Young Redheads!

[J. H.]

Big Jay very generously went out of his way to meet me and give me five Geophagus sp. Tapajos Redhead fry this past Thursday. I have them in a 10g with a pair of BNs. They are all eating, but one of them holds its fine funny and only comes out when I feed, instead of running around exploring and begging for food like the others, and today he is swimming funny, so I am a little worried. He looked not as good in the bag already, so I suspect he may be a runt . The five of them eat more than twice as much as my twelve rainbow, on goldfish, one guppy and krib pair in my 55, and I still have a hard time getting their bellies to bulge
76F pH 7.4 , nitrate, nitrite and ammonia are all below testable levels on my API kit.
Should I change the temperature/pH?
Should I feed them something specific? They are getting a mix of regular flake food, shrimp pellets, high algae content cichlid pellets, and cooked veggies for the BNs.
Anyway, here are pics!
`

 

[Gourami Swami]

Diet, pH, temperature sound fine. I wouldn't change anything, if the fish are doing fine then stable is usually better than "correct". Only thing I would advise is some sand for them to sift, though maybe that could wait until next tank upgrade, since adding sand to an established tank is a PITA. Nice looking little guys, good luck with them.

 

[tlindsey]

Big Jay very generously went out of his way to meet me and give me five Geophagus sp. Tapajos Redhead fry this past Thursday. I have them in a 10g with a pair of BNs. They are all eating, but one of them holds its fine funny and only comes out when I feed, instead of running around exploring and begging for food like the others, and today he is swimming funny, so I am a little worried. He looked not as good in the bag already, so I suspect he may be a runt . The five of them eat more than twice as much as my twelve rainbow, on goldfish, one guppy and krib pair in my 55, and I still have a hard time getting their bellies to bulge
76F pH 7.4 , nitrate, nitrite and ammonia are all below testable levels on my API kit.
Should I change the temperature/pH?
Should I feed them something specific? They are getting a mix of regular flake food, shrimp pellets, high algae content cichlid pellets, and cooked veggies for the BNs.
Anyway, here are pics!
`

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The only thing I suggest is watch parameters and wc's.

 

[J. H.]

Diet, pH, temperature sound fine. I wouldn't change anything, if the fish are doing fine then stable is usually better than "correct". Only thing I would advise is some sand for them to sift, though maybe that could wait until next tank upgrade, since adding sand to an established tank is a PITA. Nice looking little guys, good luck with them.

Thanks. I didn't put in sand because how would I clean the BNs' sawdust poop out if the bottom was covered in sand?

 

[tlindsey]

The only thing I suggest is watch parameters and wc's.

If possible a larger growout aquarium would be great.

 

[Gourami Swami]

Thanks. I didn't put in sand because how would I clean the BNs' sawdust poop out if the bottom was covered in sand?

with a siphon? just hover it above the sand. Also use larger grain sand like pool filter sand. I vac my sand like gravel, and just crimp the hose when the sand is almost at the top. the poop is lighter and rises faster

 

[robham777]

The one acting a bit off may have been injured during netting. Keep everything clean with frequent water changes and hopefully it will perk up.

 

[J. H.]

If possible a larger growout aquarium would be great.

That should happen as soon as I figure out how to properly seal/reseal an aquarium

 

[tlindsey]

That should happen as soon as I figure out how to properly seal/reseal an aquarium

Ok great.

 

[tlindsey]

with a siphon? just hover it above the sand. Also use larger grain sand like pool filter sand. I vac my sand like gravel, and just crimp the hose when the sand is almost at the top. the poop is lighter and rises faster

+1