Mysterious eggs found in tank

[rourk89]

There is a clump of probably 30-40 small yellow eggs that just appeared in my freshwater community tank today. They are located between a plant, the gravel and a breeding cave, and they look to be loosely attached to either the plant or the gravel. The eggs are less that a quarter inch around, and they're pretty tightly packed. We have platys, rainbow fish, plecos, and angels in our tank that are proven breeding pairs or trios. The water parameters are all normal. I will attempt to upload a picture. I'm pretty sure they're pleco eggs, but they're outside the breeding cave. Should I return them to the breeding cave?

What do I need to do to preserve the eggs, since they're in the community tank? They're very exposed, and I want to save them. I have a floating breeding trap, and I was going to put them in there, unless anyone has a better idea. If I put them in the breeder, do I need to put the plant or gravel in with them? If I put them in the breeding cave, would that be ok? Time is of the essence, so please respond quickly!

 

[Kaosu]

those look like pleco eggs to me..do you have bristle nose plecos?.


no clue on how to raise them

 

[sorberj]

Those are pleco eggs. If you want to try to raise them and the parents have abandoned them, you can put them into a breeder net and make sure they have plenty of water circulation around them. Do you have one of your male plecos guarding the cave? Some folks would put them in a 10 gal and treat it with an antifungal. I don't know if that's necessary though since some of the antifungals are pretty toxic. They should hatch after a week or so if they got appropriately fertilized.

 

[rourk89]

Awesome, I have never seen the actual pleco eggs. I have just seen the actual fry. I have two survivors from the first batch, and none from the second batch. The eggs have been placed in my plastic floating breeding trap for now. A few more questions if you dont mind.

1. How long till they start showing color. From my first batch about 2 or 3 months ago, the two survivors are still white. The parents are both common browns. So do they carry the albino gene or does it just take a while for them to color up.

2. How important is it for them to grow up with the male parent? After some research it tells me to let the, grow up with him for 3 or so days.

Sent from my DROID2 using MonsterAquariaNetwork App

 

[sorberj]

If the male is ignoring them then they'll be fine without him. His job is to keep them in the tunnel and safe from predators until they are free swimming. If you don't have any predators in the tank then you can let them out once they're done with their egg sacks


Please forgive any typos. This was sent from my Samsung Galaxy S3 using the MonsterAquariaNetwok App

 

[captmicha]

Would it be advisable to put them in an egg tumbler to protect them from the other fish and fungal infections? The angels and rainbow fish would probably eat them if given the chance.

 

[starfishplus]

Hi i would put them in a net breeder thats what i do i have 3 females and 1 male in my 55 with my guppies. he has raised alot of fry but for some reason he always kinds out one set of eggs now and then. but they have always hatched in the net breeder. so u might try that. good luck.