female with the fungused eggs laid them when the male was on the other side with the other female?

 

[RHS788]

No, but I have good news. While a few of the eggs did fungus, the female had moved most of them. She has since moved them to a spot where I can see them. They are starting to hatch (20-40). Meanwhile the eggs are hatching on the other side, and there are an equal # on the other side. I have removed the male, and placed the divider, so both females are in business. What a deal.

Ironically the second female moved the eggs one night, they hatched the next day, and the female moved them back to the original spot.

After all these years, it seems once you get some good breeding stock the rest seems to fall in place. (I know one shouldn't count the chickens until they have hatched.) Thanks to all for your help.

I also have two imported german rams (I think from Colombia), and they laid eggs once, but the eggs fungused. I need to figure that one out next, and I think they will be a lot trickier.

Randy

 

[Apistomaster]

Those seem like very small sized spawns. Are these still very small breeders?
If so, they may not be either at peak fertility or in their inexperience, the male was off on their timing which will improve soon.
I have only seen spawns this small among very small young breeders spawning for their first time.

 

[RHS788]

Second time for each, and second time for me so 20-40 compared with 0 is a good thing.

Thanks for the input. I could probably beef them up more before turning them loose with the male in the tank, but I have to keep this as a basic hobby, and having been raised on a farm myself, don't want too many animals in the pen anyway.

I am thinking about my next challenge, as I had two wild rams and one died.

Randy