Finally they gave me a show

[Argentum]

Okay, today is the big day for me a pair that formed recently laid eggs in their breeding setup. They laid twice before but that was when they were in my friends possession while I was relocating.

Anyway I have a few questions now. Usually during these first days between laying the eggs an until they attach

1- Do you feed? how much?
2- Do you do water changes? how often and what %?
3- Should I place a mesh around the cone, or give them a chance?
4- Does these eggs seem fertilized? how can you tell in the first two days?

I also added some methylene blue to protect the eggs.

http://i1159.photobucket.com/albums/p634/argentumblade/DSC02439_zps6953a35c.jpg (http://s1159.photobucket.com/user/argentumblade/media/DSC02439_zps6953a35c.jpg.html)
http://i1159.photobucket.com/albums/p634/argentumblade/DSC02470_zpsf8046e22.jpg (http://s1159.photobucket.com/user/argentumblade/media/DSC02470_zpsf8046e22.jpg.html)
http://i1159.photobucket.com/albums/p634/argentumblade/DSC02472_zpsb4d03408.jpg (http://s1159.photobucket.com/user/argentumblade/media/DSC02472_zpsb4d03408.jpg.html)

[Argentum]

So any suggestions?

[Argentum]

looks like 70 % of the eggs went white after 16 hours

http://i1159.photobucket.com/albums/p634/argentumblade/DSC02479_zps5108ab72.jpg (http://s1159.photobucket.com/user/argentumblade/media/DSC02479_zps5108ab72.jpg.html)

Some are still translucent, does this mean they got fertilized ??

[John_Nicholson]

I do not change my daily routine when my fish spawn. I feed the same, I change the water the same, I stay the same. Normally infertile eggs will turn white within 24 hours. At 82 degrees it takes roughly 2 1/2 days for the eggs to hatch. Very few pairs raise their first spawn. I have had a total o 1 pair that did so. But don't worry. Once they start spawning they normally continue to do so at a rate of roughly every 7 days until they have success. You will probably have lots of people that start posting all kinds of advise on what you should do but my suggestion is to just let them go for a while. If they prove that you need to take additional steps than we can do so then.

-john

[Argentum]

I do not change my daily routine when my fish spawn. I feed the same, I change the water the same, I stay the same. Normally infertile eggs will turn white within 24 hours. At 82 degrees it takes roughly 2 1/2 days for the eggs to hatch. Very few pairs raise their first spawn. I have had a total o 1 pair that did so. But don't worry. Once they start spawning they normally continue to do so at a rate of roughly every 7 days until they have success. You will probably have lots of people that start posting all kinds of advise on what you should do but my suggestion is to just let them go for a while. If they prove that you need to take additional steps than we can do so then.

-john

Thanks John,

The female is guarding the eggs well, waving some tail whips at me when I come close to the tank, the male doesn't care much he even didn't follow most of the female runs, thus the low or no fertilization rate.

I will give them a chance then with no cone and see how it works for them

[musicmarn1]

These are beautiful, congrats !!!!

[Argentum]

These are beautiful, congrats !!!!

Thank you. :)

They are Pearl diamonds from Forrest, they are supposed to be yellow but color enhancers turned them orange/red.
The male is not affected as much as the female though.

[Argentum]

It's now 4 days... all eggs white some with fungus. and they are still protesting the eggs.
Its good that they are protective, but not good that they can't recognize they failed.

Are they going to eat it or should I remove the cone and clean it?