9 day old fry and new wigglers at same time... should I try to remove one?

[WillmSF]

I was feeding the 8-9 day old Apisto fry ( double red agassizi) today and noticed a lot(+100) wigglers out in the gravel outside the cave. She has been laying eggs every week-10 days for a while but they have never hatched. When the last bunch of eggs turned white and disappeared I figured she had just lost them again and was starting to suspect that the male want fertilizing them or sterile....a couple days later I see she has free swimming fry(20-25) and she's doing a good job caring for them. I started providing food (vinegar eels and BBS) for the new fry...I can see their pink bellies, so I know they are eating. I was using a flashlight to check on them and noticed a good 100+ wigglers outside the cave opening wiggling away in the aquasoil substrate.
My question is: Should I try to remove either the wigglers or the 9 day old fry and try to raise without the mother. So far she is unfazed, caring for both sets at same time in the same area... occasionally moving one or two around. I'm worried that the older fry will eat their little wiggling cousins?
Is this unusual for a female Apisto to have 2 clutches of eggs hatch within such a short period of time?

_ Thanks

 

[Mike Wise]

First, it is not all that unusual in the aquarium; not normal, but not uncommon with females with a strong maternal instinct and a really 'eager' male. If the female is guarding both sets of fry then let her. Fry use their mother to guide and guard them. Without the female's input fry tend to be less active and grow slower - if they survive. If the older fry start eating the younger and the female doesn't interfere then you can accept it or remove the older fry. This can be difficult without disturbing the inhabitant. I suggest a bottle trap. I prevent this problem when it occurs by removing the male.

 

[WillmSF]

Great thanks Mike !- She seems to be handling both the fry and much larger set of wigglers fine. They were all mixed together but yesterday she moved the much larger group of wigglers into the cave leaving the fry just outside. I’ll let her manage things. She keeps the male pushed over to the other side of the small heavenly planted tank. I didn’t want to disturb her by trying to remove him but maybe I can manage when the lights are out. I’ll research the bottle idea- I was thinking I’ve just using a length of air tubing attached to a 60cc syringe to suck them up.
- Again, thanks for your help

-WM in SF