Laetecara curviceps and guppies

[douginsf]

I've kept a pair of L. curviceps for about 1.5 -2 years now in a 40 gallon plant tank (78F, PH 6.4, GH 4ppm KH?) with about 5 male and 2-3 female Red Delta guppies. I change 1/3 of the water weekly. I've witnessed breeding displays many times but have never seen any fry. For the past 6 months or so the male has made himself at home in a pile of large rocks and stays there most of the time while the female hangs out on the opposite side of the tank. Sometimes I don't even see the male for periods of 2-5 days. During this time I've assumed he might be guarding eggs or fry but I've never seen any evidence of this. I even turned over all the rocks a few times looking for eggs bu found nothing.

My only conclusions are that either the male curviceps is eating the eggs or fry or the guppies are eating them. I also have a few ottocinclus affinis and two 2" siamensis algae eaters in the same tank. The guy at my lfs says none of the companion fish could be the culprits but I have my doubts.

Does anyone here have ay thoughts?

 

[fishgeek]

i think guppies are unlikley to be the cause , mainly surface feeders and not the fastest fish to harass the parents

andrew

 

[mummymonkey]

Crossocheilus siamensis are pigs and will certainly eat fry. I think you'd see some signs of fry/eggs before they were all eaten though.