Eggs

[AndiS]

Im new to the forums but I have been raising our turquoise severems for about 4 years. I bought 2 of them from Pets mart and put them in a 55 gal tank. We also had 2 Oscars in a 75 gal tank. They have survived a lot... several moves including one long 8 hour move from Minnesota to Missouri. Once they got bigger we put them in a 75 gal tank. We had a Jack Dempsy as well that we have had in the tank with them for a few years now. after our most resent move we lost our Oscars which we had for 7 years. It was sad.


Anyways to get to the point..
when we moved this last time our tank turned green and would not clear up for anything I keeped doing changes every few weeks and then decided not to touch it for a month or so and it finally turned clear again. Well the pair of severems have been really fighting and not wanting to eat this past few day and staying around this flat rock so I took a closer look and they are guarding eggs! I dont know what to do. I thought they were both males this whole time.

most of the eggs seem to be dark but some are white. I dont know much about eggs I have never seen this and I have always had only male fish or so I thought! is it possible for them to lay eggs even if they are both the same sex? should I remove the Jack Dempsey! they get along well but I dont know if he/she will eat the eggs or if the eggs will even hatch! I dont really know what to do if they do hatch.

any advice or help please!

 

[AndiS]

Im new to the forums but I have been raising our turquoise severems for about 4 years. I bought 2 of them from Pets mart and put them in a 55 gal tank. We also had 2 Oscars in a 75 gal tank. They have survived a lot... several moves including one long 8 hour move from Minnesota to Missouri. Once they got bigger we put them in a 75 gal tank. We had a Jack Dempsy as well that we have had in the tank with them for a few years now. after our most resent move we lost our Oscars which we had for 7 years. It was sad.


Anyways to get to the point..
when we moved this last time our tank turned green and would not clear up for anything I keeped doing changes every few weeks and then decided not to touch it for a month or so and it finally turned clear again. Well the pair of severems have been really fighting and not wanting to eat this past few day and staying around this flat rock so I took a closer look and they are guarding eggs! I dont know what to do. I thought they were both males this whole time.

most of the eggs seem to be dark but some are white. I dont know much about eggs I have never seen this and I have always had only male fish or so I thought! is it possible for them to lay eggs even if they are both the same sex? should I remove the Jack Dempsey! they get along well but I dont know if he/she will eat the eggs or if the eggs will even hatch! I dont really know what to do if they do hatch.

any advice or help please!

 

[minxfishy]

Ok, well you either have male/female or two females. Two females will go thru the spawning ritual, but of course nothing will come of it.

Now if some of the eggs have darkened a little, then you have male/female, because otherwise they would stay white, if they darken they have been fertilised and will likely hatch in around 72hrs from laying.

I would advise you remove the JD as paired severums can be very aggressive when protecting their young. They could of course, being their first time as parents, also eat their own young, particulary if they feel they are under threat.

 

[AndiS]

almost every egg has turned white now and they have ate about 50% of them. Does this mean they are most likely 2 females?

 

[minxfishy]

It could be or the male didnt fertilise them or is infertile

Have you seen their Ovipositors (sp?) at all?

 

[AndiS]

It could be or the male didnt fertilise them or is infertile

Have you seen their Ovipositors (sp?) at all?

Im not sure what that is! Im not very fish savvy!! lol

What's left of the eggs are all white but they are not eating them like they did the others. I'm sure they are all dead because they are starting to get a fungus!

Does anyone know how I can tell if the sex! they look almost the same except one is a slightly bigger then the other. Also we got them both at the same time at pets mart and they were both tank mates with many other severms. so I always figured they were related.

 

[minxfishy]

Sounds like the eggs are bad, I would remove them.

Post up some pics of the Sev's and Im sure we will be able to sex them. Generally speaking a male will have a long flowing anal fin that goes past the end of his tail, whereas the females is rounder and doesnt extend as far.

Ovipositors, are there sex organs, they come out when they are breeding.