Help me please

[lpx]

Hi,
I have a 75 gallon planted thank and my discus keeps laying eggs and after the second day, they eat them; at least I think they do because when I get home, they are all gone. I do see that the eggys turn white to clear, which I'm guessing the eggs are getting ready to hatch.
Anyhow, this is the 3rd time they are trying this again. I read that I should take out the female but then I see people breeding with both parents in the same tank. Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance.

http://i242.photobucket.com/albums/ff240/lpxed/discus/DSC01769.jpg

http://i242.photobucket.com/albums/ff240/lpxed/discus/DSC01715.jpg

http://i242.photobucket.com/albums/ff240/lpxed/discus/DSC01710.jpg

[ILLUSN]

infertile eggs turn white, fertile eggs are yellow/orange if they are eating them you could try caging the eggs, i cage all of mine, you might have to improve the diet to get the males seed to a higher grade to get more fertile eggs.

[lpx]

the eggs do turn yellow/orange and then clear like the fry are ready to come out. But after that, they just disappear. When you say, cage the eggs, you mean to put the eggs in a different tank or in one of those net holders? Won't the fries die if the parents don't take care of them? Should I just try taking out the eggs and placing them in another tank? or should I take out the parents and let the fries just swim around in the tank by themselves?

[Hollowman]

Ideally, you need to give them something to lay on, most people use cones, but a terracotta flower pot is good or a piece of plastic pipe. Caging means we put a wire mesh cover over the eggs so the parents can see and fan the eggs, but just cannot get their mouths to it to eat them. Once they start hatching, it can be removed, but this is never a guarantee that the fry (wrigglers) will not be eaten.
Your eggs turning yellow/orange is not such a good sign. Fertilised eggs will eye up, meaning the fry that should be growing in the egg will be a dark colour, s othe eggs will virtually go a dark brown/black just before they hatch.
It could be that you have 2 females. Can you post up side view pics of both fish, and we can have a guess at sex. Also, how old are the fish.

hth

H

[lpx]

LOL. Same sex. I didn't think of that. I will get some side photos of them. I appreciate your assistance on the matter. I would hope that they are not the same sex. They seem to do a dance from time to time. The other thing is, they both stay together like a pair. They are about 5 inches. As for age, I am not sure. I got them from Discus Hans when they were 4" and that has been about 3 months.

[Hollowman]

You are in the US then ? Hans has some lovely fish, did you get to look around his fish rooms ?

H

[lpx]

No, I wasn't there at his shop. I just ordered them. Would have loved to see it in person though. I'm in MN.

[lpx]

Here they are.
http://i242.photobucket.com/albums/ff240/lpxed/discus/DSC01849.jpg

http://i242.photobucket.com/albums/ff240/lpxed/discus/DSC01842.jpg

[lpx]

OOPS.. I think these 2 photos might be of the same one.

[Hollowman]

If these are different fish, I would say both female :?
if the same, still female :lol:

H :wink:

[lpx]

How can you tell Hollowman? I do think they are different fish. I must find a male than. I've heard of 2 females and 1 male being in the same tank while spawning. Is that true or will I have to seperate them?
Thanks again.

[Hollowman]

I am just looking at the shape of the rear of the dorsal fin.

Having had this strain before, the rounded shape normally tells me female, see attached picture.
Compare that to a confirmed male I once had, and you can see the sharp pointed end to the dorsal fin, and anal fin.
In most strains this is a good indication.........but believe me, it is not a firm rule :wink:

[lpx]

Thanks. I guess I'll have to find a male for these two or possibly trade with someone. I'm in MN, the twincities if anyone is from around here that has a male to trade or sell.

[Hollowman]

I could be wrong though.......look for the ovipositor and take pics of that it might be more reliable. :)