“Eggs Everywhere What Do I Do- Jack Dempsey Cichlids

“Eggs Everywhere What Do I Do” 2 Jack Dempsey Cichlids

Question:

“Eggs Everywhere What Do I Do” Jack Dempsey Cichlid Laid Eggs

Answer

Eggs are not everywhere they are on flat rock. If you discover your Jack Dempsey cichlids have laid eggs, just leave them alone to care for eggs and fry. Jack Dempsey fish are superb parents from egg laying right on through to about 6 weeks when the immature Jack Dempsey can care for themselves.

If the aquarium is housing only the two parents, then you’re in good to go. If other fish are housed in this aquarium then you need to take other precautions.

• Step 1: Remove all fish other than the Jack Dempsey Cichlids parents leave them with their eggs they are great parents

• Step 2:  Make sure the rock where the female Dempsey deposited her eggs are at a 45 degree angle.

• Step 3: Place air stone close to the 45 degree flat rock the air bubbles will help the female cichlid keeping debris off her eggs you will notice she fans the eggs this is the keep the eggs clean.

• Step 4: Make sure your aquarium heater is set for 80 degrees water temperature your water should be approximately 78 to 80F (26-27C)

• Step 5: It’s very important to keep the water very clean when eggs are developing.

• Step 6: Invest in UV Filer or Ozone Generator this is must for egg protection from bacteria infection which kills eggs.  

With only the two parents housed in the aquarium, leave them to care for the eggs they will hatch in about 3 days and the fry once they hatch Jack Dempsey fish eggs they will continue to care for the fry.

Water temperature should be between 75–80F (24-27C). The warmer the water the eggs will hatch a bit sooner. It’s important to keep a gentle current of water moving across the eggs.

Use air stone with a gentle flow of bubbles nearby the eggs is good. This will help keep debris from settling on them. You’ll notice that the female almost constantly fans the eggs to keep off any debris that might settle on the eggs.

This debris can often infect the eggs, causing a white fungus growth on them. The female will usually remove those eggs before others nearby are infected as well.

Some eggs will always turn bad, even if your water is very clean. When the male fertilizes the eggs he seldom gets every single one of them and that eggs will die. 

It is best if the surface that she lays her eggs on is at or near a 45 degree angle so this helps avoid anything from settling on those eggs. If she has laid them on a flat surface in the aquarium, try to carefully slant the rock at an angle near the nesting site.

Transferring Eggs To The Nursery

If the Jack Dempsey’s laid their eggs in an aquarium with other fish then you’ll need to remove the eggs to a nursery tank before they hatch.  Even cat fish or Plecos will be a danger to the eggs and hatchlings they certainly are in danger and can and will be eaten at the egg stage or the hatchling level.

Use 5 or 10 gallon tank is the best size for the original nursery so that the young fry will have an easier time finding food on the bottom. 

 

It’s best that you not place gravel on the bottom for ease of cleaning and the fry find food faster. If possible, place the female in the nursery with the eggs. This is NOT necessary but her care is beneficial to a high percentage of hatchlings.

Remove water from the original aquarium  

And place in nursery tank before moving the eggs.  Be sure the temperature and pH are very close to that of the original environment before placing eggs in this nursery