I need help so badly

[Zeon]

This has been a complete disaster, My temporary holding tank for my young new world cichlids has been a total mess, and my convicts just had babies Thursday but I didn’t realize till right before I left for the weekend. The mother was already removed before I figured out they had babies. I pulled the babies out from protection of their dad into a breeding box with a net around it because I knew they were going to fall through the holes. Half the fry are already dead(I think), they keep getting picked at from my cichlids through the net, I don’t have another tank, most of them are stuck in the net. I’m on urge of just releasing them back into the tank and letting nature run its course, I didn’t want to have fish babies and wasn’t prepared for this and have no idea what to do. I feel horrible for killing half of the fry and I bet by the time I wake up most will be dead

 

[tlindsey]

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This has been a complete disaster, My temporary holding tank for my young new world cichlids has been a total mess, and my convicts just had babies Thursday but I didn’t realize till right before I left for the weekend. The mother was already removed before I figured out they had babies. I pulled the babies out from protection of their dad into a breeding box with a net around it because I knew they were going to fall through the holes. Half the fry are already dead(I think), they keep getting picked at from my cichlids through the net, I don’t have another tank, most of them are stuck in the net. I’m on urge of just releasing them back into the tank and letting nature run its course, I didn’t want to have fish babies and wasn’t prepared for this and have no idea what to do. I feel horrible for killing half of the fry and I bet by the time I wake up most will be dead

Place the net inside the breeder box.

 

[puffers4puffers]

Unless you’re planning to sell the fry, or they are particularly important...
Let them get eaten by the other fish in the tank
They’re a great source of fresh protein

Commend yourself
You have provided an environment that the fish feel comfortable enough to breed.
The pair will spawn again
Convict cichlids DO know how to do that!

 

[Zeon]

Place the net inside the breeder box.

Oh crap

 

[phreeflow]

I use these in case I ever end up with fry and they work great. Great water flow, protection, space. I have a few laying around and they come in handy for all sorts of things

Ziss Breeder Box | Fish Breeding Box with Air Stone for Increased Flow

Use this internal breeder box to raise baby fry, isolate pregnant females, or let injured fish recover. Connects to an air pump for increased water flow.

www.aquariumcoop.com

 

[Zeon]

Yea

I use these in case I ever end up with fry and they work great. Great water flow, protection, space. I have a few laying around and they come in handy for all sorts of things

Ziss Breeder Box | Fish Breeding Box with Air Stone for Increased Flow

Use this internal breeder box to raise baby fry, isolate pregnant females, or let injured fish recover. Connects to an air pump for increased water flow.

www.aquariumcoop.com

I got one very similar and they just flew through the tiny holes, that one looks a lot better

 

[FishEZ]

In the meantime, it appears the fish are not free-swimming yet. You can put them in a solid container with tank water and place the container in the tank to float. That will buy you the amount of time needed to get a real breeder box as was suggested. Remember that before they are free swimming, they are not eating but using the yoke sacks. During this time, they will not foul the water and so you have a little bit of time to get them ready. That's what I would do in a situation as yours.

 

[Zeon]

In the meantime, it appears the fish are not free-swimming yet. You can put them in a solid container with tank water and place the container in the tank to float. That will buy you the amount of time needed to get a real breeder box as was suggested. Remember that before they are free swimming, they are not eating but using the yoke sacks. During this time, they will not foul the water and so you have a little bit of time to get them ready. That's what I would do in a situation as yours.

Ok, thank you, how long do you think till they are free swimming? They were born Thursday or Friday

 

[FishEZ]

Usually it's 3-5 days depending on the species. Just look carefully at their bodies to see if the yolk sack is gone. That will tell you. Sounds like they should begin free-swimming at any moment.

 

[Zeon]

Usually it's 3-5 days depending on the species. Just look carefully at their bodies to see if the yolk sack is gone. That will tell you. Sounds like they should begin free-swimming at any moment.

I think some of them have began kinda swimming around a little, my plan is to take them out into a container for 5 minutes, put the net on the inside of the breeder box to cover the holes and put them back in. Their might be a chance I can pick up a new one but I don’t know