I've got eggs! Texas and Parrot!!!

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oscarmeyer321

Jack Dempsey
MFK Member
Aug 2, 2010
38
16
38
Long Island, Lindenhurst
Hey guys!

This morning my Fiance woke up to tons of commotion in her 125 Gallon tank so she immediately turned on the lights to see our Parrot fanning a ton of fertilized eggs and our Texas chasing everyone off!

I have no experience with how a Male Texas and Female Parrot take care of their young so any tips would be greatly appreciated...

I am making a tank divider to keep the other fish away from them. The male Texas has not had a single break from chasing curious intruders and I am extremely worried the eggs are going to get eaten.

Should I continue to let the parents fan and guard the eggs?

When/If the eggs hatch, should I continue to let the parents take care of them or should I separate the parents after the eggs hatch?

I need the above questions answered as soon as possible, please.

Here's a picture of my female Parrot fanning her fertilized eggs:

eggsb.jpg


I've done some research and believe this is the first step in creating the Red Texas Hybrid cichlid.

In short I am excited and can not wait till these eggs hatch into fry!!!

Like I stated above, please give me some guidance on what to do!

Thanks!
 
I haven't had much experience with Texas Cichlids but just watch the color of the eggs. Female parrots can lay eggs regardless if they are fertilized once a month. Watch over the next 3-6 days, as long as they don't turn white they should be fertilized. If they do turn white, you should try to clean them out as they can develop a fungus that is harmful to your tank. I am not sure how long it will take for them to hatch...good luck.
 
I don't want to jinx you or anything, but I also have a Cyano and RBP pair that have laid several batches of eggs. None of which have been successful. I would love to see yours turn out, but don't be too disappointed when they eat them.
 
I have two different female parrots which have breed with different fish. Both were very good parents. One of them even fended off the male from eating the fertilized eggs. A divider is a good idea, but beware of the fry getting to the other side of the divider when they hit the free swimmer stage. It's up to you to keep them with the parents or not. I think it's easier to feed the fry when they have their own tank. A 20 gallon will be good for a while.

But if you do keep them with the parents, the fry grow faster because they eat the slime coat of the parents. I actually had to take the fry (free swimmers) away from one of my breeding pair because they not only ate the male's slime coat, but also a significant portion of his fins to a point where I was concerned for his health.

What do you plan to do with the fry? I don't mean to rain on your parade, but most of them probably will not fade to red, since they are first generation.
 
I don't know much about parrots and their breeding behavior, but I had a pair of texas once. They were both great parents. THe male was excellent at gaurding and taking care of the eggs. If I were you, I would set up another small tank to raise the fry in once they are free swimming. Theres a few different types of food you can feed, but I found the cost of Hikari First BItes at $3 was a lot easier than some other options. Good luck.
 
Well I guess I got my hopes up, all the eggs seem to of been eaten Yesterday.

Two days ago I studied the eggs for fertilization, about 10% turned white and the rest seemed to be an amber coloration so I thought great...

Last night I went to check on what I was hoping to be a bunch of wriggling hybrid fry all to find out both the Male Texas and Female Parrot hunched in a corner sulking and no eggs to be found.

At first I thought the parents moved them to another location but I can't find them anywhere, there were at least 200 eggs.

I noticed the Male Texas was completely out of breeding coloration and back to his old self. Both the Male Texas and Female Parrot were not guarding anything, they seem guilty to me...

Oh well, maybe in another 3-6 weeks I will have better luck. Next time I see eggs I will NOT be keeping the parents with them. I have a 20 Gallon and will be raising the eggs/fry myself...

Thanks for all the help.
 
:( too bad

there is a chance they are just in the gravel though, fingers crossed.

recipe for success:
next time take whatever they lay the eggs on, put it in the 20, add 1 drop of methalyne blue(not malachite green) per gallon per day. malachite green will kill eggs, regardless of what stupid petco employees will tell you. put an airstone directly under the eggs and run a sponge filter. make sure to start the tank with water from the parents tank. keep the water at 82.
 
MyFishEatYourFish;4684242; said:
:( too bad

there is a chance they are just in the gravel though, fingers crossed.

recipe for success:
next time take whatever they lay the eggs on, put it in the 20, add 1 drop of methalyne blue(not malachite green) per gallon per day. malachite green will kill eggs, regardless of what stupid petco employees will tell you. put an airstone directly under the eggs and run a sponge filter. make sure to start the tank with water from the parents tank. keep the water at 82.
Click to expand...


Thanks, will give it a shot next time!
 
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