I just witnessed the strangest event in my tank. I have 2 rainbow cichlids, 2 tiger barbs, and 2 otos. These fish have all been established in the tank for over six months now (I had more barbs, but they died on seperate occaisions over time and I've been slow to replace them). The rainbow cichlids are a pair, and have spawned twice, each time raising the fry enough for me to hand them over to my LFS (so, I am well aware of what these fry look like.)
Today I was talking on the phone while I watched my tank, and all of the sudden, I saw a little free swimming fry all by itself swimming along glass. Its body was totally clear, except for eyes and a stomach (no egg sac) and it looked very different than the cichlid fry. No sooner than I could get excited about this little guy, my male rainbow ate it.
My question, where did it come from? My understanding is that barbs are egg scatterers, so is it possible that they are a pair and laid an egg that was not eaten which was able to mature without being cared for (even while I gravel vac'd the tank YESTERDAY!) ??? Has this happened to anyone else? It was the most bizarre thing I have ever witnessed... and I had no idea that my barbs were even a pair!!
Thoughts or any input would be great!! Thanks!
Today I was talking on the phone while I watched my tank, and all of the sudden, I saw a little free swimming fry all by itself swimming along glass. Its body was totally clear, except for eyes and a stomach (no egg sac) and it looked very different than the cichlid fry. No sooner than I could get excited about this little guy, my male rainbow ate it.
My question, where did it come from? My understanding is that barbs are egg scatterers, so is it possible that they are a pair and laid an egg that was not eaten which was able to mature without being cared for (even while I gravel vac'd the tank YESTERDAY!) ??? Has this happened to anyone else? It was the most bizarre thing I have ever witnessed... and I had no idea that my barbs were even a pair!!
Thoughts or any input would be great!! Thanks!
