• Hello guest! Are you an Apistogramma enthusiast? If so we invite you to join our community and see what it has to offer. Our site is specifically designed for you and it's a great place for Apisto enthusiasts to meet online. Once you join you'll be able to post messages, upload pictures of your fish and tanks and have a great time with other Apisto enthusiasts. Sign up today!

Please Help I have fry!!

Landen Hansen

New Member
Messages
7
I noticed my female escorting her fry around the bottom of the tank this morning! This is my first experience with apistos breeding and I’m so excited. She is guarding 15-20 fry. These are wild Cacatuoides. Do I remove them from the tank? Do I keep them with the mother? Should I put them in a separate tank and is baby brine shrimp the food of choice?
 

Mike Wise

Moderator
Staff member
5 Year Member
Messages
11,201
Location
Denver, Colorado, U.S.A.
I would keep them with their mother if at all possible. Without her there for reassurance apisto fry tend to hide at the bottom of the tank and not eat as well. Yes, live foods are best if you want a number of fry.
 

Landen Hansen

New Member
Messages
7
I have heard at some point the mother will leave or eat the fry to try to begin breeding again with the male, is this true? Either way, at what point, or if at all, would you remove the fry from the mother? Say in a month or two as they get larger?
 

Mike Wise

Moderator
Staff member
5 Year Member
Messages
11,201
Location
Denver, Colorado, U.S.A.
It really depends on the female. Some brood fry for months, others much less. Remove the fry when you see mom driving them out of here brood territory. I'd try to keep them together for at least a month. Removing the male also seems to allow the female to brood longer.
 

Landen Hansen

New Member
Messages
7
So my female has been brooding the fry for almost 3 weeks now. She has been a very good mother and for the most part, is always hovering right above the fry and attacks anything that comes to close. It really is a beautiful sight! I have noticed lately that the mother has recently started leaving the fry behind, she will occasionally flirt with the father or look around for food but then return to the fry. She isn’t watching them as closely as she has in the past but still defends them and stays somewhat close. Is this a sign that she is losing interest or wanting to breed again? Would now to be a good time to remove the fry or put them in a breeder box in the same tank? Any recommendations? The fry are eating well on live baby brine shrimp mostly but occasionally microworms. Thanks for any insight!
 

Mike Wise

Moderator
Staff member
5 Year Member
Messages
11,201
Location
Denver, Colorado, U.S.A.
I definitely would NOT put them in a breeder box if you want them to live and grow. I suggest that you either remove the fry to a grow-out tank or remove the male.
 

Members online

Forum statistics

Threads
17,915
Messages
116,199
Members
13,027
Latest member
tonc61

Latest profile posts

Josh wrote on anewbie's profile.
Testing
EDO
Longtime fish enthusiast for over 70years......keen on Apistos now. How do I post videos?
Looking for some help with fighting electric blue rams :(
Partial updated Peruvian list have more than this. Please PM FOR ANY QUESTIONS so hard to post with all the ads poping up every 2 seconds….
Top