How do you know when your fishes lay eggs? (for egg scatterers)

[lucasjiang]

Hi people, i realise that whenever i try to breed my fishes, those that spawn by egg scattering, they will lay eggs when i am least expecting it.

For example, i was trying to breed my blue eye rainbowfish a few weeks ago. I conditioned them for one week (on frozen brine shrimp and daphnia) before putting them in the spawning tank. Thereafter, i checked the clump of java moss everyday for eggs for a week. I didnt spot any, so i gave up. Then yesterday, i took the java moss out and dumped it in a small tub of water, and i saw a fry today.

The same thing happened for my pencilfish too, that i bred like last year.

This has happened so many times , how do you determine when they lay eggs?

[stormhawk]

Hi lucas,

It is hard to determine when they laid eggs if you weren't there to witness the spawning. Perhaps by looking at the females, you might have an idea. If they were fat the day before and suddenly skinny the next, they probably spawned.

[lucasjiang]

Hi stormhawk,

but i cant possibly be sitting beside the tank 24/7 observing the fish

I mean like, you read those websites and they say something like "condition the fish for 2 weeks and put them in the spawning tank. Eggs will be layed on the java moss the next day", but after so many next days i just dont see eggs until i give up

Do the fish lay eggs like 1 or 2 days after they are placed in the spawning tank?

[stormhawk]

Some will spawn almost immediately once they are placed in the spawning tank, others will take ages.

I know you can't be watching them 24/7 but the change in the girth of the female usually helps. I had a fat cherry barb go skinny almost overnight, and it was a female so I guess she must have laid eggs somewhere in the tank.

[lucasjiang]

ok, thanks Guess i will give my spotted blue-eyes a second try.

[stormhawk]

The use of floating mops made from yarn will make your egg hunting much easier, especially for the Pseudomugil.