We Have Babies!
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We have "Kent Marine ZooPlex" to feed the fry...It says it is "concentrated aquacultured marine zooplankton for planktivorous fish & invertebrates" and that it "may be used as a complete brine shrimp nauplii replacement."
How much would I feed them? It says 5-10ml for 50 gallons...should it be less because they are very small fry right now, and then give them a bit more as they grow? How often do they need to be fed?
And how do I feed it? It is a liquid...do I have to pipet it down to near the bottom and stir it around? The tank doesn't have a filter on it right now, because we didn't want to suck up the fry.
How much would I feed them? It says 5-10ml for 50 gallons...should it be less because they are very small fry right now, and then give them a bit more as they grow? How often do they need to be fed?
And how do I feed it? It is a liquid...do I have to pipet it down to near the bottom and stir it around? The tank doesn't have a filter on it right now, because we didn't want to suck up the fry.
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First of all, congrats with your fry!!
You probably want to put a sponge filter in the tank.
As for feeding, I haven't treid the zooplex, but I'd say feed as much so that you don't see too much food left over. You don't want to pollute your tank with uneaten food.
Microworms is probably the best baby food to start with.
You probably want to put a sponge filter in the tank.
As for feeding, I haven't treid the zooplex, but I'd say feed as much so that you don't see too much food left over. You don't want to pollute your tank with uneaten food.
Microworms is probably the best baby food to start with.
Congrats,
It is not unusual for it to take 2 or 3 days before fry find food. Keep your water levels low so the food does not spread out too much.
I would still suggest using some 'live' food, BBS is probably the best source for the fry at this time, and certainly microworms.
Feed small quantities, about 3 times a day for the next 3 months. Avoid over-feeding, your fry could get swimbladder (belly sliders) fairly easily at this stage in their lives.
It is not unusual for it to take 2 or 3 days before fry find food. Keep your water levels low so the food does not spread out too much.
I would still suggest using some 'live' food, BBS is probably the best source for the fry at this time, and certainly microworms.
Feed small quantities, about 3 times a day for the next 3 months. Avoid over-feeding, your fry could get swimbladder (belly sliders) fairly easily at this stage in their lives.
The tank is around 2/3 full...I think that we need to start just dripping the food around the top, rather than squirting it in and stirring it around. Most of the babies are floating near the top now.
We were only doing twice a day, but we can up feedings to 3 times a day...thanks!
Do I need to be trying to be doing water changes, or not for a few weeks?
We were only doing twice a day, but we can up feedings to 3 times a day...thanks!
Do I need to be trying to be doing water changes, or not for a few weeks?
CAPS,
Skip the water changes for the first month... use an airline siphon to suck-up small amounts of rotten food/bodies on the bottom, but just top-up water, don't add to quickly or the fish will have to spend too much time searching for food. Make small 10% water changes afterwards.
Betta fry tanks have almost no bio-load issues, unless you overfeed.
Basically, avoid making changes to water conditions. The less you mess with it the better.
Skip the water changes for the first month... use an airline siphon to suck-up small amounts of rotten food/bodies on the bottom, but just top-up water, don't add to quickly or the fish will have to spend too much time searching for food. Make small 10% water changes afterwards.
Betta fry tanks have almost no bio-load issues, unless you overfeed.
Basically, avoid making changes to water conditions. The less you mess with it the better.
Well, i guess by this time now, you should be able to tell whether a fry is dead or not 
If not, just use the baster to move near it to create a bit of current and see if it'd move. The dead one will just 'float' with the current.
It takes time to learn the skill for not sucking up live babies. I've tried many different ways, but the best way I found now is use a thicker tubing to vacuum the bottom.
Like Iggy says, try to avoid doing anything for the first few weeks. After that, the fry should get bigger and smarter, and they would know where to hide when you vacuum the tank.
Having said so, even now I still suck up fry once in a while. That's why i prefer having a wider tubing, so the fry can easily be sucked up to the bucket. (rather than getting stuck in the tube and died). Then, I'd just put the poor fry back into the tank from the bucket. THey may feel a little dizzy... but they seem ok afterwards.
If not, just use the baster to move near it to create a bit of current and see if it'd move. The dead one will just 'float' with the current.
It takes time to learn the skill for not sucking up live babies. I've tried many different ways, but the best way I found now is use a thicker tubing to vacuum the bottom.
Like Iggy says, try to avoid doing anything for the first few weeks. After that, the fry should get bigger and smarter, and they would know where to hide when you vacuum the tank.
Having said so, even now I still suck up fry once in a while. That's why i prefer having a wider tubing, so the fry can easily be sucked up to the bucket. (rather than getting stuck in the tube and died). Then, I'd just put the poor fry back into the tank from the bucket. THey may feel a little dizzy... but they seem ok afterwards.
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