Murderous Vieja.

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J

Jon MacLeod

Feeder Fish
MFK Member
Mar 6, 2013
81
0
0
Washington
Ok. Maybe my title is a little off. Here it is. Flowerhorn + Vieja spawned. Had around 200 free swimming fry. Came home from work today and my wife had told me that besides the occasional eating of a deformed baby. The Vieja went on a genocide mission to destroy her fry.

I've saved approx 25 of them in a breeding net. I don't have another tank unfortunatly. Hope they make it.

Could anyone explain that behavior or has anyone witnessed it before? I figured that the Flowerhorn would be the culprit. He's the psychotic one. The viejas usually pretty docile.


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Some of the Viejas are not particularly docile, I find them to be more aggressive than many of the so called volitile cichlids like Parachromis. Eating fry and killing a mate is also normal. Pair bonds are often fragile and unless there are other fish in the tank to solidify the bond, or to distract the male after spawning, his mate can become the target.
Nets are also not great places for fry, the parent can easily suck them thru the mesh.
 
Looking into another tank but as I live In military post housing and I'm already breaking the rules by having more then a 40g tank. I'm looking at a garage type set up. Here's the tank.

Flowerhorn, Vieja, Common Pleco. And a 1" Convict that has eluded my Flowerhorns wrath by hiding. The convict was not intentional I got rid of a breeding pair due to they annoyed the hell out of me and the one fry I didn't see made it. Lol. At first I thought it was maybe him picking off the babies but my wife said she witnessed the act.


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Normally first two or three spawns a pair makes is eaten.............
 
It's a learning curve for you and her, you'll have more tricks up your sleve next time. It isn't unusual for the first few spawns to be eaten though. IME Plecos are bad news with eggs and wigglers. I would let her try a few times to get it right sans pleco before pulling and raising the fry in a seperate tank unless you really need the fry. The parents when able do a good job raising the fry.
 
I plan on pulling the Pleco today. I'm doing a WC now. I'm not gonna rush another tank right now but ill get one if I come across a deal. Trial and error is all its gonna be. I appreciate the info tho.


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