Gravel and Apistogramma fry

[Yeronimo]

Hi All,

a few days ago my Apistogramma borelli had their first fry and I was very happy about it. Unfortunately there were only a few that I could see and they didn't survive long after starting free swimming with their mom. Now I am searching for different reasons for this and I hope some of you can help me:

1. My borellis are beginners and not good enough in defending their fry. Will they learn and be better in the future?
2. The fry were eaten by my Endler Guppys or Amano shrimps?!
3. I have a Walstad-tank with gravel (2-4 mm). I read that fry will die if using gravel because of more ammonia / nitrates or big holes where they fall into. Is this true?

Thanks for your help!

Best
Gerd

 

[yukondog]

As far as the gravel they will and can stuck between them and die, I dont use gravel any more just sand, sometimes they get better at parenting sometimes not. Do you know what your water paramotors are? If I want the fry I normally take out the male and leave the female with fry and no other fish in the tank with them, hope this helps, good luck

 

[dw1305]

Hi all,

As far as the gravel they will and can stuck between them and die, I dont use gravel any more just sand,

Same for me, <"sand is just a much better substrate"> for all aspects of Apistogramma keeping.

I have a Walstad-tank

You should have <"good root growth in the soil component">, which is important and would mean that having a capping layer that allows in oxygen is less important.

cheers Darrel

 

[Yeronimo]

Thank you all.

Yes, Darrel, I have a very good root growth and I'm sure that it is a "healthy" soil without negative consequences. I understand what you mean. It should be the same as with a capping layer.

I know that sand would be the better substrate, but thats the way it is now. Hope it will be enough for my pair .

 

[dw1305]

Hi all,

sand would be the better substrate, but thats the way it is now.

Could you just pour some sand over the gravel? Over time the gravel will come through but in the short term it will give you a sand capping layer.

cheers Darrel

 

[Samala]

I have borellii fry constantly in a tank with mixed Flourite Black and Onyx Sand. This "sand" is very close to your gravel in size, 1-3mm or so.

I'm not sure that the fry get stuck, but it is very hard for mama to track down any stragglers as the fry camouflage perfectly into the color and texture of the larger grain sizes. Even in a tank with no real predators (just a few beckfordi pencilfish) there is attrition. Estimate that in the monthly batches of 30 free swimmers usually 10 make it to 2-months. Other possible explanations for my survival rate might be feeding regime, too much water movement, or presence of green hydra.

Here's a 2-month old with the "sand":

Incidentally between the plants and the gravel it is super difficult to catch juveniles out of the main tank to go to the growout that does have sand. If I could do it over I'd definitely go with a sand cap substrate for my sanity and the female's! Alternately, I'd probably setup a dedicated breeding tank if I wanted to churn out lots of borellii.

One recommendation: be prepared to have multiple growout tanks if you are hoping to raise fry to adulthood. These guys are nearing five months and they're still just shy of 25mm/1" mark:

I would suspect the Endler's as fry predators. Would remove them next time female has eggs. You might also: Add more cover for the female to hide the fry (leaves, more plants, caves). Add sand on top of gravel in female's preferred area (will eventually sink through though). Ensure you have a food source in the tank for the first few days of free swimming life (I add microworms as soon as I see fry even in a heavily planted tank).

>Sarah

 

[Yeronimo]

Thank you both!

@Darrel: I will try to put in some sand layer.

@sarah: Your answer helps me a lot! I'm very happy to read that you are succesful breeding with gravel quite similar to mine.
10 of 30 fry are more than enough for me. I just want to have a few. Hope I will be as lucky as you in the future. I will have a look at my guppys .

What I'm curious about was the small amount of fry just from the start. Do Apistogramma lay less eggs, when they start to breed for the first time?

If I want to breed some fry (about 6-7) externally and sell them, when they are big enough, which size should this tank have? Can it be a "small" one?

Best
Gerd