Blue Acara Breeding

[Artt]

I had noticed 2 of my 6 blue acara had paired up but wasn't expecting to get any other action from them for a while. Her egg tube was down this morning and the pair had been cleaning rocks all day.

And then this just happened, they have eggs, both parents seem to be defended them pretty well considering this is their first spawn. I'll keep this updated with how its going.

Is there anything I should be doing? Or do I just observe and keep up with normal routines?

Sorry about the reflection in the pictures, bad time of day for photography. Might try for some better ones later.

 

[Jexnell]

Monitor, may have to move the extra four If the parents get too rowdy defending.

It usually take a couple spawns for new pairs the get all the steps right. If not worried about it let them keeps the eggs and learn.

 

[BIG-G]

I agree you don’t really have to do anything if the fry are not important to you. If they are then you can move the other Acara or you can move some fry.
If you can wait till the fry are just hatched would be better.
The longer you leave them though the more chances of something happing.
It may also be possible that the pair will be excellent parents and raise them.

 

[Artt]

The parents are doing a really good job of guarding the eggs for now. I'm afraid if I pulled the other Blue acara the pair might start fighting between themselves because the female seems very unsure about letting the male help. She has chased him off a few times and nipped at him.

My spare tank is set up as a QT at the moment so this spawn will have to stay with them. If I lose the spawn so be it. I'm sure I'll get the opportunity to raise another one in the future.

I did lose a tetra overnight, if any more go missing I'll pull them from the tank, as much as I hate to throw them in the QT they may fair better in there.

 

[Artt]

Damn there must be something in my water!

I have a second pair preparing to spawn in the same tank and my keyhole cichlids surprised me with a spawn in the QT last night.

Pictures of keyhole spawn and second pair of Blue acara guarding their chosen spawning spot.

The spawning from the first pair is still going well, I can see one fungus covered egg but the rest look good, seeing tiny black dots in them now.

 

[Artt]

At lights on this morning, I noticed the eggs had hatched. It took the parents about 2 mins after the lights went on to start moving the wigglers into a pit they had made last night. Then they moved them again 30 mins later.

Is it normal for the parents to move them so often?

Both parents are now keeping a very tight watch on them. I'm really astounded how well they have been looking after them for a first spawn. Everything I had read indicated that it can take the pair a few attempts to get this process right.

The only picture I managed to snap before the parents moved them to the new pit.

 

[Jexnell]

It varies on the fish themselves.
Casper's first wife first spawn the eggs went bad and he ended up killing her. His second wife took better care on her first spawn and got them all to hatch.
With my HRP pair it took them three tries to get fry to swimmer stage.
My Convict pair got swimmers out of thier first batch.

 

[Artt]

It varies on the fish themselves.
Casper's first wife first spawn the eggs went bad and he ended up killing her. His second wife took better care on her first spawn and got them all to hatch.
With my HRP pair it took them three tries to get fry to swimmer stage.
My Convict pair got swimmers out of thier first batch.

This pair seem to get along days within me putting them all in the tank together. I just didn't think anything of it because they were so small.

I still have a soft spot for my goldfish but watching these guys has been so interesting. I wish a had tried keeping cichlids sooner. I think I may have found a new addiction, maybe some mouth brooders the next time I'm stocking a tank.

 

[tlindsey]

This pair seem to get along days within me putting them all in the tank together. I just didn't think anything of it because they were so small.

I still have a soft spot for my goldfish but watching these guys has been so interesting. I wish a had tried keeping cichlids sooner. I think I may have found a new addiction, maybe some mouth brooders the next time I'm stocking a tank.

Congrats! Just a tip personally would start a journal on your parameters, temperature, wc routine and what your feeding.

 

[BIG-G]

Is it normal for the parents to move them so often?

Yes many cichlids will move a spawn once the eggs hatch. They do this to better protect the fry and discourage predators.
Most times the actual spawn site is a little larger and more open so the pair can take turns passing over them. But once the eggs hatch the female will move them to place she feels she can protect the little ones better.