Parent raising question cockatoos and blue rams

[nightowl1350]

I have a pair of both blue rams and Apitso C. in their own tanks. My question is if you want them to parent raise do you leave the tank light on 24/7 after they have layed eggs?

Both pairs eat their eggs. If I don't catch the rams laying they will eat them before morning (most often they lay after 9:30 pm). The apisto have kept eggs overnight with no lights but eat them before the 48 hour stage and wigglers. If I turn a tank light on (not too bright a bulb) before they spawn and leave it on will it help them keep the eggs and raise the young?

I know angels should have a light on, but I've never had parent raisers form them either

 

[creedmore creek]

I have not had a problem with getting caucatodies to raise young in a tank with cycling lights. However, most of my young parents do eat their first few clutches of eggs - I chalk that up to inexperience or unfertilized eggs. Over the long haul though the pairs always seem to figure it out.

Personally I like having a night cycle in the fry rearing tank as it reflects a natural settomg and I like having that as part of my selection process for future generations of fish.

 

[apistoireland]

I agree with creedmore creek. In nature the lights go off at night too. I never had problems other than young fish eating their first couple of clutches. Even with angles I never left the lights on at night and never had any other problems than those I mentioned with apistos. But my experience is limited with angels since I only ever heave kept and bred the natural colour variety. Can't comment on all the selectively bred strains

 

[brad]

I can say that in my tanks with timers, the fry are back in cave before the lights go out. The tanks that don`t really have much of a schedule, I turn the lights off, but leave the lights in the room on for a while to give mom the chance to get the fry covered for the night.

 

[nightowl1350]

Guess I just can't pick parent raising anything but BN plecos My angel pairs eat their eggs. One younger pair have let them go 30-36 hours, then eat them. The other pairs I have eat the eggs by about 24 hours.

My male ram was doing great the spawn was just over 48 hours old and he ate them. I didn't get a chance to tell if they were wigglers as I didn't want to get too close

My apisto C. don't get it right either by about 30 hours the female chows down on the eggs, but with them I'm starting to think they are getting past their prime as the eggs don't stick well and there are about 1/2 or more that turn white. They get plenty of great food....brine shrimp and bloodworms as well as beefheart (only 1 of the 3 per day) and a sinking pellet. I do have some of their babies I pulled so when they grow up (about 3-4 months more) I will try it with a younger pair.

If I ever get them to parent raise I will be sure to post.