Help! Lemon with maternity woes!

[Iron Maiden]

I have a lemon damsel who has decided to attach a large quanity of eggs on the cord going to a powerhead. She is very protective over her potential offspring, even beating up a turbo snail that ventured too close. My question is; what should I do now? What is the best thing to do to keep the fry from becoming a snack for the other fish when they hatch? And yes I'm sure they will hatch, at least two of the other lemons are small enough to be males. So, any input will be helpfull! thanks.

 

[billsreef]

Do you have any rotifer cultures going to feed the larvae? If not it's best to let this batch go and be food while you start up some cultures to feed the next batch

 

[Luis A M]

What is a lemon damsel?Scientific name,pics?
The male takes care of the eggs.

 

[billsreef]

Most commonly Pomacentrus moluccensis, however, I have seen that used as a catch all name for a couple of other similar damsels.

 

[Luis A M]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10903180#post10903180 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by billsreef
Most commonly Pomacentrus moluccensis, however, I have seen that used as a catch all name for a couple of other similar damsels.

Nice! Haven´t seen it yet around here.

 

[Iron Maiden]

Here is a pic of the lemon damsel I have. There are about 7 of them in my 125.
I dont have cultured anything! This is totally new to me. Of course the wife wants to save them all and not let them become food, but I dont' know how to do that.

 

[billsreef]

Unfortunately without the right first foods, they will die of starvation. So letting them be food is the better option right now. There is sticky thread on top of this forum with a lot of good info on culturing food organisms. With a little research you could be ready for the 2nd or 3rd batch of eggs

 

[Luis A M]

Sure,P.moluccensis is the "official"lemon damsel
But the fish of Iron Maiden looks more like a Chromis than a Pomacentrus Though I don´t find it in the "Chromis" section of Allen´s book.Damsels show lots of regional variation,so it is hard to tell.
And yet Pomacentrus spawn in dark crevices while many Chromis spawn on gorgonias or algae in the open,like the electric cord these fish have chosen.And easier to be kept in a peaceful group too.So I vote for Chromis sp.
As far as rearing them,marine fish are difficult and damsels are very difficult.Not impossible,though,see my avatar