Nothing's simple!!

Nothing's simple, well not with me!! Everything turns to a drama!!   

I have my Blue pair which have been doing wonderful, producing lovely fry at regular intervals, I've set up tanks, and as the fry have got bigger they move on, I had quite a production line going!!

Just over a week ago, they produced the most huge spawn I have ever seen, I was gob smacked, but by the time they moved them and dropped them a few times (No large enough leaves!!) I'm left with I guess about 60/80 if I'm lucky, so I'm a bit disappointed.

I went away last weekend, just on the day these babies took off, but heeding Robs advice, I knew they'd be OK for a few days solo, which I'm pleased to say they are, so I'll start fattening them up now!!

But, my smallest tank, which was fine when I left, disaster has struck!! There were bodies everywhere and obviously the water is showing raised ammonia, so the survivors have been whisked out into the other tanks!!   

I have no idea what went wrong, I guess these things happen from time to time? they were the smallest, only 4 weeks old or so, so I guess it wouldn't take much to upset things, I'm sure I'll get things back on track but it was a bit upsetting to come home to

Also, I noticed Mrs Grumpy who is still in the community tank was fat with eggs and her tube was on its way down, she's obviously spawned while I was away, but I have no idea who had taken her fancy?? Looks like another tank might be needed!! lol   

my smallest tank, which was fine when I left, disaster has struck!! There were bodies everywhere and obviously the water is showing raised ammonia, so the survivors have been whisked out into the other tanks!!

Sorry to hear this, unfortunately if something goes wrong in a tank whilst you're away, if one or two fish die, as they decompose, they rob the tank of oxygen, and produce ammonia & nitrite, this can aggrivate the problems, and lead to more deaths, less oxygen, more ammonia, etc. at least you manage to save some of them.

No more fatalities today, so I guess I've caught it.

Because I'm looking harder at the fish, I noticed one of the larger ones doesn't have any ventrails!! Woops didn't notice that when I put him in a bigger tank! Mum is a pearlscale, if dad was carrying the ps gene, would this be the likely cause, or is just one parent enough to cause deformities??? they're too small to show ps at the moment, so I was just wondering??

I'm sure I've seen non-pearlscales missing both ventrals, but it's far more common in pearlscales in my experience. Have a close look at the flanks of the non pearlscale parent, and you should be able to see the subtle raising of the scales if it is het. for the gene.

See photos in this thread for comparison http://www.uk-angelfishforum.org.uk/t718-can-someone-please-settle-an-arguement#4774