egg eating

[fishgeek]

I have a trio of cactoides that have repeatedly, over the last 6mths eaten the egg's or wrigglers
Twice of the 4 spawnings the egg's have hatched and i have seen movement before loss of the youung

I was wondering whether the female maybe needs to be removed, the male only seems to breed with the dominat female
The water maybe be too soft?

If there are other reasons for problems with poor mothering?

Can the egg's succesfully hatch and live without parental assistance ?

Thanks for any suggestions
Andrew

 

[Neil]

Andrew,

I was wondering whether the female maybe needs to be removed, the male only seems to breed with the dominat female

Usually it is some environmental issue, but sometimes it is just behavioral disfunction. I would tend to remove the female and let him try with another.

The water maybe be too soft?

That is possible, but I have had an aweful lot of cacatuoides spawns in soft, acidic water.

If there are other reasons for problems with poor mothering?

A bunch. In addition to possible incorrect water conditions and individual behavioral disfunction, there is also genetic abnormalities, dietary problems, disease, insecurity, sterility, etc.

Can the egg's succesfully hatch and live without parental assistance ?

Yes, but there is usually a large loss due to fungus. In order to hatch a large percentage of the eggs without parental assistance, and antifungal is necessary along with some way to increase water flow across the eggs, such as an airline tube with a consistant, but mild, stream of bubbles moving water near the surface of the eggs. Once they are hatched, this is less important. But can still be an issue. At that point, you are half way there and will need to be extra attentive to getting food to the babies at the outset of the free-swimming stage, as they will not have the instruction of their parents to help get them food.

Good luck,
Neil

 

[Randall]

Egg Eaters

Dear Andrew,

What size tank to you have, and what else is in it, please?

Thanks!

Randall Kohn

 

[fishgeek]

have been in 2 tanks duing their stay with me , both 2 ft long one slightly narrower and higher intially withjust a few guppies
now in larger footprint and shallower tank have removed all other fish
1 male 3 females at present

basically just bare bottom, 2 large rounded rocks and lots of java moss, 2 halfed small pots


once back from easter weekend i may try and give the fish a larger planted tank

 

[Randall]

Spawning Apistogramma cacatuoides

Hello Andrew,

Many hobbyists have successfully spawned Apistogramma species in bare tanks. I'm not one of them. My fish don't even show well in bare tanks let alone spawn in them. You might try adding a fine substrate, plants and caves. It may make a big difference.

Good luck!

Randall Kohn

 

[Mike Wise]

I once had a similar problem with Rotpunkt Apistos. In my case a female would come out with fry. Suddenly 2 yellow fish would be defending the brood together. The fry would swim between the two adults. The fry would disappear over a few days. After several lost spawns, I checked both adults carefully. Sure enough, one of the bright yellow brooding "females" was a small male in female brood dress. He was not very good at protecting fry, but very good at getting them away from their mother. It might be worth removing the extra females & see what happens.

Mike Wise

 

[fishgeek]

thanks mike , i missed that reply
it seems that the other female is female, she has free swimmers, i just increased the plant cver inthe tank, it basically is just plants now

fingers crossed i wont loose them from this point on

andrew