loss of ancistris eggs

[lute17]

Hey guys-
I have been having good luck with breeding bushies for a half year or so but recently things have gone south. I have a twenty gal tank with one albino male and four females mixed. He bred incessantly for that period with no loss of eggs or fry. Everyone in my club was happy come auction time. Then he stopped for a while and got back after a few weeks. So far he as bred twice and each time there were eggs, he'd guard 'em a few days and then nothing. He'd be on the wall and there were no eggs. I'm very puzzled cuz I haven't heard of them eatin their own eggs. Does anyone have an opinion on this?
thank in advance,
jeffb

[Janne]

I have not seen Ancistrus species eat their eggs in any occasion, if the male dont think it's any idea to take care of them he usually kick them out and you would find the eggs in the surroundings or in the inlet of the filter intake. I would increase the water changes and measure the water parameters to see if there is something wrong.

Janne

[nightowl1350]

I have heard of new fathers eating the eggs, but if he has spawned before then I would check to see if something is up with the tank. I have read they will breed for years, but is it possible the male know the eggs are not fertile? If you have another male I would try him with the ladies and see if it works.

Short of that when you see they have eggs, try hatching them away from the parents. I would use an airstone, even blow the eggs arond with a turkey baster and put a bit of anti funal meds in (either meth blue or hydrogen peroxide).

[bernt]

My L-183 male ate his first batch, but that's the first and last time I've seen this happened. Usually, the male kicks the eggs out, as Janne says.

- Bernt -

[MatsP]

Is it possible that the eggs are actually fungusing or some such? That, as far as I know, would cause the father to eat the eggs...

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Mats