Not mucking about...

[David R]

On Tuesday I sold my large dat and moved the three smaller (3-6") uaru from my 3' into the 4' tank with the two larger (6" & 7")ones that were living with the dat, ornate, red head severum and 9 big clown loaches. There was some initial scrapping, but by Wednesday I couldn't tell which of the 3 ~6" ones came from where. On Thursday I noticed the larger one and one of the others getting cosy and digging in the corner, so I gave them a big rock to clean. By Friday they seemed like a close pair and were pushing the other fish away, except for the big ornate who they ignore, and he ignores them and just goes where he pleases.

Tonight we came home from a movie and Hannah noticed the two were being very defensive of their corner, and what do you know...

 

[mbunafishkeeper]

congratz!!

 

[pono696]

wow that was easy lol. fish are amazing they live to breed

 

[joey02]

Congrats! the eggs look fertilized so i hope they make it! you'll have to remove the fry from that tank though.

 

[barley pop]

NICE !!!!!!

watch them they are notorious egg eaters.

 

[Hawkfish3.0]

Nice!!

 

[qwesty]

congrats!!!

 

[David R]

I didn't think the eggs stood much of a chance in that tank, especially with first-time parents, and sure enough they were gone this morning. I'm going to keep an eye out for a cheap 4' set up to give them a fair chance. I've had a pair of uaru that laid eggs every few weeks but they were never fertilised, I guess they must have been lesbians..

 

[joey02]

Female pairs are common. alot of female cichlids will pair up and lay eggs together. hopefully you got a pair and they just havent gotten it right yet. tank mates may have stressed them, and they ate the eggs because of it. My female uaru laid eggs and ate them a few hours later....

 

[David R]

Just a little update, the pair have spawned several times since my original post, and every time the eggs have disappeared over night. Last night they laid again, but this time have been guarding them better and nearly 24 hours later they're still there!! Not sure what would happen if they hatch, its not really a good environment for raising fry with a school of fat loaches and a big bichir. I guess I'll just have to hope they can defend some of the fry...

Anyone know how long uaru eggs usually take to hatch?