Fish Are Breeding

[koinukun]

Hi everybody!

I've had my first ever fishtank with fish in it now for just under 4 weeks and everything is going swimmingly! (touch wood!)

My Harlequins and Lemon Tetra are liking it a bit too much though and are laying eggs everywhere! I never thought I would have to worry about my fish breeding because I though it was only something achievable if you were totally dedicated to the hobby. I'm worried about my fishies now though because as soon as someone lays any eggs they are are eaten immediately when found by my angelfish, the other tetras and harlequins or the parents themselves! Is eating the eggs going to make them sick?
Also are there any problems I should worry about if my fish keep it up, like ammonia spikes, or diseases for example?

I'm probably overreacting and should just sit back and watch them do their silly little dances they do but I just wanted to make sure!

Thanks for any input in advance!

koinukun~

 

[Thomas 2507]

Wow, you should be proud that your fish are confortable to do so in a community environment.

It is perfectly normal for the fish to eat the eggs. It won't make them ill oranything - it's just a snack to them!

Maybe you could save and rear a few of the eggs? That would be pretty cool.

 

[koinukun]

Yay! That's good to know then. Thanks!

Just out of curiosity, how long for and how often do fish go through producing eggs? Is it like 1 a month for a week or...? This has been only going on for about 3 days and I'm fascinated by it all! I love this hobby!

 

[ox5477]

Yay! That's good to know then. Thanks!

Just out of curiosity, how long for and how often do fish go through producing eggs? Is it like 1 a month for a week or...? This has been only going on for about 3 days and I'm fascinated by it all! I love this hobby!

This varies as much as the number of species do. I don't know much about tetra, but seeing as how they are small community fish, they are prob spread layers and would prob lay maybe every week or two depending on tank conditions and how often water changes occur (somtimes a water change will promp egg laying due to natural instinct to lay in fresh new monsoon waters that will be rich with life for the fish to grow in)