Will my male pleco die from not eating and protecting the eggs?

[professorjimjam]

I have this male albino that has been in the hole for several days. Because I have many scavengers in the tank. The male pleco is guarding the eggs 24/7 . I worry for his well-being because I haven’t seen him out of the hole even a single moment. He knows that as soon as he steps out of the hole, other plecos will attack the eggs. I do not know which other female pleco has laid the eggs becuade I have three females in the tank. There are lots of egg as you can see in the photo. How long does it take for eggs to hatch and will this pleco die if he doesn’t come out of the hole?

I tried dropping food to the hole but anything I put in the hole he takes it out. He doesn’t even let a single smallest snail get in the hole.

 

[Deadeye]

Fish can go quite a while without food, at the moment, breeding is on his mind rather than feeding.
I wouldn’t be worried, this is a completely natural behavior!

 

[professorjimjam]

Thank you very much Deadeye!

 

[TwoHedWlf]

He can go weeks easy without eating, month or two probably. He won't starve to death. Bristlenoses breed like rabbits, they have it all figured out don't worry.

 

[professorjimjam]

Thanks a lot TwoHedWlf

 

[Niki_up]

I observed my male would come out of his cave to eat if it was close by the entrance but not until lights out, lights on was all game time for him protecting the eggs lol

regardless if he stays inside the cave he will be fine.

If you notice he’s one one batch of eggs after the other without breaks and not eating you may have to remove the females so he can catch his breath and actually eat a proper meal. Some female bn are ruthless and will force their way into caves to lay eggs for the male, they don’t care if he has eggs or a break.

 

[professorjimjam]

Thanks Nikki.

 

[TwoTankAmin]

Females can produce eggs in less time than it takes a males to raise a spawn to free swimming and be booted out of the cave. Normally one works with a pair or a reverse trio or a larger group. The problem with too many females is that they have a pecking order just as the males do. And it is the top female or females that get to spawn.

Sometimes more than one female will spawn in close proximity time-wise with the same male. But once a dad is on eggs he wants nothing to do with any females and will guard the eggs against a female entering the cave. The reason the female wants in is she knows if she can eat the eggs or wigglers, the male becomes free to spawn. This is not cannibalism from hunger, rather it is a strategy for spawning, albeit a violent one.

 

[professorjimjam]

Females can produce eggs in less time than it takes a males to raise a spawn to free swimming and be booted out of the cave. Normally one works with a pair or a reverse trio or a larger group. The problem with too many females is that they have a pecking order just as the males do. And it is the top female or females that get to spawn.

Sometimes more than one female will spawn in close proximity time-wise with the same male. But once a dad is on eggs he wants nothing to do with any females and will guard the eggs against a female entering the cave. The reason the female wants in is she knows if she can eat the eggs or wigglers, the male becomes free to spawn. This is not cannibalism from hunger, rather it is a strategy for spawning, albeit a violent one.

Wow ! What a brilliant explanation. I have learned a lot from you than from watching many YouTube videos. Thank you very much!