Oscars spawned?

[Achilles1763]

Hello, okay so this is a massive surprise I think my oscars have spawned in my 220g comm tank! Basically I have never intended for this to happen and only had the albino oscar for a month! On the positive it's in the back left corner of the tank so they have only claimed about a third of the tank and although they are protective they are not hyper aggressive at all. The eggs are shelided behind a large rock outcrop so it's a very protected location and the fahaka etc have been chased off to the other side of the tank. But everyone is fine no injuries at all. I have no idea what to expect as this is such a surprise, so any information would be great. Is this spawn even going to be viable? What happens if they make it to the fry stage? Do I remove the fry etc
.... I am assuming this is a good sign for my tank and fish as it must be a fairly health set up?

 

[MrsE88]

When did they spawn? Those eggs look pretty white to me, and that would mean they didn't get fertilized. If they just spawnedbefore you took the picture then watch to see if they turn tan and start to go clear with a black spot. Then you'll know they were fertilized.

If you want to grow them out then I'd take them out after they hatch. Some remove them before, but then you are in for more work. Lol

Otherwise just let the parents do their thing.

My fish spawn all the time, but the only fry that have lived are the ones I took out.

On a different note. I didn't know fahakas could be housed with other fish. Aren't they aggressive? I mean, very aggressive?
Just curious because I've been getting more interested in them lately

 

[Achilles1763]

Thanks for the info I think they spawned over night so would they be fertilised later? Both oscars are highly attentive so could they fertilise over tonight? How long is it until the eggs become dead if they are not fertilised?

On the fahaka in a comm tank issue, I have done it successfully for 2.5 years. I have a full thread on it in the puffer forum called 'fahaka in a community tank'. Have a look as it's got a lot in there.

 

[Woefulrelic]

Hopefully they don't get themselves fahak'd trying to defend the eggs. They will fungus over if unfertilized within 36 hrs or so, it's a gradual process. It can take the parents a few tries to get it right.

 

[Achilles1763]

Yeah I figured as much...the tiger oscar in around 2 years old but the albino is only around 6-8 months so this could be wishful thinking. I have an unused 100ltr in the garage so will transfer any fry to that if they do make it to that stage. But I am not getting my hopes up!

 

[MrsE88]

If it was last night I'm not sure they were fertilized.
Unless oscar eggs tend to start lighter then others.

And thank you. I'll go look at that thread

 

[Achilles1763]

No change in colour or behaviour so I am guessing it's a non-viable spawn. I guess that means the two oscars will continue to be a pair and try again? If so how often and will the tank go back to normal unit they lay again? Thanks as always.

 

[Yuki Rihwa]

No change in colour or behaviour so I am guessing it's a non-viable spawn. I guess that means the two oscars will continue to be a pair and try again? If so how often and will the tank go back to normal unit they lay again? Thanks as always.

Like others already said that those eggs are bad, if you want to get them spawn then best to get their own tank and leave them alone, if condition still good they will spawn again in 6~8 weeks.

 

[Achilles1763]

Thanks all, this was never the plan and quite inconvenient as i have no spare tank to house them separately. So I will just keep an eye on them and see how this pans out, the aggression is manageable at the moment so we'll see again in a month or so.

 

[duanes]

If eggs aren't fertilized within about a minute after being "laid", they will not be fertilized later.
Within a moment a nearly impermeable shell forms that will not allow later fertilization.
It often takes oscars and many other cichlids a few trial runs before a spawning is successful.
It is also common, and possible for two females to spawn, it could be that the oldest was a getting egg bound and (even if the younger is a female) as a survival strategy spawning occurred.