Raising fry in a natural setting

  • We are currently upgrading MFK. thanks! -neo
While early feedings of the mucous layer provide peptides, essential amino acids (protein), growth promoting hormones, and natural antibodies, (for some species that lack the proper enzymes for digestion, and do not have a fully functional digestion system) as previously stated once the fry reach approx 4 weeks of age it's best to get them on to a commercial food.

Detritus, algae, and the various micro-organisms found within a well established tank will provide nutrients to young fry, but nothing even remotely close to what a premium commercial food will provide. If the growth pellets are too large when the fry reach the 4 week free swimming stage, they can easily be crushed into a fine powder. For those of you that are feeding NLS, New Life also makes a fry food that is already a fine powder. (Small Fry Starter formula) Once the fry gain some size, using wafers while one is away at work/school etc is a great way to provide a constant suppy of essential nutrients to young fish.
 
RD. said:
While early feedings of the mucous layer provide peptides, essential amino acids (protein), growth promoting hormones, and natural antibodies, (for some species that lack the proper enzymes for digestion, and do not have a fully functional digestion system) as previously stated once the fry reach approx 4 weeks of age it's best to get them on to a commercial food.

Detritus, algae, and the various micro-organisms found within a well established tank will provide nutrients to young fry, but nothing even remotely close to what a premium commercial food will provide. If the growth pellets are too large when the fry reach the 4 week free swimming stage, they can easily be crushed into a fine powder. For those of you that are feeding NLS, New Life also makes a fry food that is already a fine powder. (Small Fry Starter formula) Once the fry gain some size, using wafers while one is away at work/school etc is a great way to provide a constant suppy of essential nutrients to young fish.
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Do these smaller pellets sink? I have found the smaller NLS pellets tend to float which would not be good for the fry. I might have to try this stuff out.

@Duanes, thanks for the comment . So I am guessing this is not your typical kind of algea. Do you have anyways of obtaining this algea or growing it in the tank? Might sound like kind of a ridiculousness question.
 
Yes, the micro particles sink, how fast they sink will depend on the circulation/flow in ones tank. IME it's best to pre-mix fry food with a small amount of tank water, then shoot down to the fry with a baster.
 
That hair algae just started growing on wood in my window sump, it might have been seeded with a plant, I'm not sure. But I've been using it,and moving it around from tank to tank for years.
For pellets that don't immediately sink, a few minute soak in tank water does wonders.
I also have a small processor dedicated to pureeing pellets and peas and the like in tank water.
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X2 great way to keep the fry from wandering all over the place.
RD. said:
IME it's best to pre-mix fry food with a small amount of tank water, then shoot down to the fry with a baster.
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I guess I will post this on this thread...

A very interesting thing happened today. I noticed my male is no longer showing breeding coloration and is now showing normal coloration. It seems the female has chased him off the spawn. I have never seen this before I can't imagine why she would do a thing like that. Now she is guarding the spawn by herself. I am afraid that she will not be able to defend her spawn alone against the other fish in the tank AND the male. Should I remove the remaining babies and raise them in a separate tank?

On another note I have noticed small abrasions on the males's sides. It seem the fry have done some damage on him. Maybe a reason why he left? The female does not seem to have these abrasions. Maybe he is not big enough to handle that kind of feeding? Maybe even the male has started to eat the fry because I have speculated that.
 
They most likely had a disagreement about the fry, and the abrasions are probably from the female attacking him and trying to drive him off. I've had male fish do the same thing before. He could have been eating the fry, or he could have been trying to get her to spawn again. Either way it sounds like she wasn't having any of it.

I'd siphon the fry if you really want to save them. Eventually other tankmates will move in and pick them off. It's tougher for one fish to guard a whole spawn. Also, she's going to be extremely stressed from the constant guarding and chasing.
 
if really want to raise some and can't wait till next time,you could just take half or less than that of the fry.that would be less stress on her also.
 
I was too late mom abandoned the fry she couldn't handle the pressure. She did quite a number on the male though lol. They will try again and now both I and they are a bit wiser.
 
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