Help! Can't keep my fry alive! Except convicts of course..

[Johnnyhigh5]

I've been able to get most of the cichlids I have to breed(flowerhorns and red tiger motos), but the babies only live a few weeks. I've tried taking out the rock that the eggs were on and hatching them in a different tank, and I also tried syphoning out the babies once free swimming. I've kept them in 20g tanks and 18g Rubbermaid containers with no success except convicts. Any advice would be appreciated. Thanks

[JeffroM]

Try taking the parents out the tank and leaving the fry.

[Marty]

Have you tried leaving the fry in with the parents?  Parachromis are typically good parents as long as there's enough food.  Just make sure you're feeding food small enough for the fry to eat. 

After a month, try scooping them out and putting them in the 20 gallon with an established filter and about 50% of the water from the parents' tank.  At that point, they should be large enough to find the food in that size tank.

[Vic]

Problem might be in the water.   Are you changing the water in the fry tank?

Might be you're shocking the fry with too massive water changes.  If you've really got to get out the detritus that's fine.  However, be careful introducing the replacement water.  i.e., slowly introduce it, maybe a trickle from an air line.

How about the food?  Are they eating the food you're introducing to them?  Could be they're starving?  Try different food, perhaps something more appetizing to them.  Maybe their present fare is just to big for them to properly process?  Try something smaller, from green water to micro worms, newly hatched brine shrimp, etc., etc.

After your success be sure to share you experiences with us.

v.b.

[Regalblue]

Try taking the parents out the tank and leaving the fry.

this is what I was going to recommend.  (Especially with the 2 sp listed)

I'd leave the RTM fry with the parents for a couple weeks before moving them though.  You'll get better growth from the fry.

[Johnnyhigh5]

Try taking the parents out the tank and leaving the fry.

That's a good idea. I'll have to see about making some room for the parents to be moved.

[Johnnyhigh5]

I am changing the water. It could be shocking the babies. I'll try slower changes next time. The food I'm feeding is hikari fry food, and crushed flake food. They appear to be eating it. If I can make room I'll move the parents, if not I'll move 20 or so and raise them separate. How do you guys raise fry?