I Have A Dilemmia...

[xenomorph]

I have an adult oscar and a sub-adult Texas cichlid residing in a 180 (along with some other non-cichlid fish).

We are also growing out six young cichlids (four jags, two texas) in a 75.

The adult oscar has a tumor (not currently life-threatening--it does not affect him in any way except it seems to make him uncomfortable and tilt to the side when the tank's temperature is at 80 or above, which it hasn't been for a while). I was planning on tank-swapping the oscars with the baby cichlids in the 75 (babies in 180, oscar in 75 by himself)...then trying an experimental course of medication on the oscar (Clout and epsom salts) for two weeks, or longer if necessary.

However since I am very busy planning my wedding (which is on July 25th!) I have been putting off moving the fish around.

But today is the last possible day I can move the fish and still treat the oscar for a full two weeks since we are leaving for our trip on Monday July 24th.

But now the dilemmia: one of the texas cichlids and one of the jags (yes you read that right!) have paired up and this morning spawned so now there's a flowerpot full of eggs in the 75. I'm not sure if I should be happy or about this.

So the question is: if I wait until after we get back from our trip/wedding on (we'll be back July 29th) to swap the fish would it be a big deal? I am kind of concerned about the oscar, however, he has not changed any in several months (tumor size is the same) and he is a happy fellow as long as the tank's temps are cool enough for him. If we swap the fish now, obviously I will have to discard of the unusual texas/jag eggs and I am kind of curious to see if they actually hatch.

I'm already leaning towards leaving the fish alone for now but I need reassurance I'm making the right choice, I guess. Thanks and sorry for the long post.

 

[Tolak]

If they spawned once, they will probably spawn again. I never pull the first spawn with angels, it's usually a weak spawn. As far as the spawn being viable, I have no idea. If the oscar has been ok for this long, another month shouldn't make much difference.

Personally, I would be more concerned with the wedding more than the fish.

 

[xenomorph]

Thanks for your input

Shortly after I wrote the original post, I spotted a second pair of fish--both jags--laying eggs on the other side of the 75. I've never actually seen cichlids lay eggs before so it was fun to watch. But I wonder what's going to happen now--what if both sets of eggs hatch?

 

[Tolak]

Consider it a wedding gift from your fish. GCCA is having an auction on Sept. 17th, they are in the n.w. suburbs. I think Greenwater's next auction is in November, near Midway airport. You could sell fish at either one of you can't get any lfs to take them off your hands.

 

[xenomorph]

That's a good idea, we also need to sell all the adult (well, 3") cichlids in that tank except one. I guess I could sell the two jags that spawned as a pair now...unfortunately I think we'll have to stop at selling a texas/jag pair since we wanted to keep that female jag! But now I am kind of hoping the babies from that spawn live, it would be interesting to see them.