It is now 2 weeks since I moved 7 eba fry from the main tank. My eba pair spawned 4 times in 5 months I used to see some of the fry being picked off by other fish in the tank. The fry would be free swimming for 2 days day 3 they would all be gone I suspect the parents. Anyway this is week 2 the second week I noticed a growth spurt the are of different sizes one still being very small . I have been feeding them liquifry power also 2 seeded sponge filters the second sponge has a lot of algae on it so it i providing food as well I daily 30% water changes as the tank is only 24 liters I use it to keep live river schrimp for my pike cichlid but due to the lock down unable to get any. I intend to move them to an 88 lt tank and when big enough and then into one of my main tank's
electric blue acra fry
- Thread starter bathawk
- Start date
I managed to get some photos of the 3 week old fry and the 2 day free swimming fry they are quite hard to see but can just about be seen
EBA spawn like crazy. About like convicts in my experience.
With any breeding process you will notice some fry just grow faster and larger.
Generally that’s what you want to keep (the stronger healthy fry)
There’s a few reasons that some fry get bigger than others. Food , space, water conditions.
Some fish produce hormones that are designed to make them grow larger while suppressing the growth of their siblings.
This is why a group of fry in a larger volume of water will do better and grow larger and faster.
There is more water to dilute these type hormones and overall the water quality will be more stable.
But, even in a large tank with excellent water there will be different sizes of fry.
At that point I suppose it’s just genetic as some fry will just be smaller and weaker no matter what.
In my experience if you take the smaller fry and raise them separately some will catch up but most won’t.
Usually that’s when culling has to take place for good of the species.
Good luck with the fry.
Raising fry is one of the more fun parts of keep fish for me.
With any breeding process you will notice some fry just grow faster and larger.
Generally that’s what you want to keep (the stronger healthy fry)
There’s a few reasons that some fry get bigger than others. Food , space, water conditions.
Some fish produce hormones that are designed to make them grow larger while suppressing the growth of their siblings.
This is why a group of fry in a larger volume of water will do better and grow larger and faster.
There is more water to dilute these type hormones and overall the water quality will be more stable.
But, even in a large tank with excellent water there will be different sizes of fry.
At that point I suppose it’s just genetic as some fry will just be smaller and weaker no matter what.
In my experience if you take the smaller fry and raise them separately some will catch up but most won’t.
Usually that’s when culling has to take place for good of the species.
Good luck with the fry.
Raising fry is one of the more fun parts of keep fish for me.
If you're in it for breeding them and keeping the fry, i would suggest you pull them soon as you see them free swimming. Especially if they tend to be eaten. The biggest threat would be you, because tank space. I would remove most and keep a few in the tank with the parents to see if they can get the parenting part right. The constant breeding can be a problem as well. Like with one of my dempsey pairs, literally breeding every two weeks. Maybe even sooner! If you can't keep up with the spawning, i would leave them in there. Too many fry for myself is high demand, especially when you have to work and handle home things. Glad you remove them and good job with those fry.
I have so many I can’t get rid of them anymore. LFS can’t sell anymore. Tried shipping for a while, to much hassle.
And generally EBA are great parents, they can end up raising the whole spawn.
It’s not long before you get over run.
I don’t even try to save anymore.
I know it sound harsh, but I use them for feeders, I’ve even sold some at feeder prices to some other people in the area that use feeders.
Yet you can still go to the local petsmart and a two inch EBA is 20 bucks. Lol
I’m in the same position with Festae. Can’t givem away!