Help Festivums Laid Eggs

[Gsevrum]

First just wanna say hi.
I am looking for advice on my breeding pair of Festivums (Cichlasoma Festivum)
i have a Juwel Rio 125 with mangrove roots(fake)
small stones and caves made out of stones
Various plants unknown (most have been eaten by my Festivums)
there is also 5 neons
3 Festivums
2 clown loaches,the neons and loaches came with the tank
Tonight my wife noticed that our Festivums have laid about 150 eggs maybe more the eggs are attached near to the bottom of the pump/filter housing behind some mangrove roots.
Both adults are taking it in turns fanning the eggs and keeping all other fish away.
So if anyone can give me advice on what to do now has my fish have never laid eggs before it would help loads ie how long before they hatch,what to do about cleaning tank/water changes during this period and generally looking after the fry.
Thanks for your help.

 

[vancouver]

The eggs should hatch within a few days.. are they a whitish color, or a brown/tan color?

There's a chance either the loaches or even the parents will eat the eggs, but if they don't they should protect the fry for a few days. Often cichlids will eat their first few batches of fry, so you'll just have to wait and see.

Are they acting very aggressive towards the other fish?

 

[Gsevrum]

The eggs are a dull white they are very aggresive towards the other fish but more so to the other fetivums if the eggs dont hatch out will i have to remove them or will the fish eat them.
And if so how long do i leave them before removing them.
Thanks for your reply

 

[vancouver]

The parents should eat the eggs if they haven't been fertilized.

Are they a translucent white? or a solid white?

 

[Gsevrum]

Well just got home and most the eggs have gone i guess been eaten.
so i guess they havent been fertilised like you said there is about a dozen or so left and both parents are still fanning them and gaurding them,but we guess they will go the same way.
The eggs were translucent white some where a dull grey hard to see as they have been hidden behind the mangrove roots.
Thanks to all who have helped me with this and fingers crossed we may be lucky next time.

 

[Gsevrum]

Hi all sorry not been on in a while ive been very busy.
Just letting you know my Festivums have finally had sucsses after a few months off egg laying.
Got up this morning and at least 30+ fry are free swiming around the parents.
they seem to be good parents so far and if any fry stray too far are soon sucked up and taken back to the reat of the fry and spat out lol.
Just need a little advice now........when or if i should remove the fry from the parents or will it be ok to leave them with the parents as they grow.
My friends have all asked for some Festivums and just wondered when they are ok to be taken from the tank,what size etc.
Thank you for your help.

 

[LisaLQ]

I dont know whether it's an option or not, but it might be worth investing in a bigger tank, as a 125l isn't big enough for 3 festivums, clown loaches and baby fish. Even without the baby fish you're overstocked. The clown loaches alone will get to anywhere up to 12", and it might be the reason your festivums haven't grown past 3"? They should be roughly double that.

Congrats on the babies

 

[Gsevrum]

I should have said the festivums (breeding pair) are on there own now in the 125l tank,the loaches have been rehomed and as for the baby fish my friends all wont at least 2 or 3 and if there is any left my local tropical fish dealer said he will take whats left.
So thats why i wonted to know when i can remove the babies to there new homes.
thank you

 

[thegnu]

to grow any fry on you obviously have to feed them. what have, are you going to feed them. if you seriously want to grow them on you really have to have a supply of baby brine shrimp and it may be too late for your latest batch of fry

 

[Gsevrum]

Im feeding them Liquifry at the moment and have been told that the fry have been known to eat from the parents the mucus that forms on the parent fish and the parent fish will bring food down to them.
I have seen the parents bringing food to the fry,but as they are small i cant see if the fry are actually eating the food.
They seem to be all ok and have started to change colour slightly i think they may have hatched some time ago but never noticed them before as the tank is well planted.
Will keep you updated as things move along.

Mark.