Part - 4 Caring for the Fry

 


1
Wait for fry to hatch. When the fry initially hatch they will hang from the bubble nest, and the male will replace any that fall. After a few days, the fry will begin "free-swimming," swimming horizontally and venturing away from the nest. Before this, the fry will be feeding on what's left of the egg yolk, and cannot eat on their own





2
Remove the male from the tank, being very careful not to net any fry. He can return to his normal routine and feeding schedule. If he is still looking ragged from the courtship, add some Maroxy to help him heal






3
Feed the fry. As soon as you remove the male, feed the fry a small portion of live microworms. Feed twice a day, and watch closely to see how much is eaten. If live microworms are still present when it is time for the next feeding, you can skip it since the fry still have food. If you see many dead microworms, you are overfeeding, so cut back on the portions. Fry need to be fed very small, living food such as,[13]
  • Infusoria: These will feed the fry for their first week of life;
  • Microworms: you will need to buy a starter culture, after that you never have to buy them again. Good for fry 3-40 days old;
  • Baby Brine Shrimp: These are easy to hatch and are the easiest to control how much to feed, but feeding too much will result in swim bladder disorder;






4
Give the fry time to grow. Keep the fry warm at 80 °F (27 °C) and cover the tank to prevent drafts and evaporation. Continue to feed increasing amounts of food. When the fry outgrow the breeding tank, they will need to be moved to a larger tank. Not all fry will survive the first few weeks, but if you see large numbers dying each day, you probably have a problem. Check temperature, chemical levels, and consider the possibility of treating for infections.[14]
  • When the fry are 1.5 - 2 weeks old, turn on the filter, but restrict the flow with a gang valve so it is barely noticeable.
  • When the fry are two weeks old, begin performing small (10%) water changes every few days to keep the tank clean and free of dead food, but use a gentle siphon or turkey baster to prevent injuring the fry, and add clean water very slowly. You can begin turning off the tank light at night.
  • Over the next few weeks, gradually increase the flow of the filter, watching fry carefully to be sure they are strong enough to swim against the current.






5
Place the fry into grow-out tanks. By the time the fry are two weeks you should move them to at least a 20 gallon (75.7 L) tank. Make sure the temperature and water in the tank are the same as what the fry are used to. Fry are delicate — one slip up could result in them dying. If you used a half-filled five or 10 gallon (37.9 L) tank you can fill the tank up and move them when they are 4-5 weeks old.