Oscars Spawning

[Trevor]

I recently posted an article with the subject Spawning Demspeys. Well this
morning when I went to check on the Depseys I notice the pair of Oscars
have spawned as well - on the other side of the tank.

I did not notice the eggs yesterday when I did a gravel vac (I might have
missed them) so I assume they were laid over night.

Unlike the dempsey eggs which a re a translucent yellowish colour, all the
Oscar eggs are uniformly white. Since this is the first time they have
spawned I would not even have known if I had a female Oscar or not.

I have alwasy understood when eggs go white they are non-viable. Since all
the eggs are white ist it correct to assume that they were not fertilised
becasue a) the "male" is shooting blanks or just did not bother or b) the
"male" is actaully a female and whoever laid the eggs did so out of a
response to another species of fish doing the same thing. Or are Oscar
eggs white to start with?

Thanks

Trev

[Happy'Cam'per]

Eggs will appear white at first but after a day or two you can see if
they've been fertilised as the eggs change colour as development begins, you
should be able to see little brown or black flecks in the eggs, if you do
see them, then they've been fertilised. Its quite common for fish in aquaria
to spawn simultaneously, as with your Dempseys and Oscars, all the extra
hormones in the water from the JD's sparked your Oscars into a spawn. If you
have other fish tanks then throw some of the JD/Oscar tank water into them
and maybe spark off some more breeding fishies. HTH.
--
**So long, and thanks for all the fish!**


"Trevor" > wrote in message
se.com...
> I recently posted an article with the subject Spawning Demspeys. Well this
> morning when I went to check on the Depseys I notice the pair of Oscars
> have spawned as well - on the other side of the tank.
>
> I did not notice the eggs yesterday when I did a gravel vac (I might have
> missed them) so I assume they were laid over night.
>
> Unlike the dempsey eggs which a re a translucent yellowish colour, all the
> Oscar eggs are uniformly white. Since this is the first time they have
> spawned I would not even have known if I had a female Oscar or not.
>
> I have alwasy understood when eggs go white they are non-viable. Since all
> the eggs are white ist it correct to assume that they were not fertilised
> becasue a) the "male" is shooting blanks or just did not bother or b) the
> "male" is actaully a female and whoever laid the eggs did so out of a
> response to another species of fish doing the same thing. Or are Oscar
> eggs white to start with?
>
> Thanks
>
> Trev
>

[Trevor]

On Tue, 25 May 2004 15:59:19 +0200, Happy'Cam'per wrote:

>
> Eggs will appear white at first but after a day or two you can see if
> they've been fertilised as the eggs change colour as development begins,
> you should be able to see little brown or black flecks in the eggs, if you
> do see them, then they've been fertilised. Its quite common for fish in
> aquaria to spawn simultaneously, as with your Dempseys and Oscars, all the
> extra hormones in the water from the JD's sparked your Oscars into a
> spawn. If you have other fish tanks then throw some of the JD/Oscar tank
> water into them and maybe spark off some more breeding fishies. HTH. --
> **So long, and thanks for all the fish!**
>
>

Tanks for that info. The eggs have remained white and the oscars are not
even guarding them. The other fish seem to be having a meal! The
Jack dempsey wigglers have all disappeared and the Demspeys are no longer
displaying the vibrant spawning colours. I definately saw that there were
some left whne I put in the egg crate partition. However as this was not
as easy as I had antcipated and I mioght have disturbed them into ignoring
or devouring their own spawn. I now have the divider so next time it will
go in before the eggs have hatched.

Trev