Jaguar cichlid spawning and wigglers

[hensenshenchmen]

My new pair of jags have spawned in my central American tank. The eggs must be hatching cause there's all sort of wigglers in the pit they dug in the sand. I have never had fish spawn before. If I'm wanting to raise the fry do I leave them in the community tank or do I remove them? I'd like to keep the fry alive if possible, so if anyone could give me some pointers that would be awesome. Thank you

Ian

[Regalblue]

Take out 50% & put them in a 29 or larger tank.  Feed them 3x daily minimum & do 59% water change 4x a week while making sure you get all the waste out.

[hensenshenchmen]

Do i take them out as wigglers or wait until they are free swimming? And what technique would i use to remove them? I had them in a bare bottom tank but they laid eggs the day i put the sand in there. I don't think the other fish will bother the fry, the jags have them all pinned on one side of the tank

[Arturtle]

It's easier to get them out before they start swimming, less resistance.  Depending on how delicate you want to be, or if you're allowed to put your hands in the tank, you can use anything from a siphon tube to some airline tubing to suck out fry.

[hensenshenchmen]

Thank you for the help. I will siphon them out tonight and put them in another tank.

[Arturtle]

As a precautionary note, I would keep an eye on the pair when sucking out fry.  It may piss off the male, and he may get more aggressive towards the female for not doing her job.

[Regalblue]

As a precautionary note, I would keep an eye on the pair when sucking out fry.  It may piss off the male, and he may get more aggressive towards the female for not doing her job.

agreed!  That's one of the reasons I like to leave some with the parents.
  another reason..... They'll grow faster with the parents,  due to contact feeding

[Regalblue]

How are the fry doing?

[hensenshenchmen]

I've still got about 20 or so alive. I did about 2 water changes a week, but most died.  Then I've got my convicts, who i don't seem to lose a single fry.

[Regalblue]

How many times a day are you feeding them?

[four_by_ken]

Take out 50% & put them in a 29 or larger tank.  Feed them 3x daily minimum & do 59% water change 4x a week while making sure you get all the waste out.

Are you still doing 59% water changes?

[hensenshenchmen]

I was feeding them 3-4 times per day. I was not quite doing 50% water changes, but I was doing multiple times per week. Its pretty frustrating to see dead fry every single day

[Regalblue]

If you're feeding heavy then you have to do large water changes.  Otherwise your water parameters will go in the toilet.