BallAquatics
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@mostlydave wrote:
I finally go fry!!
Hey Dave that’s great news! I’m very glad those new fish are working out well for you.
It will take them a week or so before they can eat the worms and then another week or so before they are ready for baby brine shrimp.
As for the water changes, I generally change a percentage based on how many fry are in the tank. With 15 fry I might change 25% daily to start, but as they grow increase the percentage. Good water is every bit as important as good food to growing fry. Neglect your water changes and your fish won’t grow nearly as quickly as they should.
Dennis
That’s really cool Tom, thanks for sharing with us. Every spring I think about putting some fish outside, but it seems I always get side-tracked. Looking at your barrel might just be what I need to get started this year! Thanks again.
Dennis
@mostlydave wrote:
I recently added some new CPDs (Thanks Dennis!!) to a 20 long with 2 big pieces of driftwood and some java moss, its been about a week and they are very timid as described above. Will these fish breed in a smaller breeding setup, or should I try to get them acting a little bolder first?
Hi Dave,
If they are in spawning condition they will spawn in any size tank. Also, just because they are timid, don’t think they won’t spawn. Most of my breeders hide in the moss when I working with the tank… unless it’s feeding time!
In my opinion, they feel more at easy in a smaller environment. Of course if you put 50 or 60 in a 20 gallon long they will be far more out-going than 10 fish in the same size tank. They find strength in numbers.
Dennis
I couldn’t find my photos so here’s a link…..
http://www.aquaticcommunity.com/killi/spawningmop.php
I use nylon yarn as it does not rot after being wet.
Dennis
Hi Ben,
It’s super easy to make some mops using a book to wrap the yarn around. I’ll see if I’ve got some photos, if not, perhaps I’ll take some!
Dennis
Sorry to hear about your fry…
Back when I used to keep lots of freshwater dwarf shrimp I used it to get rid of some planaria. I can’t remember just what it was that I used, but it was ordered on-line, I think from Amazon. Some sort of powder that had the desired chemicals. The powder was hard to get to dissolve and I used just the tiniest amount for a 10 gallon tank.
If I remember correctly, it kills hydra quicker than the planaria. You might do a quick search on some of the shrimp related sites for the best information. As to how it would affect the fry… haven’t a clue. Sorry.
Dennis
@mostlydave wrote:
You can actually see the fry in the eggs like the picture you posted pretty easily?
I knew I was going to get into trouble when I posted that photo. It is a bit misleading in scale as the eggs are really very small. Without the macro lens I am unable to see the fry inside. The point I was trying to make, without going into great detail, was that as the eggs get closer to hatching, they become easier to see because they get darker due to the fry inside. Freshly spawned eggs are almost clear and very hard to see until you have seen them and know what to look for.
I have had several hobbyists tell me that after using the egg trap unsuccessfully for some time they missed checking the trap for several days and then found fry. They come to the conclusion that they were simply not seeing the eggs before. There is a bit of a learning curve, but that’s all part of the fun in the end!
@mostlydave wrote:
Could you take a guess at what is swimming around in that video? I’m now convinced its the kind of tiny organisms that the fry will be able to feed on, I only seem to get it when I have java moss in a tank.
They appear to be some type of protozoan. Yes, they will make excellent food for the fry. You typically don’t see any in tanks with adult fish as the fish eat them. I like to see them as they are an indicator that you have good water quality, they simply do not prosper in poor water. The moss also holds a vast array of micro-fauna for the fry to feed on. If you put a sprig of moss under a microscope you will be amazed at all the life you’ll find living there.
@mostlydave wrote:
Thanks for all your advice Dennis, I am getting a little frustrated, but I’m not going to give up just yet.
You are very welcome Dave. I know it’s hard not to get discouraged, but you’ll get there, and I’m guessing it will be a very rewarding experience. After being in this hobby for over 45 years, the first sighting of new fry still brings a smile to my face.
One very important note when using the egg trap! The fish will spawn in the place they like the best. If the tank has lots of other plants and a spawning site the fish find better suited to their needs, you may never get any eggs in the trap. That said, CPD’s are drawn to moss. If you do not have other moss in the tank, this is often enough to get them using the trap.
Dennis
I don’t believe they need a trigger like some fish. They are more like most livebearers, if you’ve got both sexes in the tank then they will spawn.
What makes you think they aren’t spawning Ollie? I’m not being facetious, I just remember when I had my first CPD’s. They were set-up for almost a year and I’d only get a fry now and then. It was only later that I realized they were spawning all the while, they were just eating all the eggs and/or fry.
Dennis
I don’t see any fry in that video, but I don’t see as well as I once did either! LOL
Do you see eggs in the bottom of the trap? They can be rather difficult to see but as they age and get ready to hatch they become darker in color and easier to identify. Here’s a photo of some Zebra danio eggs at around 60 hours old, just before hatching…
I wish I had the same photo without the macro lens to show them at actual size for a reference as they are quite tiny. Sorry I can’t be more helpful.
Dennis
@mostlydave wrote:
a few questions: Since I haven’t seen any fry in my 5.5 breeder yet I don’t need to add any food?
No food until the fry are actively swimming around in the tank. When they first hatch it takes a few days before the absorb all the yoke sac so they are not hungry and feeding will only cause water quality issues.
@mostlydave wrote:
…and do I need to be doing water changes since I haven’t seen any fry?
I normally don’t change any water until the fry have been free swimming for about a week. If there are only a few fry, maybe 15 or less, I might even let it go longer. They are very small and not much of a bio load for the sponge filter.
@mostlydave wrote:
…what’s the best way to transfer eggs or fry to the fry tank? is it better to use a turkey baster or to just dump all the water from the trap into to fry tank?
When I use an egg trap, I just put the entire trap in the tank I’m using for the fry. After you first see eggs in the trap, you have 2 or 3 days before any will hatch so you can leave the trap with the adults during this time to see if they spawn again. If you have several females in the tank they will often alternately spawn several days in a row. When the fry start swimming they will find their way out of the trap without any problems.
Dennis
@Pushkatu wrote:
Is it ok if I feed them 3 times a day, hikari, spiruline and again hikari, or is it to much?
I like to feed my fry several times a day trying to keep their bellies full. Just watch your water quality very closely.
Dennis
That’s a very good question. They will eat what they can. By that I mean they will eat everything that is small enough to get into their mouths. As they get larger, they will be able to eat the larger critters. If you are using moss for a spawning medium, they will graze on the wealth of micro-fauna that grows there as well.
Best of luck with your breeding projects!
Dennis
