My First Krib Spawning

[craig855s]

Hi boys and girls,

Yesterday i noticed my female krib in a new spot in the tank (they have moved from the slate cave they first occupied,then they moved again from a hollowed out area under the bogwood) [they are not in a small gap between the glass and a terracotta pot], checked the area today and the female is in there...with eggs attatched to the side of the pot, the male was in the immediate vicinity too.

Im very pleased to see the female laying eggs but i have a handful of questions
1.The male wasn't/isn't very colourful, but does stay in the same teritory as the female..does this mean they are a mating pair or is he not interested in her in that way?
2.Will a krib female lay eggs that go unfertilised or will she only lay when she knows the male wants to fertilise?
3.I know the eggs are safe, but will the fry be safe when the kribs bring them out to feed (In the tank i have 2 angels,a ram, 3 lace/pearl gouramis, 2 yoyo loaches, harlequins,rummynoses and corys,and a growing plec.
4.Do the fry need target feeding or will the parents help them feed on detritus/left overs from the tank

All help appreciated. I have a breeding tank set up with a platy in at the minute (she will drop in a day or two)..is it advisable to move the krib fry into there?

 

[kribensis12]

Congrats! Well, the fry should be reasonably safe. The parents wont let them stray to far away. The dad may be her mate, or she could just be laying to , well, lay. You'll find out soon enough! Also, they don't really need to be target fed. They will eat detritus, but feeding them will make them grow faster.

 

[craig855s]

just to update this the eggs have now hatched (final 3 are just shaking away at the minute) and theyre underneath the terracotta pot in the excavated hole. Can't wait to see them in 2-3 days free swimming with the parents. I hope they all make it through the first month ok

 

[fatheadminnow]

Congrats! I just had my first batch of Krib fry too! It took 5 days for them to become free-swimming, so do not be worried if you do not see them free swimming in 3 days.

-FHM

 

[craig855s]

A VERY large MTS (trumpet snail) was under the pot today, and I cannot see any krib fry/yolk sacks or anything in there now, the parents also seem to spend a lot less time under there and more time just cruising around that half of the tank. I fear my babies have been eaten by an MTS? Is this possible? 40 babies?