My Rams Laid Eggs And Now They Are Missing?

[RaechalLee]

Two of my rams laid eggs and I believe this may be the third day. The dad has been doing an awesome job at protecting the eggs but I just now checked on them and all of them are missing except the ones that turned white.
 
 
I know the chances of them making it in my community tank is slim to none but do rams move their eggs?
 
Would a fish eat all of the "good" eggs and leave the white ones behind?
 
This is the first time I've ever gotten my rams to breed.

 
My male is still protecting the area in the back where the eggs were but I can't see any eggs anywhere else.
Is it normal for the male to still be protective of the area even though all of the eggs might be gone?
 
 
 

 

[star4]

If they are all still white they maybe infertile, *usually with cichlids eggs will start hatching around day 3 and the parents may move the fry to a safer part of the tank.
 
*This is not the case with every type of cichlid though.

 

[l_l_l]

Maybe the fish hatched and he's now protecting his fry

 

[RaechalLee]

Well the majority of them are completely gone. When I first saw the eggs they were all a tannish color and then the next couple days like 4 or 5 of them had turned white and now I only see the white ones left on the leaf where the eggs were originally laid.
 
Now the male and female are still protecting that area but my tank is so planted in the back I can't see any eggs or fry or anything back there.

 

[star4]

It sounds like they have hatched and the parents have them nearby, its been years since I had ram fry and they were tiny. Keep a close eye on where they go if they move away from the eggs.

 

[RaechalLee]

It sounds like they have hatched and the parents have them nearby, its been years since I had ram fry and they were tiny. Keep a close eye on where they go if they move away from the eggs.

I have been checking on them but it is so hard to see way back in my tank haha I tried looking for any tiny fry but no luck. I think I will wait until tomorrow and see how they act.

 

[thelaw]

well if the other eggs hatchet they would have eaten the "bad" eggs so my guess is they hatchet wen you were not around and the other fish picket off the fry      

 

[RaechalLee]

well if the other eggs hatchet they would have eaten the "bad" eggs so my guess is they hatchet wen you were not around and the other fish picket off the fry      

That is what I thought, if a fish got to the eggs they would have eaten all the eggs. I will look out for fry because the male seems to still be protecting the back of the tank.

 

[EllieJellyEllie]

If you want to have fry I would move the pair to a tank just with them. Then you can keep it super clean and ensure the best possible survival rate for the fry. I know DevotedtoDiscus uses a clay pot for their discus to lay eggs on.

 

[thelaw]

 

well if the other eggs hatchet they would have eaten the "bad" eggs so my guess is they hatchet wen you were not around and the other fish picket off the fry      

That is what I thought, if a fish got to the eggs they would have eaten all the eggs. I will look out for fry because the male seems to still be protecting the back of the tank.
 

cool they will be very small so maybe get a magnifying glass go the area he is protecting and look closely best of luck to you.

    

 

[RaechalLee]

If you want to have fry I would move the pair to a tank just with them. Then you can keep it super clean and ensure the best possible survival rate for the fry. I know DevotedtoDiscus uses a clay pot for their discus to lay eggs on.

 
I really want to get a smaller corner tank for the pair. I woke up and the white eggs are gone and the rams are no longer protecting that area so I think maybe they hatched and the tiny fry got eaten last night.

 

[thelaw]

 

If you want to have fry I would move the pair to a tank just with them. Then you can keep it super clean and ensure the best possible survival rate for the fry. I know DevotedtoDiscus uses a clay pot for their discus to lay eggs on.

 
I really want to get a smaller corner tank for the pair. I woke up and the white eggs are gone and the rams are no longer protecting that area so I think maybe they hatched and the tiny fry got eaten last night.
 

aww thats a shame 

 

[Lunar Jetman]

Dwarf Cichlids will often eat the "bad" eggs or just because they're immature. They often need a few goes at getting it right so it might just be practice for them!

 

[RaechalLee]

Dwarf Cichlids will often eat the "bad" eggs or just because they're immature. They often need a few goes at getting it right so it might just be practice for them!

 
That was why I was confused because all of the good eggs were missing and the "bad" eggs were left on the leaf. I think they may have hatched and got eaten last night when the lights were off.

 

[AeonMapa]

The rams may continue to protect that area whether there are eggs or not simply because that is their territory. I've got two ram pairs in my community, plenty of eggs and spawning but never any fry. It's just too difficult for the parents to keep them alive in a community situation. Also ram eggs and fry need very specific water conditions to survive. One day if I have the time and energy to chase down and catch one of my pairs, I may try breeding them!