Why are fry survival rates so low?

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Matt724

Matt724

Fire Eel
MFK Member
Jan 19, 2009
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Los Angeles, CA
I've noticed with the few spawns that I've had with my cichlids, that their fry survival rates are extremely low. I only saved 20 or so from a batch of 200+ and with my second spawn, only 10 from a batch of about the same size. I hate seeing so many fry die, even though I make sure to isolate them as soon as they are free-swimming in their own breeder net with an airstone. If anyone has any ideas why I can't seem to keep more fry alive, please let me know.
 
its like a baby, when they are first born they are very weak and the slightest problems can kill them.
 
Weak genes? Do they eat good? What do you feed right after egg yoke is dryd up? If their in parents tank in breeder net they shouldn't need added air. But definitely wouldn't hurt neither.
 
What kind of cichlid? Just plain cichlid don't really tell anything. Are they eating each other? I prefer to suk just hatched wigglers into their own fry tank. Multiple 90% water changes everyday n least 3 feedings a day for 1st couple weeks. But that's with red belly piranhas. Need to log everything figure what's the cause n fix it. That's how I did it. Went from couple dozen survivors to HUNDREDS. GL!
 
fishes could be picking at the frys though the breeder net. Airation could have too much flow and is stressing the young ones. Could be many things..

I'd get them their own tank and use 80-100% of the main tanks water.
And do daily or bi-daily water changes. About 10 - 20% water changes.

You could always try and let the parents care for them till they get a bit more hardier.
 
they're babies and are natually weak. it also has much to do with weak immune systems. creatures can't develop specific antibodies against something until we're exposed to it. it's nature's way of reducing the chances of over population. some fry make it and some don't. good luck with fry.
 
Guess I should have added that my multiple water changes are from parent tank. I airate the heck out of my fry tanks. I've noticed the more air there is the more they like it! I don't use any filter on my fry tanks till they are free swimming and eating brine.when they start eating they get switched to a bigger tank with a filter. That's the reason I do multiple water changes daily.
 
hmm... I think I'll try sucking them up before they are free swimming as some of you suggested and then transferring them over to my 10 gallon fry growout tank (in their own secluded holding area that I make with a plastic cup with a bunch of holes and then I also just received my first microworm culture (also my first live food culture) and hopefully better nutrition will increase fry survival. I will also lower the air pump pressure and keep up with the daily water changes. PS. prior to today I was feeding Hikari first bites fry food and then when they got a little bigger, I made my own mix of super finely crushed flake, spirulina flakes, and algae wafers.

Oh, and the cichlids I have are Archocentrus Multispinosus (a.k.a Herotilapia Multispinosa).

And as for transferring the fry to another tank, how well do newborn fry take to the slightest variation in water parameters? I mean, my fry tank and my main tank maybe vary in pH by 0.2 degrees at the most and in temperature by maybe .5-1 degree F. Ammonia, nitrite, and nitrate i've stopped checking because they always seem to be fine, but I wouldn't expect the change to be much. Do you think this slightest change will be detrimental?
 
Oh that's probably your problem! With my fry anyhow. Red belly piranha n oscars if they don't get that 1st week of live food they'll go downhill fast! I would hatch baby brine for their 1st week.a lil ph difference is a lot on the ph scale! Why not use the parents tank water then you know everythings the same! I would also suk them out right after they hatch. To soon some eggs stick (they are sticky) to late might wear lil guys out with them trying to fight the current. I've scooped a net full of fry n threw them in other tanks, actually all my tanks with rbp it don't seen to phaze em one bit! Lil guys are tougher than you think! Least they should be! Hatching baby brine is fast n easy! Hope you have better luck next time!
 
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