I would like to pay my respects to all the baby plecs I have recently lost and also my oldest and most respected male. They all died from 'velvet' disease. Unfortunately I found out what the problem was too late to save him and his offspring. I am so sorry I didn't find out what was causing it until it was too late for him and the others.

So sorry to hear of your losses, it's so frustrating when you can not identify an illness soon enough

Sorry to hear about your losses

RIP little ones

I lost my first batch of eggs, they never hatched. All was seemingly going well dad was fanning and tending so carefully, but we had a sudden cold spell and the temp. in their tank went fro 25*C-20*C (huge fluctuation!) before I noticed. At least that is what I think the COD was but if anyone has any other ideas please let me know.
I put the heater on but I was too late. I wasn't sure if they had died until 5 days passed and dad was still fanning like crazy a few eggs still stuck in the cave. I lifted it up thinking they had hatched, I thought at first they were fry cause dad was tending to them as well, but they were almost hatched dead embryos, the embryos were just about there, they had fully developed tails and it's so sad. I actually removed dad from his cave carefully as he was so stressed and thin, I thought that even though there were a few dead ones still attached, he should eat and recover from the whole thing. It was amazing to see though how dedicated he was even though it was obvious they were dead, I think if this little miracle happens again he'll be a good father. The mum since has been through a lot too, the cave dad and the eggs were in had a piece missing and she some how scraped a little piece off her right fin after I removed the embryos, she went and checked it out but I think it was too soon for dad. She was also stressed from the whole water temperature thing I think, how awful I felt :cry:

Ouch. >.o That's really sad and really touching at the same time, the devotion of the male... poor guy.

I'm sure he'll be a great father though, the next time a batch is laid. Fingers crossed, eh.