Thank you for the tip on the NLS Grow. Parents are just beginning to let the fry out a little. Tried feeding some crushed flake this morning but they didn't seem interested. I guess it's been a week or so now since hatch. Maybe a little less. I figure around the 2 week mark (this time next week) the parents should be letting the fry out more. I'll pick up the NLS in the meantime and think about using that as food.
Red Head Tapajos Breeding Journal and Questions
- Thread starter Big Jay
- Start date
Good advice from petspoiler I think. It's totally true about the interaction between the parents and them. When you remove them they get real stressed some times, and the natural way is really amazing.
As for food, if your tank has been running for a while there will be microscopic stuff in the substrate that the fry will feed off of while they are tiny like that. For me I have honestly never bought any purpose made fry food. I always crushed up flake real well, sort of dip it in below the waterline so it sinks right away and let them figure it out. Some people might have reasons why they prefer something else, I just gave what I had lying around. They get big enough to eat real food fast anyway. My fry would try eating bloodworms that were 3x as lon g as them. They could barely fit it in their mouth. It's hilarious. That being said if you have food for them, perfect.
As for food, if your tank has been running for a while there will be microscopic stuff in the substrate that the fry will feed off of while they are tiny like that. For me I have honestly never bought any purpose made fry food. I always crushed up flake real well, sort of dip it in below the waterline so it sinks right away and let them figure it out. Some people might have reasons why they prefer something else, I just gave what I had lying around. They get big enough to eat real food fast anyway. My fry would try eating bloodworms that were 3x as lon g as them. They could barely fit it in their mouth. It's hilarious. That being said if you have food for them, perfect.
You guys were right. The relationship between the parents and young is just remarkable. I dropped some frozen dissolved baby brine in the tank yesterday. You could actually see the fry darting towards it and checking it out but it was just a tad too big for them. I would say in another few days I'll try again and see if crushed flake works as well. Fry numbers still seem to be good with little loss, if any at all.
I also think that, while being mouth-brooded, the fry are able to nibble micro-bits of the parents' food from inside their throat pouches.
you know how the parents take turns eating and send fry back & forth between them. it all works out.
you know how the parents take turns eating and send fry back & forth between them. it all works out.
Good work on spawning your geos.
Its a little late, but I figured I would mention one of my spawning triggers for these fish. I would keep them in a tank with a sand substrate and broken clay pots and 3-4" round river rocks scattered about. Once I noticed a pair holding down an area, I would take handfuls of sand and lightly cover up the rocks/pots in there area. They would usually start cleaning of one of them with in hours, and it seems once they start going through the motions, it's hard for them to stop. I usually had eggs within a day or so depending on the condition of the fish.
Its a little late, but I figured I would mention one of my spawning triggers for these fish. I would keep them in a tank with a sand substrate and broken clay pots and 3-4" round river rocks scattered about. Once I noticed a pair holding down an area, I would take handfuls of sand and lightly cover up the rocks/pots in there area. They would usually start cleaning of one of them with in hours, and it seems once they start going through the motions, it's hard for them to stop. I usually had eggs within a day or so depending on the condition of the fish.
