why male ate the eggs?

[shamsoo]

after conditioning & lots of water changes, finally today female starts laying the eggs but male starts eating them as soon as female deposits the eggs in rows, male gave hard time to female in process of laying, they in their breeding tank 26 g 150 us ph 7.2 temp 86, pair is not so young, mature, age is over 2 years, yes this is their first spawn, yr comments and tips please

[Carol_Roberts]

Hi Shamsoo:
That's pretty typical behavior. It may take another 5 or 6 spawns before he stops eating eggs

[shamsoo]

thanks Carol, is this normal for newly mated males to eat the eggs 5 or 6 times? thanks

[Carol_Roberts]

Most will eat eggs the first few times. some never stop eating eggs.

[shamsoo]

thanks Carol, let the male fertilize the eggs first, then I will take care of rest by either putting mesh over pipe or artificial hatching, the problem is not spraying sperms over the eggs, :)

[Carol_Roberts]

Some of the males never figure that out either :-\