What am I doing wrong?

[tooth517]

I have a great looking male rd and a nice female kml in a 125 together with about 1/3 of the tank blocked off with eggcrate and a hole cut for her to get away from him. The first time she laid eggs she laid them on a piece of slate in the blocked off area so I took out the divider as soon as I saw the eggs(she laid them in the night, took divider out early morn). The eggs never were fertilized, and they really tore each other up good. So I took the slate out put the divider back in left the terra cotta plate on his side of the divider but she just laid eggs on the ug filter on the other side of the divider and once again none were fertilized. What can I do to get her to lay eggs where he can fertilize them or is this effort futile. Maybe they aren't compatible. Maybe I can swap the kml for my female fader and give it a go! Advice is needed! Thanks in advance for any input!

 

[Fish_Man_Dan]

is the female on the 2/3 side of the divider? if she's laying them there, maybe you should try putting the divider so her "safe area" is fairly small, so if she does lay on that side, he might be able to fertilize them... it's worth a try if nobody has better advice...

 

[tooth517]

She is on the small side of the divider. She laid the eggs on the under gravel filter next to the divider. I am not positive he is fertile but he sure does the "dance" with her. At least they didn't shred each other this time I guess.

 

[Chrisplosion]

As soon as you see her tube drops you need to remove the divider.

 

[tooth517]

I would have done that this last time but I didn't notice her tube drop.

 

[BIG_ONE]

The only advice I can say is to keep a close watch of her. When she lays the eggs, remove the divider. Just pay more attention to them...you'll get it right.

 

[RD.]

Place the divider next to where she is laying the eggs, and have a powerhead on the males side that shoots a current flow in that direction.
No need to take the divider down if he has what it takes to get the job done.