Are these viable eggs?

[AquaticNerd]

Well, I wasn't expecting to be a fish parent any time soon, but looks like I've got a pair! Currently in the middle of a water change, so the glare might be a little bad. Just wanted to check to see if these eggs are viable or not. I'm pretty sure the majority of them are (they are still translucent), but I do have some that are white/opaque (non-viable).

Eggs:


The (proud) Parents - the closest one is the male:

[LizStreithorst]

Looks like most of them are.

[coralbandit]

Looks like most of them are.

I agree that most look good .
How old are they ?
It can 24 or so hours for some non fertile eggs to show ..

[AquaticNerd]

I last checked on them last night around 9:00PM and did not see the parents guarding any eggs nor did I see that spot. So if I were to guess, it's around the 12-15 hour mark, but happened overnight so I can't say exactly when they were laid. It's weird because they were cleaning a totally different spot a couple days ago so I was on the lookout for that.

I'll keep watching to see if I can notice when they become wriggler stage to get a better idea of their age. Thanks for the input Liz and Tom.

[Sturiosoma]

They look good from Ohio, and congrats on the spawn

Jeanne

[coralbandit]

How are the eggs today ?

[AquaticNerd]

I'll do a check when I get off work, but as far as I can tell the parents (or other tankmates) have consumed most of the eggs. Last night there were about half as many eggs on the wood as in the first set of pictures. I am doubtful that any will get past the egg stage. From what I've observed, the parents haven't been very watchful or protective of the spawn - some times they'll allow other discus to swim right up to the eggs and other times they'll be chased off.

[AquaticNerd]

The number has decreased even further - nearly all the eggs are gone. I counted 20 eggs remaining on the wood, and of those only about 5 are not opaque.

[LizStreithorst]

Don't be down hearted. The parents are young and stupid, just like most of us were stupid when we were young. Give them time. They'll figure it out.

[AquaticNerd]

Hi Liz,

Thanks for that. I'm not too worried about losing the potential fry. They're in with a group and I just don't have the time available to care for the requirements of fry (hence why I bought adults from the beginning). They laid eggs again this afternoon, sometime between 10AM and 7PM. If things work out and some young survive, that's fine by me, but I want to make sure I'm ready to properly care for both the parents and young before committing to trying to raise fry (plus it would require a bit of persuasion with the wife to get another tank to raise them in as well as the equipment to raise them.