Apistogramma Cacatuoides Have Bred?

[mikster]

My female apisto had been looking fat lately and i come home tonight to find her staying in a coconut cave i made which up until now hadnt been used alot. She is staying in it only to dart out for food and shes defending it from the corys very aggressively, they cant come onto her side of the tank, also shes looking very thin and saggy now like shes dropped a load. From what ive read i this sounds like theyve mated, any tips, advice or comments?

 

[thegnu]

it's almost certain she has. is she a more bright yellow colour and her ventral fins and black markings really black

 

[mikster]

Yes shes been like that for a few days and im fairly sure she has, not sure if the eggs will hatch as my ph out of the tap is like 7.6 and ive heard this is around the threshold for them hatching, ive tested it in my tank and its between 7.2 and 7.6, hopefully its been lowered to closer to 7.2 with the addition of co2 and plants like vallis absorbing the minerals and stuff, i didnt actually want them to breed as im off to canada at the end of may for two weeks but here goes lol

 

[Mystix212]

Well without food for 2 weeks chances are they'll all die. Fry will usually start free swimming 3 days after hatching. But fed 'em to other fish if you dont want 'em