Convict fry...is this normal?

[bmxer4ever]

I've had about 6 spawnings in my Convict tank within the last 3 weeks(!) but havn't had any fry survive...or so I thought.
Noticed yesterday, when the latest 2 spawnings occured, that they're were fry darting about the gravel in a cave next to some new eggs! Tried to siphon them out, but couldn't get any.
Then something caught my eye in the gravel at the front of the tank up against the glass...fry in the gaps between the gravel! Noticed about half a dozen, seemed to be of varying sizes.
Managed to move some of the gravel and siphoned 6 of them out and put them in a little tank by themselves. The substrate in the Convict tank consists of fairly large gravel (1/4" - 1/2" - came with the tank when I adopted it from a neighbour) with finer stuff put in around my plant roots.
Could the fry from the previous spawnings be hiding out in the larger gravel? Is this something cichlid fry do? I'm new to them, so don't know.
Should I just leave them to it? I take it they're feeding off little bits of food that drop down there...

 

[WyldFya]

For the first several weeks the con babies will stay on the bottom. Your large gravel is probably just allowing them easier access to hiding spots.

 

[kissme_419]

yeah that sounds about right

 

[z24frank]

Will guppies eat my fry?

 

[Lil_Stinker]

It is likely that there are many in the gravel. They will find shelter where ever they can. as they get larger they will venture out more. there is pleny of food in the rocks, and it is safe.


z24frank.. what kinda fry? in what kinda tank setup?

 

[z24frank]

My convict fry! and its a 10 gallon guppy tank that I was breeding a pair in and got a pair of convicts(real small like 1 inch) that I threw in to see if they would breed and guess what!THEY DID AND FAST TOO!

 

[bmxer4ever]

I'm up to nine spawnings now and I reckon my gravel is full of fry! Got about 30-40 out and in a tank by themselves (although some have died), but I'm going to move my adult cons on to lfs, so should be fun to see what comes out of the gravel once the big fish are away! Could be hundreds of them! Then I'm in trouble! Cons everywhere!

 

[Lil_Stinker]

My convict fry! and its a 10 gallon guppy tank that I was breeding a pair in and got a pair of convicts(real small like 1 inch) that I threw in to see if they would breed and guess what!THEY DID AND FAST TOO!

If thet can make it a bout 6 weeks in the gravel & hiding, they shoulf be big enought to survive the gupps