uhhh... now what?

[JasonC]

Ha! so I was trimming my tank yesterday and noticed some of the debris from the bottom of the tank... well... swimming!

Apparently, my cacs finally got it right! It looks like I have about 10 -12 free swimmers... about 1/8" - 3/16" long!

Here is the problem... what do I do now? I have heard that Cacs tend to be excellent parents, and the mommy seems to be doing well. Problem is, what do i need to do to fill in the gaps? I cant pull them to a separate tank right now, so I am not expecting a huge survival rate... but is there anything I should be doing to help at least a couple survive?

Thanks!!

 

[Tedstank]

No gaps to fill...let the parents care for them, they will be tougher!! Leave the debris..(for now).there are plenty of foody things for the fry to feed on.
Live BBS supplements food and I have always used decapsulated brine shrimp eggs. Soak them for a while before feeding.....and not to much...you will notice the fries bellies coloring with food in them....caution, caution...dont over feed them. I give food to fry with a turky baster..and just a drop near them.

 

[JasonC]

Hi Ted,

Thanks for the info first of all! This has become a fascinating experience. They are already looking exactly like colorless, microsize versions of their parents.

It looks like 7 or so have survived thus far, so I'll need to find a holding tank for them at some point. When should I start considering pulling them from their parents care? Also, as they stop feeding off the micro stuff already in the tank, is there a "transition" food that would be best til they are old enough to eat adult foods?

thanks again!

 

[Tedstank]

Fry food... I use decapulated brine shrimp eggs...soak them. I have also used pellets and soak them til very soft and then mush them....doesn't take much!!! Get some JAVA MOSS....the best "fry" plant, they browse in it constantly and rest on it. Thats were I drop the decapsulated eggs.

Just caution on over feeding and polluting the tank!!! A little bit a few times a day is the best way to go. The Cacs grow fast...you should begin to start getting larger broods.

Parents can stay with them for 3 to 4 weeks...if you suspect he is picking some off, move the male out. Probably while cleaning your tank on the day of discovery the family was too disturbed and you lost a few.

A friend stopped one night and went out to my Borelli breeder tank with a flashlight!!! the fish paniced and I lost about 90% of the just free swimming fry!!!

I see you live in Laural MD. I'm down in Calvert County in St Leonard...14 miles north of Solomons!!!