How to control fry

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convict360

convict360

Goliath Tigerfish
MFK Member
Dec 9, 2013
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Scotland
A while back I procured a tank, dimensions 36x12x12 (inches, 23 gallon), with the intention of breeding some pure convicts that I could donate to my LFS; as I hardly ever see convicts now, and thought it would be good to introduce pure strains instead of the deformed/stunted and/or hybrids I usually see.

This is all well and good, however, I realise that fry control will be a problem; and i don't wish to flood the LFS with fry constantly, potentially creating the very scenario i wish to avoid.

I guess what I'm asking is if there would be a way to semi-manage the production of fry? I've considered using as feeders for my BGK, culling, or leaving fry in the 23 gallon, but each has their disadvantages; i.e. fry surviving in BGK tank and overruning, not keen on culling, and bioload of leaving in breeder tank.

I'd appreciate helpful opinions on this, if it is unmanageable, I'll abandon the idea for now.

thanks
 
I had the same issue with my fire mouth. The only way I can control breeding is separating until I am ready for them to breed again. Only problem is looks like this last time the female has put on some size over the male and she wants nothing to do with him anymore.
 
We have about 6 billion convicts at the store I work at. We get them donated constantly and ours breed to no end.

I would say to add something thing to the tank that will eat the fry but the tank is too small. I think your only option is to slip the male and female up after fry are free swimming.




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put a small pleco in the tank...he'll gobble up all the unwanted eggs in a hurry.

or do what I did and use the newly hatched fry as food for the main batch of fry you plan to raise. free food - happy fish.
 
Probably the best bet is to pull eggs/wigglers to use as feeders.

When you are starting to have the young look like they are thinking about spawning it is time to move them too the LFS. Then with the tank clear you can grow out another batch.
 
Thanks for the responses thus far, in regards to the pleco suggestion, I have a small spotted Raphael catfish that I am wondering would be able to eat some fry at night, but he may get murdered. Also the turkey baster method seems like a shout.

In terms of leaving the fry in the tank until they'd need to be removed, would that give me 2-3 weeks average turnaround? I dont think I could be bothered to go to my LFS more than once a month lol.

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Deprecate the males from females. Get some predatory fish that will readily and constantly eat the fry that you don't want. I used to feed like ten to 20 fry every few days to my wolffish


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convict360 said:
Thanks for the responses thus far, in regards to the pleco suggestion, I have a small spotted Raphael catfish that I am wondering would be able to eat some fry at night, but he may get murdered.


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Click to expand...

yea it can be risky business for a pleco, but mine managed to eat about 3000 eggs right out from under my Piranha pair.
it was actually comical.. he would swim at the water surface directly over the nest..then slowly sink down on top of it without mommy and daddy noticing.. like Tom Cruise in mission impossible LOL.. then theyd chase him out and hed start all over.

maybe 2 small plecs? strength in numbers!

goodluck with whatever you decide!
 
d3r said:
yea it can be risky business for a pleco, but mine managed to eat about 3000 eggs right out from under my Piranha pair.
it was actually comical.. he would swim at the water surface directly over the nest..then slowly sink down on top of it without mommy and daddy noticing.. like Tom Cruise in mission impossible LOL.. then theyd chase him out and hed start all over.

maybe 2 small plecs? strength in numbers!

goodluck with whatever you decide!
Click to expand...

That does sound quite funny lol :D

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