Green Terror Fry

[Ditchwitch]

I got a tank and 4 Green Terrors This Last Sunday. Now yesterday 09-30-03 One of the females layed eggs and the male furtalized(try to explain that to a 4year old) any way if and when they hatch how long should I leave them in the tank?



Thanks Mike

 

[smb]

You can just leave them in the tank if you wish. Like most cichlids, they are excellent parents.

I do have to say that although they are in general not an aggro fish, some can be and all the GT's I've had were very mean when breeding and would kill any other GT in the tank and sometimes even the female. I would recommend just the pair of GT's in a 70g and make a divider only big enough for the female to fit thru for when she wants to get away from the male and relax.

Maybe this isn't the norm for these fish but it's the norm from my experience.

 

[Ditchwitch]

I have noticed that the female won't even let the male close to the nest. Is this normal since there is another full grown female in the tank.

 

[smb]

It's semi-normal. What I mean is it usually isn't the case as they sometimes switch duties but I do see it happen from time to time. Actually, I'm surprised the other female isn't killed or seriously injured by now.

I wouldn't worry tho, if the female won't allow anyone close to them, then there's a valid reason in her mind for it. She'll take great care of them. Is she eating at all?

 

[Ditchwitch]

Yes she is eating fine I place the food on both sides of the tank so she can get her fair share \. Oh yea the only one that can get close too her is the baby GT. Not sure if its male or female yet but it's about 1.5" long.



P.S. I was born and raised near Gainsville.

 

[smb]

That would be my only worry, if the female's eating.

How long after they are free swimming are you going to leave them in there?

 

[Ditchwitch]

Not sure thats what I was trying to figure out.

 

[smb]

You can take them out anytime after they are freeswimming. It's all up to you as to when after that. I take mine out about a week or so afterwards.

 

[Ditchwitch]

Okay the eggs all turned fuzzy white color last Thursday or Friday. Now most of the fuzzy stuff is disappearing. And I dont see the babys anywhere. Is this normal?

 

[smb]

White eggs mean they are infertile and yellow-ish eggs mean they are good.

Did you have any yellowish eggs?

 

[cichlidmaster]

Ok here is the low down.............

The white fuzzy stuff you saw was fungus. Either the eggs were not viable, the male did not fertilize them or the parents did not fan them and keep them clean.

Given this is probably their first spawn and CA/SA cichlids are notorious for lossing their first couple of spawns it is most assuridly one of these three.

The reason you don't see any fry is there probably isn't any.

The fungus more than likely consumed the egg clutch and is now dissipating due to not having anything to live off of.

Do not fret however......as long as you have a male and female (this is another possibility) you will have more eggs laid soon.

The reason I say "if you have a male" is this.......we know you have a female since she laid the eggs, but it is entirely possible you have a second female and that could be the reason the eggs were not fertilized. It is also possible for the female to lay eggs without a males presence.

It is common (especially with angels) for two females to go thru the spawning process even tho there is no male.

It not as common with CA cichlids as it is angels, but it can still happen.

Hope this helps some. Keep us posted.

CM

 

[Ditchwitch]

Couldn't Download the pictures here so I put them in Member's Aquariums under My GT'S.

 

[Ditchwitch]

Well it looks like no fry this time mama is off the rock and swimming around.

 

[smb]

Well it looks like no fry this time mama is off the rock and swimming around.

There wasn't any eggs for a while as they were infertile. When they were laid did you happen to notice any yellowish colored eggs? You can put anti-fungal in with eggs to help also.

 

[Ditchwitch]

Thank for the advice. I'll remember that the one of the girls start laying.