Fish/fry

Advertisement

Expert: Ron Coleman - 7/3/2009


Question
About 1 month ago My Dalmation Ciclid laid eggs we did not know it until the babies were swimming around and that is when we remove all the fish in the tank and left the babies and Mom. I ended up with only eight when they got a little bigger we put them is a 10 gal tank now there are more eggs and my question is how do you know when the eggs have been fertleized? also how often can she lay eggs I think I have 2 males and one female

Answer
Hi Flo,
 Hmmm... I have never heard of a "Dalmation Cichlid" so I am unsure what species you are talking about unfortunately.  That makes it hard
to answer your questions.

 In general, cichlids are fertilized one of two ways.  Some are substrate spawners, meaning that the female lays eggs that stick to a hard surface, such as a rock, and then the male immediately (within a few seconds) fertilizes them.   Other cichlids are mouthbrooders. The female lays a few eggs and immediately picks them up in her mouth. The male then fertilizes them in her mouth (within a few seconds).   

  Most female cichlids can lay eggs every few weeks, e.g., every 3 weeks is not unusual.

-- Ron
  rcoleman@cichlidresearch.com
  Cichlid Research Home Page <http://cichlidresearch.com>

Fish

All Answers

Answers by Expert:

Ask Experts

Volunteer

Ron Coleman

Expertise

I am an expert on cichlid fishes, particularly New World cichlids. My broader expertise includes the behavior, ecology and reproduction of fishes in general. (I am NOT an expert on Goldfish). Please do not use abbreviations, such as "my GT has a swollen eye" because I don't know what a "GT" is. The more clearly you can explain your question, the better chance I have of understanding what it is that you seek. I keep fishes both as a scientist and as a hobbyist and I currently maintain about 140 aquariums.

Experience

I am an Associate Professor at the California State University, Sacramento in the Department of Biological Sciences, and I run a website, called the Cichlid Research Home Page . I also write for many popular aquarist magazines, and I was editor of Cichlid News magazine for several years. I am a scientist and I spend my time teaching fish biology, ecology, behavior and evolution and doing research on the reproductive biology of fishes, particularly cichlids. I do research in the laboratory and in Costa Rica, Nicaragua and Mexico. My main interest is understanding the evolution of parental care in fishes. I am interested in encouraging greater public awareness, understanding and participation in science.

Publications
Cichlid News, Tropical Fish Hobbyist, Freshwater and Marine Aquarium, Science, Behavioural Ecology and Sociobiology, Copeia, Canadian Journal of Zoology, Trends in Ecology and Evolution, AUK, Environmental Biology of Fishes

Education/Credentials
PhD (Toronto, 1993) MSc (Simon Fraser, 1986) BSc (British Columbia, 1983)

©2012 About.com, a part of The New York Times Company. All rights reserved.