They are in a community tank so not sure what to do... have a empty 10g ready to go if necessary. Advice please!!!
Red head Tapajos laying eggs!
- Thread starter MattyV55
- Start date
Congrats! Personally I would let nature take its course and the parents should protect the fry. I believe also the female will hold the eggs in her mouth until fry hatch. If you don't already have a seeded sponge filter ready place one in the aquarium now and if you pull fry you don't have to worry about cycling.
Thanks guys! My question is how I will get the fry from them once they are free swimming. I feel like they won't release them on their own with other fish in the tank
They will release with other fish in the tank. Don't sweat it if they eat this spawn. It takes a while for them to get it right. They are delayed mouthbrooders - if I recall they take the eggs/wigglers into their mouth after a couple days.
I used to have 7 in a 75g with a dozen Bleeding Heart Tetras. I had 3 pair. The most prolific pair spawned every couple months but the male was sterile or something because the eggs always fungused. The second most prolific pair spawned maybe 3 times per year and eventually got to the point where they always spat their fry, but then the fry would get picked off over the next few days/weeks.
The 3rd pair only ever spawned once. They would try all the time but always get interrupted by the more dominant fish I guess. The only time they ever actually laid eggs was when the other 2 pairs were spawning at the same time and everyone was left alone. They ate their fry at about the time they would normally take them into their mouth.
I eventually realized that seven 6" - 8" fish in a 75g was not doing anyone any good and I got rid of them. I still regret that.
They're great fish.
Thank you, that was a very helpful response. So you think if the fry make it to free swimming stage I will have a window to net them out and put them in a fry tank?