Growing apisto fry with no mother

[wm_crash]

Hi,

I rescued a bunch of apisto wigglers from being eaten by their older brothers and sisters in the tank (I've had that happen before). I am now taking care of them as they just became free swimming yesterday. Is there anything special that I need to do other than feed them?

cheers,
wm_crash, the friendly hooligan

 

[apisto-nut]

I have pulled fry early for the same reason and have found that
they grow slower , may be due to the insecurity of not having
a parent to guide them and protect them .

 

[tjudy]

No need to feed them until they are free swimming. The smaller the space you can keep them in the better. I either use 2.5 galon tanks or even a small dish if the number of fry are small. One reason they grow slower without mom is that she will keep them moving to find food, but without mom they will wait for food to come to them... or get lucky moving a bit. Small spaces let you concentrate the food where the fry are.

 

[Apistomaster]

Hey Crash,
Long time no see. Raising the fry in a small tank is fine at first but I find I have the best success using at least a ten gallon tank filled with about 4 inches of water. The idea is the same, keeping the fry in close proximity to their food. Pretty much like raising most killiefish fry.
Make a 50% water change daily using water aged 24 hours and kept at the same temp, with a small vacuum siphon with a wad of filter floss inside the tube. Most of the dirt will stick but the fry won't. The fry grow at much the same rate as those left with their parents. Avoid crowding the fry. This is probably the single greatest cause of slow growth.

Larry