Protecting Fry in a 240

[bkfamus]

Ya doesn’t sound like a fun task, if you’re able to, you should post some pics.

Here's a few not so great pics from my phone.. Dealing with a bacteria bloom, but have been testing the parameters daily for the last 2 weeks w/ PH 7.2, Ammonia 0, Nitrite 0 and Nitrate 5 consistently

Pic of the Terrordome, pic of Momma GT guarding her fry and the best pic I could get of the fry.. think I got like 30 or 40 back there.

 

[Joshuakahan]

Here's a few not so great pics from my phone.. Dealing with a bacteria bloom, but have been testing the parameters daily for the last 2 weeks w/ PH 7.2, Ammonia 0, Nitrite 0 and Nitrate 5 consistently

Pic of the Terrordome, pic of Momma GT guarding her fry and the best pic I could get of the fry.. think I got like 30 or 40 back there.View attachment 1455562View attachment 1455563View attachment 1455564

Very cool, hopefully you can save them, if not I’m sure you’ll have more

 

[Cich Mind]

That is some very nice woodscape you have there. I really like it. The fish look great too.

 

[bkfamus]

Very cool, hopefully you can save them, if not I’m sure you’ll have more

Thanks! ? I wasn't really planning on breeding and didn't expect fry so soon, but it's a nice surprise seeing them spawn and try to defend their turf..

 

[bkfamus]

That is some very nice woodscape you have there. I really like it. The fish look great too.

Thanks! the scape was inspired by alot of the aquariums I've seen on here.. It's not Stanzzzz7 level, but a work in progress... ?

Re: the fish, lucked out after searching high and low for sexable GTs under 3".. almost bought some 3 1/2" online, but noticed a LFS got 1 WC and 2 CB shipments from 3 different sources and spent over an hour picking my favorite 6.. And definitely lucked into the T. argenteus buying the last 8 available at aqua-imports..

 

[Stanzzzz7]

Thanks! the scape was inspired by alot of the aquariums I've seen on here.. It's not .avatar--xss { width: 21px; height: 21px; line-height: 21px !important; margin-right: 2px; } Stanzzzz7 @Stanzzzz7 level, but a work in progress... ?

Thanks. I think your tank looks great.

 

[duanes]

If they are still in a tight shoal, you can siphon them up, and put them into another grow out tank.
Once they start dispersing its very difficult.
The problem with siphoning them out, is the parents will normally then spawn again, in about 10 days.
It is very normal for a pair to lose an entire spawn in nature, due to predation, weather events etc etc.
Whats good about remaining in a community is the slowest, infirmed, or deformed fry are some of the first to be culled by the tetras (saving you the trouble) , but the fastest, healthiest, and most aware individuals, those the best at avoiding predation, best colors for the terrain, remain alive, (a modified version of survival of the fittest(?), but as they grow, in the confines of just about any tank, being cornered is the norm.

There is an interesting chapter in the book "Cichlids from Central America" where the author Ad Konnings proposes a theory, that if only 2 individuals (as opposed to one) of each managuense spawn survive to maturity and breed in lake Managua, that species would overrun the lake with managuense.

Beside being great places to hide for fry (and adults), the plants provide food in the form of algal growth and substrate for micro-organisms the fry can constantly graze on, and soak up nitrate.

 

[bkfamus]

Thanks. I think your tank looks great.

Thanks Stanzzzz7 ! Your tanks are the standard and I took alot of guidance from your thread https://www.monsterfishkeepers.com/...ural-functional-cichlid-display-tanks.699757/ ..

I haven't progressed to using the brace bars yet, but guess that's a good thing as I try to catch and remove some of my Colombians... And still plan to get a few larger rocks, some wodges of java moss and let some algae grow out over time..

p.s. my daughter just asked if this is fishnerds.com Told her I'm a fish geek, not nerd ?

 

[bkfamus]

If they are still in a tight shoal, you can siphon them up, and put them into another grow out tank.
Once they start dispersing its very difficult.
The problem with siphoning them out, is the parents will normally then spawn again, in about 10 days.
It is very normal for a pair to lose an entire spawn in nature, due to predation, weather events etc etc.
Whats good about remaining in a community is the slowest, infirmed, or deformed fry are some of the first to be culled by the tetras (saving you the trouble) , but the fastest, healthiest, and most aware individuals, those the best at avoiding predation, best colors for the terrain, remain alive, (a modified version of survival of the fittest(?), but as they grow, in the confines of just about any tank, being cornered is the norm.

There is an interesting chapter in the book "Cichlids from Central America" where the author Ad Konnings proposes a theory, that if only 2 individuals (as opposed to one) of each managuense spawn survive to maturity and breed in lake Managua, that species would overrun the lake with managuense.
View attachment 1455586
Beside being great places to hide for fry (and adults), the plants provide food in the form of algal growth and substrate for micro-organisms the fry can constantly graze on, and soak up nitrate.
View attachment 1455588
View attachment 1455589

Thanks duanes ! After 7 years of maintaining 12+ 40 and 20 gallon blackwater apistogramma and SA dwarf cichlid tanks where the entire scape from the sand to the plants and tankmates revolved around protecting apisto fry, I should know how to protect my GT fry.. But I'm still am very much a newb.. And conflicted.. I'm new with larger cichlids and tanks and decided before my first "Monster" purchase, I didn't want dozens or more of fry... so I intentionally stocked each of my 6, now 7 tanks w/ fry predators.. I don't have room for more tanks and I'm not into breeding for sale... just enjoy having a slice of nature in my house.. but seeing those fry swimming around yesterday morning with the mom and dad fiercely protecting their brood, my apisto instincts kicked in.. But your point about the managuense is appreciated.. I think I'll just let nature take it's course.. If any survive, great... if not, that's natural population control..

Thanks for sharing the books too.. I'll definitely order a few on amazon today starting with "Cichlids from Central America", "Cichlids of North & Central America" and "The Cichlids Aquarium" ?

 

[Stanzzzz7]

Thanks Stanzzzz7 ! Your tanks are the standard and I took alot of guidance from your thread https://www.monsterfishkeepers.com/...ural-functional-cichlid-display-tanks.699757/ ..

I haven't progressed to using the brace bars yet, but guess that's a good thing as I try to catch and remove some of my Colombians... And still plan to get a few larger rocks, some wodges of java moss and let some algae grow out over time..

p.s. my daughter just asked if this is fishnerds.com Told her I'm a fish geek, not nerd ?

My little girls always moaning at me for watching fish videos on YouTube. She knows full well I'm a fish geek.