Who Gives A Fish Forums

Just cleaned my fish tank and I noticed something awesome - my pair of Jewels have laid eggs. They're guarding them pretty closely. Got really lucky with these two, they paired up right away. So far, no major aggression, but I'm guessing that might change once the eggs hatch... this is all new to me, first breeding pair and all. It's really cool to watch them take care of the eggs.

Here's a picture of the eggs, and I'll add one of my breeding pair too.

Congrats on the successful breeding. I had a pair of Jewels in my old cichlid tank and they were pretty laid-back, never really got aggressive. They're a great species, nice to see you're having success with them. The parenting process is fascinating to watch, looking forward to seeing how it all unfolds. Keep the updates and pics coming, we love 'em.

They're getting a bit feisty with the Demasoni now, so I had to separate them. Normally though, they just leave the Siamese algae eater alone. The Jewels just stick to their own territory and aren't eating much - is this normal behavior? The eggs are all over the tank at the moment, but there are still some in their territory and they're all wiggling around.

Mine wouldn't eat either while they're watching the eggs. That's why it's crucial to get them nice and plump beforehand if you can, they tend to get pretty thin while they're on egg duty.

Thanks for the reassurance. I'm glad to know it's normal for them to stop eating while guarding the eggs. So, should I wait till the fry are free swimming to try feeding the parents again?

Once the fry are free swimming, the parents should start eating again. Try enticing them with their favorite food, like shrimp, when the time comes.

Both Jewels are eating now. So I'm wondering, do I need to feed the swimming babies separately or will the parents break their food down for them? Also, I've been leaving the lights on one side of the tank at night so mama Jewel can keep an eye out for any potential threats... I think she's got around 30 babies left now. I'll try to get a video up soon.

Here's a video update of the Jewel babies. Mama Jewel is still very protective of them. You can see her chasing the Siamese algae eater away in this video. She's doing a great job keeping them safe.

Got a clearer pic