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[font color="#000080"]Hi
My kribs spawned again. It's the 2nd time they've spawned in my tank.
Pretty amazing these guys are, I only bought them for a month and they've already spawned twice.
The 1st spawn was unsuccessful, the parents ate their eggs.
And 2 weeks after the 1st spawn, they did it again (about 2 days ago).
The eggs were laid at the same place, inside a cave.
The eggs also appeared to be the same, same white creamy colour.
But the number seemed to increased.
I can see the female go into the cave every now and then to clean them,
but i've never seen the male go in.
A highly chance that the eggs are not fertilized this time too.
Does anyone know what will the eggs look like if they are fertilized?
And how long does it take for them to hatch?
The only difference i noticed was that the female was digging a pit behind the cave.
Is that an indication that they will hatch?
I'm already conditioning them with frozen food, what else can i do to help?

Thank you so much if you could help!
Jimmy

Cant speak exactly for the Kribs as I havent kept them, but my Jewels spawn frequently (as Jewels do) and since they are all cichlids, her I go.

I believe if the eggs go that creamy white colour that they are fertilised, as that is what happens when my Jewels propagate. From experience with my jewels, they will generally dig a pit to remove the eggs from their rock and place them there before they hatch (not always the case with all cichlids though).
Usually within a couple of days (3-4 at most) after being laid, the eggs will turn into golf balls with a tail, and after that it doesnt take long before the little ones start to look and act like actual fish (about another 2-3 days).

Generally you would try to condition your fish before breeding, as generally they do not eat much after breeding, but I dont see any harm as long as you dont over do it and raise your nitrates to high. In other words only feed small amounts and make sure they eat it all, if they still are looking for food give them another small portion and etc.

When my first pair of kribs mated, the eggs were a reddish pink color. Since then, i have never seen krib eggs (always been in a cave or something). Also, when my angels breed, the eggs go a creamy white when they get fungus and those die off! It may be that the eggs are not being fertilized.

Also, are you kribs in a community tank, that may stress the fish out a little.

[font color="#000080"]the kribs are in a 15G with 2 phantom tetras.
I have the tank about 1/3 covered with various of plants, caves and drift wood which i just added today
i think the reason for the parent to eat the eggs were because the opening of the cave in towards the front
and the opening was kind of big too, so i can see everything inside
i put in another rock today to cover the opening a bit, so it's kind of completely dark inside
hopefully that will help too


cheers,
Jimmy

Speaking jim to jim keep your big scary hands out. When you go poking around their cave they will eat thier eggs better them eat them then you thats what their thinking any way.the male wont go in because he will guard his territory. When the babies hatch they will be moved to the pit. Fertilised eggs are a brown creamy colour. I know this because im looking at my pairs now. You wont see the babys for around 1 to 2 weeks they do a good job at hiding them somewhere.

Congratulations!

Kribs are nervous fish when they breed. Once they realise that you can see their eggs, they will often eat them. the fact that the female is digging means that the eggs have probably hatched and she is moving them in a pit so that they do not stray far due to them wriggling.

Once they are free swimming, you will be presented it by the parents by seeing them being herded round the tank grazing on top of anything. Like what jimmy said, kribs are very good parents and the fact that they eat it the first few times only means that they are a bit immature and will learn eventually like any other cichlid. They are good parents and as long as you leave them alone, they will be fine. It won't be long before you start asking what to do with the babies they are constantly producing.

[font color="#000080"]

they eggs hatched and now i have at least 100 frys swimming after their parents

thanks heaps for the advice guys
just another couple of questions.

i'm feeding my fish frozen blood worm at the moment,
and the frys don't seem to mind tackling food larger than them
they can't swollow the food but they just keep on picking on the worms
the worms are eventually eaten up by the frys, just very slowly
is that fine with me feeding them the blood worms or do i have to find something that fits their mouth

and i am going away for a holiday for 1 week (7days).
i'm not so worried about the parents, i can just feed them a good serve of worm before i go,
and if they are really hungry, they can eat my plants (1/3 covered the tank)
but for the fry, what can i feed them?
can they eat the plants too?
will the parents eat their babies?

it's going to be hard consider that i have at least 100 frys now all growing fast

help me.............

thanks,
jim

[span class="edited"][Edited by JQW 2004-09-07 03:25][/span]

Sometimes, cichlids need a couple 'practice' spawns before they get it right. If they eat the eggs, then they are probably unfertile. Don't worry about doing anything, nature will take care of itself. Try not to mess much with the tank, that may cause them to also eat eggs. Don't remove the parents.