First Attempt at Fry

[fishme]

I have a 75-gallon tank with mostly peacocks along with several acei. Over the months, I've had several fish holding but never bothered with them since I wasn't sure there wasn't cross breeding, plus I wasn't interested in fry. Every one of them either gave up the ghost before the fry hatched, or the fry hatched and were eaten. I have never seen a fry in that tank.

Well, I now have an acei holding for about 7 to 10 days. Last night, I took all the rocks out, waited a while for them to settle in the dark, then moved her to a 30-gallon tank by herself. Amazingly, she appears to still be holding (the only other time I tried this the eggs were gone by the time I got the fish to another tank). As I said, I think she's been holding a week to 10 days. Do the fry hatch in about 15 days? Also, at any point should I put food in there for her? I remember reading that the female will sometimes nibble a bit of food toward the end, possibly to help feed the fry.

[angel]

They do nibble to feed the fry, and if you're going to help her spit, that's a good time to do it, when you see her eating. If she's been holding that long it's close to time. If she nibbles they're about done with their yolk sacs and need to be getting some food. I always put just two flakes in. If they don't get eaten I vac them out. The fry are able to exist on their own in about 15 days. They hatch earlier in every instance I've had of Africans. Anyone else have anything different? My acei was holding when I got her so that's one I don't know for sure on.

[allierw]

I have seen some mothers eat, and some that don't. I generally don't feed mothers in a holding tank. I would probably let her hold another week just to be sure--I like to strip nice fat fry. As long as the mother isn't getting too thin. Since this is the first time you've isolated her, she might hold a bit longer. Mine got to where as soon as I netted them, they were ready to spit, like they knew the routine.

[fishme]

Thanks to you both. Is there any particular advantage to stripping the fry since she's in a tank by herself?

[angel]

I have a few reasons for doing it. I don't like to see them get too skinny. If I think they need to eat they're getting stripped. I also get paranoid that she'll spit them and then eat them. And finally, I had one mother hold and hold and hold. I couldn't even strip them from her mouth! The third time I tried I got what was in there--the eggs were never fertilized and they turned fungusy in her mouth but she had no idea and just kept holding for all it's worth. Any longer and she would have starved to death and she still hasn't attempted to have more.

[allierw]

It's definitely possible she could spit and then turn around and eat them! Or at least continuously gather them back into her mouth. I just always thought it was easier to strip and then return mom to the community tank so she can start eating again.

[fishme]

OK, got tons of little acei in the tank. Mom's still there for now. Today she's letting them run around on their own more and when I fed her she ate. I'll probably take her out of the tank tonight. My question is this: They're in a 30 gallon and that's the smallest tank I have. Is there a trick to getting the food down to them? I've crushed up some flakes but I'm not sure they're eating much of it. I do see them grazing in the sand a lot. Not sure if my LFS has fry food...will check tomorrow but just wondering if there is a way to be sure they're getting it.

Also, is there a need to take all rock, driftwood etc. out?

[angel]

When fry are first learning to eat flakes I put the flakes in then splash the top of the water with my fingers. That makes at least some float down. I also give them BBS for some of their feedings. Fry can handle it.

[fishme]

BB Who?

[jgentry]

Baby brine shrimp

[fishme]

Ah, thanks guys. I'll see if I can get some. What about the rocks and driftwood...should I remove them or leave them for hiding places?

[angel]

Well, in the wild they hide in rocks and things. I can't see how it would hurt them. Having said that, I always put my new babies in a 10 gallon with a sponge filter upstairs where I can feed them plenty and watch them. I don't put toys in. Just more to clean. Up to you I'd say.

[fishme]

Thanks, Tina. Man, there's a bunch of those rascals. Got the mom out of there tonight.

[allierw]

Fry are so funny...if you leave the rocks in, you will notice that some start defending areas right away! They are just like miniature versions of mom and dad. They will get the hang of eating very, very soon--don't worry! They should be begging in no time.

[fishme]

Feeding them baby brine shrimp. Just wondering, how many of the frozen chunks should I feed per day. They don't do much with it while its floating but they're big-time sand nibblers. There's always one big chunk that lands in the sand and they gather round and devour it in no time. I've been putting two of the chunks per day in there. Is that about right or should they get more?