Apistogramma Mom And Unhatched Eggs Seperation?

[Primous]

Hey guys

I have an unusual situation with an apisto borellii female I've kept for about a year and unusually she is quite a bad mother. She has had 4 broods and each has been unsuccessful. She regularly eats the eggs before they hatch and or is not very protective of the fry. The one brood that did reach free swimming stage was left once they became free swimming while she chased the male around the tank in what seemed like the pursuit of another spawn. We named her Brittney.

I'm asking because I have no idea of what goes on in the vase. I'm not sure if she needs to take care of them or if the eggs will grow fungi/rot if the female does not have access to them. She has always spent every hour with them. Nipping out at feeding time to eat, grabbing something and swimming back presumably to eat it inside the vase/shell. But by the third day the eggs disappear.

She is going through the motions right now, a peculiar ritual of swimming up and down the glass while the male flares. so I'm expecting a spawn within the next few days.

What do you think I should do?

 

[thereverendturtle]

Pull the eggs and artificially incubate them in another tank.

 

[Primous]

Thanks for your input.

I've read different a couple of different theories as to what goes on between the mother and her eggs. According to some she just guards them. But according to others she cleans them and keeps them debris free so I'm still wondering if anyone on the forum has any experience with this.