Convict Spawn Surprise

[rba718]

Sup MFK,

I woke up to a surprise this morning, my two Convicts spawned!

I noticed they seemed pretty close within the last couple of weeks and would only gather at this one plastic root I have inside the tank. I later noticed this brown textured substance all over the top of the root but I thought it was just some algae. I really didn't think anything of it because I hadn't even planned for it and I figured I'd need a lot of preparation before anything could happen.

Anyway, they spawned and the cloud of baby Convicts is growing little by little. (The amount has doubled within the past 4 hours.)

I really didn't see this coming, so can anyone give me any advice on how to care for them? I got rid of all of the other fish that were in the tank with them. What can I possibly feed the babies? Should I pass on doing any water changes for the coming weeks? Should I separate the babies from the two Convicts?

Much thanks in advance.

 

[Cichlaholics Anonymous]

it's up to you whether you want to separate the parents from the fries. You could always start with some fry food like BBS, then little by little progess to bigger items.

 

[rba718]

Does it matter whether I separate them or not? I mean, will they be okay and grow regardless?

I'll look around for some food like that tomorrow, in the meantime, is there any other kind of food I can throw in? Bananas? Cucumber? Lettuce?

 

[CHOMPERS]

The best thing you can do is to do nothing. The parents will do everything. They will grind up food for the fry and they will also take the fry in their mouths to clean them. Hold off on any water changes until the babies grow. For now, water changes are ok as long as you do not draw off the bottom and do not add chlorinated water to the tank. If you own a python, take it out to the front lawn and run it over with the lawn mower.


My convict breeding tank has a layer of algae on it. The algae consumes the nitrates. My fry never has to deal with nitrate poisoning and they grow faster than with a clean tank and regular water changes. I kept an algae covered tank for a grow out, and next to it I had an identical tank that I kept algae free. I then split a brood between the two tanks. They got water changes at the same time and both tanks were treated the same. The fry in the algae covered tank grew about 30% faster than the ones in the clean tank.

 

[rba718]

The best thing you can do is to do nothing. The parents will do everything. They will grind up food for the fry and they will also take the fry in their mouths to clean them. Hold off on any water changes until the babies grow. For now, water changes are ok as long as you do not draw off the bottom and do not add chlorinated water to the tank. If you own a python, take it out to the front lawn and run it over with the lawn mower.


My convict breeding tank has a layer of algae on it. The algae consumes the nitrates. My fry never has to deal with nitrate poisoning and they grow faster than with a clean tank and regular water changes. I kept an algae covered tank for a grow out, and next to it I had an identical tank that I kept algae free. I then split a brood between the two tanks. They got water changes at the same time and both tanks were treated the same. The fry in the algae covered tank grew about 30% faster than the ones in the clean tank.

That sounds good, except the lawnmower part.

I thought they were beating up the fry or something when they'd suck them in and spit them back out but I guess they were just being cleaned.

Alright, I'll stick with the same regiment and feed them the same, I'll put in maybe some lettuce to see if they'll go at it. I'll also put in this fake floating plant stuff for some shade and for some nice hiding places at the top if that's alright.

Thanks for the help btw.