[Nathan43]

I have a 8" 1 year old red devil that has just recently laid its 4th batch of eggs (first 3 had no male). This time, I have had a male in with her, but since the two don't get along, they are seperated by the divider. To see if the male would fertilize the eggs, I moved the divider just past the flowerpot keeping the female on the other side. The male shimmyed a few times over them but then began to eat them so I moved him back. The flowerpot is located directly on the other side of the divider containing the male. Whats the odds he would fertilize them from there and is it even possible?
Thanks

 

[under_control]

Not high. Plus, if you are using a "store bought" divider they really don't have that great of flow through them. I would let them be together if they can survive. What size tank is this?

They will need practice to get it right and will eat some eggs a few times before they figure it out.

 

[Nathan43]

I use an egg crate so it the flow between both sides should be fine. They are in a 75 gallon so the space is tight. Getting her to pair off might just be pipe dream because i have tried with about 5-6 fish and none have worked. She just hates anything that resembles a fish

 

[Blu-ray]

you can put a slate in the middle of the tank and put the divider on it in a way that most of the slate is in the female's side and the rest for male. if the female lays eggs on it and male does his job eggs will get fertilized! I've not tried it but heard from some friends that breed flower horns and aggressive fish this way.
you can use a 6*10 inch slate and put the 10" side in parallel with the tank's width.

 

[Nathan43]

Thats a good idea, I think I might try that. I tried to put these two together and when I put him in the tank, I realized I didn't have a divider (dumb) so I ran to Home Depot and picked up an egg crate and by the time I got back, half his bottom and back fin were gone and he was in rough shape. After a day or two, he had a bad case of fungus. So I isolated him in a 5 gallon bucket for about 8 days treating him with anti-fungal medicine. Worked and he was back in action so I put him back in but with the divider. They have been rushing each other through the eggcrate for about a month now. It seems like all the males that are tough enough for her were way too big, and the ones her size and smaller always get pwned.
Thanks for the advice on the slate, its worth a shot.

 

[Nathan43]

I got a story for you. I was bumbed about the eggs and after a few days, many started to fungus so I was gonna remove them after work yesterday. Well, when I got home, I looked in the bottom of the flowerpot and saw about 50-100 little squirming babies. I can't believe Big Ugly fertilized some of them. So I am happy to see my RD finally becoming a mother. :lol:
I will post pics later.

 

[lil mama]

That's awesome Nathan glad to hear things worked out for you :thumb: . RDs are tough and a breeding female is down right mean as they get. Love to see some pics when you get a chance.