Frustraion

I have a blue marble and a blue smoky that paired up themselves, they're in their own tank and have now spawned 4 times, each time its been early evening, they do a great job taking it in turns to fan, whole day yesterday great no problems, this morning when I got up at 4.30 I could see they were still fanning ( I have 2 night lights behind the tank, so they weren't in darkness), came home from work lunch time and they're not talking to each other and the eggs have gone.

This is the same pattern all 4 attempts, is it because the eggs are starting to hatch and they're not sure what happens next?? There were maximum 10 eggs that had gone white on a huge spawn, it was looking so good, I know they can't read a manual, and I know it can take time for them to get it right, can I do anything to help or just let them get on with it??

My two other pairs have had no problems in the past so I'm sure its not water/temp/environment problem, just inexperience. I love watching angels parent raise, and its just a hobby, so I'm not desperate (yet lol), I do have a cage that would go over the cone, but would that cause problems once they hatch anyway? Or is that a last resort, get them to do the fanning with the cage on and once I have wrigglers move the parents??

It seems that hatching time is a crucial crunch point, and I've seen the same thing with many of my fish. In some cases I think it's simply that they mistake the wrigglers for live food, in some cases I suspect it's because, for whatever reason, the eggs/wrigglers aren't developing normally, in some cases I suspect it's because they feel nervous or threatened, sometimes I think they can't agree where to move the wrigglers to and each thinks the other has "gone rogue" and starts eating them too and in some cases I think it simply boils down to one or other being a bad parent.

I would let them try a few more times, try not using a night light, although in some cases it can help, in other cases I think the parents become stressed by the constant daylight. Try giving them more cover in the form of live or plastic plants and/or bogwood etc.

If they persist, try to identify the culprit (the fatter one!) and try removing him or her before the eggs are due to hatch.

& try to resist the temptation to peek and see if they're still doing a good job, especially with any pairs that don't try to drive you off when you approach the tank.

If all else fails give them a rest and try repairing with different partners.

OK thanks Rob, good advice, shame more people don't use this group!

shame more people don't use this group!

Indeed, personally I much prefer forums to facebook, but the facebook pages do seem much more active.