The female can lay eggs and pick them up herself without them being fertilized. If that happens she will spit them out or swallow them in about a week.
Once she is holding the eggs, they are either fertilized or they aren't...unless you see the pair of fish still spawning. Buying a male after the fact won't work.
The male fertilizes the eggs as they are laid and picked up. They swim in a circle and she deposits an egg. They swim in another circle, she tries to pick up the egg spots on his anal fin, picking up milt as she does this. Another circle, another egg. Another circle, more milt.
Fry are very exciting. Bummer to find out they are hybrids. So...this time maybe she will be holding unfertilized eggs, and next time maybe you want to fix the stocking of your tank so you can raise the babies!
You probably need a bigger tank for a lab and a peacock. :thumb:
Once she is holding the eggs, they are either fertilized or they aren't...unless you see the pair of fish still spawning. Buying a male after the fact won't work.
The male fertilizes the eggs as they are laid and picked up. They swim in a circle and she deposits an egg. They swim in another circle, she tries to pick up the egg spots on his anal fin, picking up milt as she does this. Another circle, another egg. Another circle, more milt.
Fry are very exciting. Bummer to find out they are hybrids. So...this time maybe she will be holding unfertilized eggs, and next time maybe you want to fix the stocking of your tank so you can raise the babies!
You probably need a bigger tank for a lab and a peacock. :thumb:
