Here I Was Thinking That My Gbrs Hated Each Other!

[Didge007]

So here I was thinking that my male and female GBRs hated each other. I even removed the female from the tank only to put her back because she stressed. Then I thought they were confused, as the male had no interest in the female yet she was ready to breed. Now today I was doing a regular water change CONVINCED there must've been eggs somewhere as they have been attacking my pictus and hanging around behind some wood and sure enough there's probably over 30 eggs there (I can't get a real good look). Now, I'm unsure as to whether they'll eat the eggs now as I had my hand near them while I was shifting an air stone. Also, underneath the location of the nest is where my pictus lives.

So here's the problem. I have never raised fry (let alone GBR fry). I know my pictus is going to have a feild day on the fry. I can't shift anyone to different tanks as I JUST got everyone's tank mates right (bit of bickering between a certain few fish). What can I do? Is there a possibility of siphoning the eggs into something (suggestions) or could I try catching the fry? If I manage to do this do I just use on airstone or sponge filter? What temp should I have the heater at?

Can I just say I am over the moon that they finally figured it out!

 

[KittyKat]

Rams are good parents usually, leave the eggs as are. If you syphon them out and raise them yourself, there is a decent chance that the parents may start bickering again and the fry will not look after their own young.

 

[Didge007]

Is there a chance they will survive though? Tankmates: Pictus catfish, Angel, 4 khulis and there should be two borneos however I haven't seen them in over a week. I did remove the apple snail as it looked like he was making a bee line for the eggs

 

[minnnt]

My snails love eggs!

I would leave them be mate tbh. If you wante to ensure survival then you may need to set up a smaller tank for the parents to breed in.

KK is correct when she says that fry that have not experienced parental behaviour often make rubbosh parents themselves.

 

[KittyKat]

They probably won't survive, unless you can add a divider.

 

[minnnt]

Dividers work well. I divided my HRP's when they were in my main tank and it worked a treat!

 

[Didge007]

Thanks guys. Good thing I moved the snail. I think I will just let them do their thing until I move. I finished paying off a 4ft setup today so when I move I can set that up & leave a smaller tank just for them. What age do u take the parents out?

 

[KittyKat]

What age do u take the parents out?

Once the parents lose interest in the young and look ready to spawn again. The time period depends on the individual fish.

 

[johnboy!]

If the eggs are on a rock or peice of bogwood which you can remove... do that and put the female in the tank with them till they hatch and start becoming more independant, obviously you will have to have a tank with the same parameters as your 'main' tank, and you risk loosing the eggs via the female eating them out of stress, but if you pull it off you will have a good survival rate once they get free swimming and indpendant, feed them on vinegar eels, newborn brine, and other tiny tiny tiny live foods

 

[Didge007]

Thanks John boy, will look at weather I can remove the wood but I don't think I can

 

[Didge007]

Unfortunately they ate their eggs, better luck next time.