Will Bristlenose Eat Their Own?

[damon_m]

Hi all,

A few months ago in my community tank while cleaning I discovered a clutch of eggs on the underside of a pot, I have had two males and 3 females for about 5 years and was told the likelihood of them breeding was very slim due to the size of the males (almost 15cm) (females about 8-10cm). In my excitement I did not want to upset the nest by moving it and the dad to another tank and after two days the pot was empty.. I suspect the eggs were eaten by my cichlids. I moved the pot and the dad along with the 3 females to my other tank that was empty and hoped for another breed.

Last week I noticed dad had cleaned the floor of all sand and objects under the pot and a quick look revealed a heap of eggs!!

Yesterday the first wrigglers appeared and escaped the nest. I counted about 10 making their way around the tank still with egg sack attached. This morning I can only see about 3 of the babies and wonder if the 3 females might be feeding on them?? Dad is still in the nest and there is a large cluster off wrigglers still in there that Dad is guarding.

There is not much in the tank so I don't have trouble locating the wrigglers but where are the escaping one’s going?? Should I remove the females?? Perhaps they are finding their way back to the nest??

I have never been sure who is laying the eggs so I have just left all 3 in there. Two of the females have been sitting on the cave the whole time and dad even allows one in the pot with him and the babies.

wriggler - escaped the nest

One of the females

The nest - you can just see dad inside the far pot guarding the young

Possible mum sitting on the nesting pot - you can just see a wriggler on the rim of the right hand pot.

 

[Loco]

I highly doubt that the parents are eating them. Could just be hiding very well,after all you do have white sand lol.

 

[spectrum]

Mine stayed in the cave they were laid in for about a week after they hatched, I could see them wriggling inside. Then one day I cam home to find one stuck to the glass in the way they do. It took around another two weeks before they had all ventured into the open.

EDIT, I doubt really that a bristle nose would be capable of eating fry, they don't have teeth, or jaws (I think)

 

[MOW4T]

in my experience they dont eat their young, you may find a fair few inside your filter though if you havent blocked the intake

 

[fuzzynicki]

I have one adult longfin male, one long fin female, and one albino standard female. Plus a continuing 'supply' of eggs/fry. None of the fry have been eaten by the adults and I now have dozens and dozens of baby bn's!! It would appear that once they start breeding they never stop!!!!