Author Topic: Is this holding?  (Read 3728 times)

Offline Steve

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Re: Is this holding?
« Reply #15 on: June 09, 2013, 11:36:19 PM »
Took that 20g L tank I had for sale and turned it into a fry tank in preparation for the new babies. gave it a good cleaning, scraped all the blue paint off it and blacked out the back and sides. Keeping it a bare bottom tank for ease of cleaning but I coated the underside of the tank with gray drylok so it looked better and a bit more natural. Just have to pick up a new filter and heater tomorrow and seed the filter then hopefully I'll have some happy & healthy lab fry swimming around in it soon.

Better to have a short life full of what you like doing, than a long life spent in a miserable way.

-Alan Watts

Offline Super Turtleman

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Re: Is this holding?
« Reply #16 on: June 09, 2013, 11:54:49 PM »
When you first see the mom holding, you should wait a good week or so to be sure the eggs are fertilized. Then if you want to tumble you can catch her, strip the eggs and tumble them. Or you can catch her and put her in another tank or breeder net until she spits them. Or you can just let nature take it's course.

They will typically hold fry for 18 - 21 days IME. Once she releases the fry you can move her back into the main tank immediately (I do this) or you can keep her separated for a few days to give her time to recuperate and fatten her up a bit. You could keep her for a couple days with the fry but i prefer not to chance it.

As for feeding the fry, crushing/grinding up what you feed the adults into a powder will do them just fine. For fastest growing rate you can feed 3 times daily and do several water changes a week (3 or 4 is great). Keeping the tank temp around 80 degrees and good filtration/aeration should do the trick.
Emil
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Offline Steve

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Re: Is this holding?
« Reply #17 on: June 10, 2013, 12:37:28 AM »
Excellent info Emil thanks a ton 8) Also I have been trying to watch her this evening a bit just to see if I can see in her mouth and I did catch a glimpse of a little eyeball inside her mouth...that's kind'a freeky ;D lol
Better to have a short life full of what you like doing, than a long life spent in a miserable way.

-Alan Watts

Offline four_by_ken

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Re: Is this holding?
« Reply #18 on: June 10, 2013, 09:51:01 AM »
As I am new to the whole fry thing too... here is my experience.

My wife does it all.   ;D

Offline four_by_ken

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Re: Is this holding?
« Reply #19 on: June 10, 2013, 09:54:11 AM »
My wife will notice that a fish is holding way before me.

She marks the day and then waits about 2 weeks.  If in question as to exact time, she will put the female in a breeder box for a little bit.

Then after the two weeks, she will strip the female.  We don't want to worry about an egg tumbler. 

The fry stay in the hang on breeder box for a week it two,  the kind that cycles tank water through it.  Then when they are eating good... into the fry tank they go.

Offline hollywod12

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Re: Is this holding?
« Reply #20 on: June 10, 2013, 06:47:00 PM »
lots of great info I have fry with sacks on them and new to the breeding thing.. but got a lot of info from this... thanks..
 
Allan