Fish Eggs Covered with Sand?

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balton777

Feeder Fish
MFK Member
Jan 8, 2007
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Rowlett, Tx
I've been fish keeping since 1997 and had many cichlids spawn. They usually lay them on a rock, log, the glass, or some other flat surface. The eggs have always been layed and then the area is kept clean by the mother.

Here's the weird thing. Every time my Gynogeophagus lay eggs, the mother covers them with sand. Not totally buried, but enough to where you can't see the eggs.

Is that normal?
 
Interesting. This reminds me of my old Gymno. balzanii when they bred - I noticed there's a fair amount of sand on the eggs. Not a whole lot, but none of my other fish did this. Maybe it's normal behavior for Gymnos?

Gymnogeophagus_Balzanii_052309_02.jpg
 
I've read of Satanoperca leucosticta/daemon and some gymno species burying their eggs in sand but they still hatch normally after a few days.

There was a thread like that in some other forum a few years ago where some people had experience with it and thought it was normal.
 
Maybe it's normal for these type fish then. Mine covers the whole rock with sand so the eggs are totally camoflaged.

Anyone else experience this?



Btw, they hatch normally if the male doesn't eat them first. She's a hardcore protector but he's usually pretty intent on eating them.
 
Yup, it's normal for that family, some African lake cichlids and a few others to do this as (IMO) a protective measure for the eggs. Kinda neat to see!
 
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