!!My First Pair!!

[jamie sutherland]

i didnt notice any signs of a pair until last night when i turned the light off i noticed my red marlboro and my briiliant blue were together biting at my filter pipe. i thought it might be a pair but i didnt get my hopes up because they never showed signs of a pair. so i woke up this mornin and checked on them and there were eggs but then i had to go to school so i had to wait to check on them again(im 12 years old) so i came back and the eggs were still there with the parents guarding them fiercely. they were fanning them too. i fed blood worms and both went out to eat then i guess one noticed the other one was out and immediately went back to the eggs, then the other came back to the eggs and let the other go eat. they seem like a great pair. im getting a 29 gallon tank on thursday. does any one have any tips. thanx for any help.

jamison sutherland, lexington kentucky

[SantaFeDiscus]

Keep your fingers crossed! Thats my tip. Congrats on the pair, they sound like they could be good parents.
Fred

[kodiak]

There's nothing more exciting then your first pair. Congratulations and good-luck with them!

[oodi]

Congrats, Jamie!! Keep us posted.

Judi

[jamie sutherland]

thanx,
only 5 of about 80 eggs are already fungused. i dont think they will hatch in my water. there in my planted tank now. even if they don't hatch because of the water will i be able to see if they are fertilized?

jamie sutherland lexington kentucky

[oodi]

You should be able to see a black dot in the middle of the egg if they are fertilized. If they are going to hatch, they will do that in about 72 hrs.

Judi

[jamie sutherland]

thanx.

[jamie sutherland]

there is definetly begining to be a black dot in the eggs they are still guarding them and haven't eaten one. no more have been overcome by fungus.

[oodi]

Sounds promising, Jamie! You might have wigglers within the next 48 hrs.

Judi

[oodi]

Hi Jamie... any updates?

Judi

[billeagan]

Jamie,

Congrats! I wish I had a pair at 12!

When you get your 29 I recommend painting it blue. Use masking tape and newspaper to protect the front and the top of the tank. I paint three sides and the bottom. A nice sky blue will help show the colors of the fish and as a result help the fry find the parents.

You can use backgrounds, but IMO they do as good of a job.

If you can get your hands on a camera and could post some pics it would be great...

[Willie]

Nice going, Jamie. Now is the time to think about maybe getting a separate breeder tank for them. Its rare for the first spawn to survive, especially in a planted community tank. If they disappear, don't be disappointed. If you move the pair into a separate breeder tank (make sure its barebottom), they will like spawn again for you in two weeks.

Keep us updated, Willie

[jamie sutherland]

well, i had planned that the first spawn would be eaten so i wouldnt get dissa pointed because ive heard of pairs taking many many times to get it right. i came home thursday and there were no eggs so i was sure they had eaten them. on friday i spent the night at a friends and just got back tonight and checked the tank the pair was still hangin around each other then i ate dinner and went back to my tank. there were 5 or 6 little things on the parents LIVING FRY ON THE FIRST SPAWN i was amazed i had never heard of the first spawn doin as well as that much less in a planted tank with plenty of plants and cory cats and tetras and 6 other discus. i am truly amazed!!!!!!!!!

[sidra]

Wow, you are so lucky Jaime. They must be really good parents to have them get that far in a community tank. Congratulations and keep us up to date on how they are doing.

Kristen

[jamie sutherland]

i dont see anymore babies i think they were eaten overnight so im gonna move the pair to the 29 gallon tank.