Jonathan P

Thank you all for your advice! I added a second slate and an imitation Amazon sword plant in my breeding tank.

After their weekly water change (this being the first in their new tank) they have again laid eggs. Thankfully they are fanning them and protecting them from me every time I walk by the tank. They are seemingly going to be good parents. YAY

Problem is: they laid the eggs on the thermometer again.

I have kept the tank about 79-80 degrees. Is that too low?

Any suggestions how to address this issue? Is there such a thing as a heater guard?

susitna-flower

Jonathan, your fish lays eggs on the thermometer or the heater? If it is just on the thermometer I wouldn't worry about it much, maybe move the thermometer to a different spot, and place your slate in the area the fish wants to lay it's eggs. If it is the heater, place the slate OVER the heater so the first thing the fish comes to is the slate......

Have you had any hatch out yet? It is so cool, I admire your interest, and success so far.

Merry Christmas

Jonathan P

You nailed it Susitna - I meant the heater. Apparently my fish aren't the only ones that get mixed up.

I will try that in conjunction with some advice I got today talking to a local fish store owner - He told me to take my submersible heater and lay it horizontally on the bottum rather than up the side of the aquarium.

I guess it's all about the learning experience for me and for the fish. At least they are getting practice..

COBettaCouple

Is your heater shiny, metallic or glass?

I'm guessing the tank wouldn't stay above 74-76 without the heater plugged in?

Jonathan P

The heater is plain black plastic.

I got another suggestion from LFS that might help - Get a plain piece of PVC pipe, drill holes, and slide it over the heater. Certainly seems simple.

COBettaCouple

yea, that sounds like a pretty good idea.