Help!!!

[cadavis7]

I realize this is a saltwater board however, I have a freshwater tank (30 gallon)with Parrot fish in it. I have had them for at least 2 years and the last several months they have been moving rock around and clearing places so to speak. Well tonight my daughters found these very very tiny fish all over the bottom of the right side of the tank. We did see them being eaten so we have so far taken all the adult fish out and all that is left in the tank is the babies. I have a 10 gallon tank that was empty. Which is where the adults are now. :help: Does anyone know what I can do for these babies????

 

[mrsdorothy]

All you have to do is feed them and keep their water clean. Put a piece of nylon (stocking), or a sponge over the filter intake to keep it from sucking the babies into the filter. If you have been feeding flakes, finely crush them, (it's easier if you cursh them in a ziplock bag), and feed small amounts to them several times per day for the 1st 2-3 weeks. After that you can feed a couple of times each day. You will need to do daily water changes of at least 25% because of all the feedings. After about 4-6 weeks, they should be large enough for you to get rid of some of them. You will lose some of them and may only end up with a few. You can also feed them the crushed yolk from a boiled egg.
If you have a gravel substract in the 30g, transfer a couple of scoops the the 10g so there will be some bacteria in the tank. Watch the levels in the 10g and be prepared to do some water changes since the tank has been empty and will go through a cycle. Once the parents get comfortable, don't be suprised it you have more babies before the first batch gets big enough to get rid of.
HTH
Dorothy

 

[mrsdorothy]

Most cichlids will eat their first batch. But what was observed may have not been them eating the fry. They will pick them up in their mouth to clean them or move to another spot in the tank.

 

[cadavis7]

Thanks for the advice MrsDorothy. Right before I checked the board I got some gravel and a few fake plants and put it in with the adults. I was not ready for this. I hope we end up with some.

 

[angelsrock]

if you're that worried about the fry put them in a breeding net that hangs in the tank, or put them in the 10 gallon. you can't put adult parrot fish in a 10.

 

[cadavis7]

The adults are in a bigger tank now. The fry are still by themselves in the 30 gallon.