A. baenschi (Inka 50) Breeding Tank

[kkafer]

i have a pair of A. baenschi breeding in my community tank. they have taken over the left side of the tank and are laying eggs inside a knot in a piece of driftwood. the first spawn had about 25 fry which of 5 survived and the second spawn had 40+ fry and only one i can see survived. i just got a baby brine shrimp hatcher a little bit after the second spawn.


Is there anyway to increase the mortality rate of these apisto's fry?



Tankmates: 5 whiptail cats, 8 juli corys and two 5-6 inch plecos

 

[ed seeley]

Is there anyway to increase the mortality rate of these apisto's fry?

Surely you mean decrease the mortality rate? :biggrin:

Tankmates: 5 whiptail cats, 8 juli corys and two 5-6 inch plecos

I would lay some of the blame at the cories personally. At night they may be snacking on some of the fry as cichlid's night vision is nowhere near as good as that of catfish.

Feeding better food like brine shrimp will also really help too to make sure they don't starve. Direct the brine shrimp and other food towards the shoal of fry using a turkey baster or pipette helps make sure they get enough.

 

[chris1932]

If you siphon the fry into a 5 gallon bucket and run a small sponge filter in it you can feed and water change easily.

 

[Evan]

What are you feeding the fry?

My experience is that I get much higher fry survival rates when I feed a very small food which floats in the water column.

 

[Apistomaster]

I can attest to the ability of at least one Corydoras species, C. sterbai, to predate upon Apistogramma fry.
I put about 70 12 day old Gold A. cacatuoides fry in with my C. sterbai breeders and the next day I was able to save the remaining 4.
When the fry bed down for the night the Corys went on a feeding frenzy.

Apistogramma fry tend to feed at or near the bottom of the water column ime.
Microworms, vinegar Eel and Walter Worms all make good starter foods. I also like chilling newly hatched brine shrimp because then they sink and lethargically swim just off the bottom.