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A couple of months ago, my Bolivian Rams decided to breed within a few days of being introduced into my tank (http://www.fishprofiles.com/files/forums/Breeding%20Advice/63472.html). The frys got to the free swimming stage, but unfortunately all of them went missing after about 5 days. I suspect the dad was the culprit since there were no other fish in the tank except for otos & SAE. Since that incident, the male and female never really got along. They would bicker constantly, especially during feeding time, and pretty much kept out of each other's way. In the meantime, I've added some corys, a school of cardinals & a female betta to the tank.

In the last few days, I noticed that the female Ram hasn't been around during feeding time. I thought she was just keeping out of the male's way as usual so thought nothing of it (she'd usually eat after the male has had his fill). Well, imagine my suprise when I went to do a water change tonight (with the goal of pruning my hygro & ludwidgia jungles) and saw the female Ram deep in the forest of background plants, guarding a colony of wrigglers on the sand! Since it took 3 days for the eggs to become wrigglers last time, that means I completely missed the whole spawning and egg guarding event!

Anyways, on to my questions. I'm thinking about moving the frys to my 2.5g hospital tank once they get to the free swimming stage (that is if the corys don't get to the wrigglers first!), so that they don't become food for the betta & cardinals (or dad). based on last time, I only have 3-4 days before this happens. I have a sponge filter and heater for the 2.5g tank, but the filter is not yet seeded. What do you think is the best way to prepare this tank in such a short time? So far I've filled the tank with treated tap water, set up the filter, added a bunch of floating elodea from the parents' tank, and added some bio-starter liquid (Seachem Stability). I know the tank is not going to cycle in 4 days, but I'm hoping that having lots of floating plants will at least help reduce the ammonia/nitrite/nitrate once the frys are in there. I did consider adding 50% water from the parents' tank, but to be honest that tank water is a bit filthy-looking (tea colored). Do you think it's better to use some old tank water to help build up the bacteria in the sponge filter? And (last question I promise), how often would I need to do a water change in a bare-bottomed fry tank?

Thanks a lot for any advice! I hope things will go better this time around.

Last edited by upikabu at 17-Oct-2005 09:47

Last edited by upikabu at 17-Oct-2005 09:48

Last edited by upikabu at 17-Oct-2005 09:48

-P

To help establish the bacteria in the new sponge filter, you can try running it on the main tank. I think that should help build up the bacterial colonies pretty quickly. Just transfer the filter back to the fry-raising tank when you're ready, and you should be good to go.

If you could do daily water changes of at least fifty percent, that would aid the fry greatly. It'll help kick-start their growth, and give them clean water and a good chance to live.

Good luck with the eggs and fry!

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And when he gets to Heaven, to Saint Peter he will tell: "One more Marine reporting, Sir! I've served my time in Hell."

Thanks, Nick. Should I use clean tap water for the water change, or water from the parents' tank?

-P

I would use clean water for the water changes.


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Yep, fresh tap water will work just fine.

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And when he gets to Heaven, to Saint Peter he will tell: "One more Marine reporting, Sir! I've served my time in Hell."

Thanks guys. I changed 50% of the water with parents' tank water last night just to get the good bacteria in (ammonia level registered at 0.25ppm, but the frys are still alive). I think I will do the same tonight, and then subsequently use tap water.

-P