JVIEW

Hello everyone. This morning I have looked in my 55 gallon tank with my 2 jewels and they have alot of eggs on a plant pot i put in the tank. The pot is near the filter and i want to know if i should shut it off. My problem is i dont have another tank i can move them to right now and I have read about when they are breeding they are very agressive towards the other fish in the tank which i have various mbuna cichlids in there but they have left them alone so far. I dont really want the babies so when they grow up will a fish store take them at all?

Shawnie

if you dont want the babies, dont worry about the filter intake although I think they are strong enough to get away...never shut the filter off..if anything put some filter mesh over the intake...you would have to check around your area as to if the fish stores will take them...they breed pretty easily so it might be difficult but you wont know until you call...congrats on the babies!

TedsTank

Congrats

hang on filter?? You could gently slide it away from the nest area. Do the mesh anyway..a good secondary bacteria housing project!!

CHoffman

If they are in a tank full of Mbuna they really don't have a chance at survival, IMO anyway. If you don't want the babies I would say leave them in there and let nature run it's coarse. You might have one or two little sneaky things that survive. Are these regular jewels?

JVIEW

the male is regular and the female is a torquoise jewel or the jewels with many green spots on them, i dont know the proper speicies name for it. i dont know if i will get regular jewels or the green ones. Im thinking i might have to invest in another tank for my jewels specifically. people say that they are very agressive fish but ive noticed since ive had them with my juvenile mbuna cichlids that they dont cause much problems

Shawnie

jewels, although from africa, usually go with sa, nw, or ca cichlids...they really arent meant for the mbuna or other rift lake african type setups...they will tear them up eventually as they mature....allot of people think african fish african rift lake setups..that isnt so ....

CHoffman

+2. The jewels really aren't compatible with the Mbuna. So the tank specifically for them is a great idea. Since they are a pair they will work out great in a tank all to themselves. They are EXCELLENT parents as well.