Jag eggs?

[E-Nyce]

Ok, I am fairly new at keeping cichlids. I have a 6 inch jag that just laid eggs in my tank for the first time. Not sure what to do about them. She does not have a mate, however there is a 2 inch male convict cichlid in the tank with her. (he was supposed to be a feeder but the jag never ate him.) Is there any chance of the convict fertilizing these? What should I do with the eggs otherwise? I have heard that the jag will eventually eat them if they arent fertilized? Is this correct, or should I try to scoop them out after a few days? (There are a ton of them!!!) Also I am confused as to why she would lay eggs in the first place without a mate? Is this normal? Or in some way tied to the presence of the male convict?

Thanks in advance.

 

[midasman714]

i doubt the convict will fertilze her eggs... my old red devil female would always lay eggs and she lived in a tank by herself. she was good at cleaning it up (eating the eggs) but i heard some aren't, in which case you'd have to scrape and clean em up yourself.

also, at 6", the 2" convict feeder might be too large, which explains why he's still around

 

[E-Nyce]

also, at 6", the 2" convict feeder might be too large, which explains why he's still around

It's strange, she eats gold fish bigger than him all the time. I am surprised to see him still in there every morning....but there he is.

 

[balton777]

Convicts are much more cunning at survival than goldish. You shouldn't feed goldfish to your cichlids though or any coldwater fish for that matter due to high fat content. Will she take pellets?

 

[Mystix212]

Its fairly normal for female cichlids to 'dilute' thier eggs out of thier body. Much the same as human females. There is a possibility that the convict did in fact fertilize the eggs. I would keep them untouched and let the fish do all the work.

Just think, you may have Conguar's in a few days.

 

[E-Nyce]

If it turns out that the convict did not fertilize them, and the jag does not eat them. How long should I wait until scooping them out?

A Conguar sounds pretty cool! Wonder what they would look like?

 

[Ang]

My female Jag just laid eggs too. They werent fertilized either. They ended up all turning white and she's eaten almost all of them now.

I didnt know what to do either. But i was told she would eat them if they werent fertilized and she is.

 

[E-Nyce]

My female Jag just laid eggs too. They werent fertilized either. They ended up all turning white and she's eaten almost all of them now.

I didnt know what to do either. But i was told she would eat them if they werent fertilized and she is.

Thanks...I wasnt lookiing forward to cleaning those out...but keeping my fingers crossed for a few Conguars.

 

[Mystix212]

Either the eggs will hatch or they will wind up as lunch or they will foul the water, which shouldnt be noticeable if you do adequate water changes. Dont do anything, leave them be.

 

[vj2]

if you have any jag babies message me or e-mail me at fatjames_1@yahoo.com