Flowerhorn Flops , etc

[Aquarose]

:wink:  I have a pair of Flowerhorns that spawn, lay eggs, eat them, spawn, lay eggs, eat them, etc.  Same old vicious cycle.  This round I removed the slate with eggs on it to a seperate tank.  My bad, I don't have any antifungal to add - so - what do you think this outcome will be?  There are many eggs on the slate. Now correct me if I'm mis informed, but the white ones are not fertile, correct?   Now a stupid question, will two females lay eggs?  I actually haven't seen them in action only the final result.

I also have a pair of breeding Green Terrors (gold female and white male).  Alas what started out as hundreds of fry has dwindled down to about 60.  But they are good lookin babies!!!  I have some seperated and some are still with the parents (found them free swimming 6/6/08).

I really want my angels to breed - which they do - but like my flowerhorns always end up eating their eggs.

As always guys I look forward to ALL of the advice yall can return!!!

[Zulaab]

Re: Flowerhorn Flops , etc

1.  Will two female cichlids "pair" up and lay eggs -- answer : YES
2.  Can you remove the slate and put it in a tank with an airstone near them but not hitting the eggs as the bubbles will generate enough water flow over them -- answer : YES
3.  Will you if they are fertilized end up with a TON of babies -- answer : YES
4.  Will you need anti-fungal -- answer : NO (helps but not necessary) -- get Methylene Blue if you want to add it.  Btw it will stain silicone in a tank so dont use it unless you absolutely have to.
5.  White Eggs are not fertilized.  (remove them with a small needle)
6.  In 48 hours after they have been laid you should see the eggs vibrate slightly while their tail breaks out of the eggs.  Within 72-96 hours you should see two little black dots on the eggs.. these are eyes.  Within 120 hours or about 5 days the eggs should fall off the slate.  Another 24 hours after that the fish will attempt to move on their own, but will stick together in a clumb.  This becomes less and less as they grow and become free swimming.

If you get to this stage start reading up on how to feed new borns

[Aquarose]

Re: Flowerhorn Flops , etc

Wow, thanks.  I feel much better.
Now another stupid question:  How do I know if I have two female or a pair?  One seems to  have more of a hump than the other but both have same tails and same points on fins.  Both have stripes and purple patches.  I have seen many different flower horns but mainly I see males with the big humps.  My pair at still young.  I guess we will see what the eggs do.

[Zulaab]

Re: Flowerhorn Flops , etc

Common traits in most SA cichlids that may "guide" you.

The male grows a hump only when overfeed (ie he has enough food to store it in him hump... its fat basically)  In females the hump does not occur as she uses her "fat" primarily in production of eggs.
Males have usually longer fin extensions on his dorsal and anal fin.  Females are shorter or rounded off.
When looking at a female who is ready to lay eggs she will start pushing her oval depositor out (this is the tube looking protrusion) you will see in them.  Egg layers  will show quite well, mouth brooders will not/or barely show as they dont have to make sure that the egg sticks to anything
The male counter part will look like a small spear that comes out.. only comes out "barely" in comparison to the female.
Males usually have a bigger body, and usually the face is a little bigger than a female.

All these traits are common traits among SA cichlids... but not always 100 percent true for all of them.
Another issue here is that a flowerhorn is a hybrid which makes certains things not 100% accurate either.

[Aquarose]

Re: Flowerhorn Flops , etc

Well this morning I am really baffled!  All of the eggs are solid white - not a clear one in the bunch.
These two flowerhorns I'm not real sure about.  I think I might have two females.  Their fins and heads are exactly the same.
But I remember on an earlier egg laying that one followed the other in the flower pot and the one that laid the eggs fought the other one away with a vengence.

I guess Ill put the slate back in and see what happens.  One thing I have found is that they are BIG DIRTY fish, beautiful but dirty!!!

[Zulaab]

Re: Flowerhorn Flops , etc

If they are all white then most likely that means no one fertilized your eggs.  Sounds like you need to find yourself a stud

[imagirlgeek]

Re: Flowerhorn Flops , etc

We also have 2 female flowerhorns, and they do the exact same thing.  At around 1 year old, they started laying eggs and guarding them, only to have the eggs rot and get eaten.  I feel your pain.

[Aquarose]

Re: Flowerhorn Flops , etc

Thanks! I'm glad to know mine aren't the only wierdos!!!  Oh, BTW, I LOVE YOUR PICTURES.  My place is pretty much wall to wall aquariums also!  Four (20, 100, 29 and 50)in dining room, three (2-75s and 1 29 reef) in living room, two in my office (2-28;s), one 29 in our guest room and 2 55's in bedroom.  I have to say, you have me beat though!  They are lovely set ups!

[jeebus]

Re: Flowerhorn Flops , etc

Aquarose,

From what I understand about the flowerhorns are, the females will keep laying eggs but they don't become anything unless theres a male to fertilize the eggs.  I'm surprised your flowerhorns are even getting along in the same tank!  They're usually really agressive towards each other.  I have a male flowerhorn in his own tank and a baby flowerhorn with some cichlids, that are the same size as him/her.  Anytime I try to put another fish in the male fh's tank, he tries to either eat it or stress it to death.