For the past few days I'd noticed that the smaller of my 2 Jags which I suspected was a female, has had a fat belly. Last night I noticed that both jags were spending a lot of time around a clay pot in one corner of the tank and they'd dug a pit both in front of and behind it. So today I watched them cleaning the pot up even more and since it was almost time for a water change I went ahead and did it a few days early. Less than an hour after the water change 40-50% and some canister maintenance, I noticed them staying around the pot and as I got closer I began to see many eggs attached to the interior side of the pot. The larger Jag that has been starting to show more spotting is also making passes over the eggs and chasing off any of the other fish in the tank if they get too close.
I had no idea when I bought them that they'd turn out to be a pair. I was hoping that would be the case but they were too small for me or the shopkeeper to tell sex at the time and they were the only jags I could find within a 2 hour driving distance of my house.
Since I'd like to try and raise the fry, if they do hatch how long should I wait before moving them to a grow out tank? Will the parents be able to fend off the other fish in the tank and protect the eggs/fry or do I need to try and set up a divider to keep them away? All my other fish( Featherfin catfish, common pleco, peacock bass and sun catfish seem to know to stay away. My 6.5" tiger oscar on the other hand, seems to either have a death wish or is just too stupid to stay away even though the male jag has chased it off dozens of times and even taken a few nips at the oscar. I saw a few scales fly one of the times it got bit.
Do I need to put some kind of sponge or fine netting over the intakes for the power heads and canister filter or will the parents be able to keep the fry away from them?
I had no idea when I bought them that they'd turn out to be a pair. I was hoping that would be the case but they were too small for me or the shopkeeper to tell sex at the time and they were the only jags I could find within a 2 hour driving distance of my house.
Since I'd like to try and raise the fry, if they do hatch how long should I wait before moving them to a grow out tank? Will the parents be able to fend off the other fish in the tank and protect the eggs/fry or do I need to try and set up a divider to keep them away? All my other fish( Featherfin catfish, common pleco, peacock bass and sun catfish seem to know to stay away. My 6.5" tiger oscar on the other hand, seems to either have a death wish or is just too stupid to stay away even though the male jag has chased it off dozens of times and even taken a few nips at the oscar. I saw a few scales fly one of the times it got bit.
Do I need to put some kind of sponge or fine netting over the intakes for the power heads and canister filter or will the parents be able to keep the fry away from them?
