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November 11th, 2009
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| | Fish Helper
| Hikari First Bites??
I have just been watching them do the deed and removed my little lady once he was finished with her.....so polite. He is now arranging all the eggs in his nest
Well my microworms are on their way for next week. But i have also bought Hikari FirstBites (GREAT FOR ALL NEWBORN FISH)
Has anyone used this before? I have never seen it about until the last month or so and thought i would just buy some to try.
Is this a new product? is it good? i am a bit unsure. any thoughts appreciated
Ta | 
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November 11th, 2009
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| | Moderator
| I've never had fry but used it for my tadpole. It's super tiny and float. If that helps any. lol | |
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November 11th, 2009
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| | Fish Master
| You'd be better off hatching baby brine shrimp... betta fry won't touch anything but live food for the 1st 3-4 weeks....Believe me, I've tried! lol...... | |
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November 11th, 2009
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| | Fish Helper
| If I remember correctly it takes a few days to hatch brine shrimp (and a few days before those fry will hatch too) so you better get started on that. 
I was lucky and had copepods in my betta's tank to get them through the first couple days. Then when they were all gone (too bad they ate them ALL up) I used some type of egg food and the First Bites. It was very messy and I changed lots of water every day for a LONG time. I think Brine Shimp don't make the water so foul.
Congrats on your new additions.
Martinismommy, do they sell newly hatched brine shimp? Or is the only way to get them by doing the hatchery?
Last edited by kcarmartinez; November 11th, 2009 at 01:49 PM.
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November 11th, 2009
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| | Fish Helper
| well my microworms (ready to feed) will be here on monday, so give it 2 days for hatching and then 2 days to absorb their egg sack/free swiming the micro worms will be ready to feed.
I have had problems trying to hatch brine shrimp. i think my eggs must have been a dodgy bottle. so i will buy some more tomorrow and try again. air pump, salt water, bs eggs and whats the ideal temp? i tried in a 2 litre pop bottle last time over and over again but it never worked (ended up straining eggs out and feeding to fish) | |
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November 11th, 2009
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| | Fish Master
| I use a 2 litre soda bottle..I fill it up 3/4 of the way with water treated with prime (or water conditioner) I add 2 tablespoons of salt and 1/2 tsp of brine shrimp eggs...I turn on the air pump and in 24 hours they are hatched...You have to turn the pump off and let the shells float to the top.....The bbs will sink to the bottom.....I use a turkey baster suck them up and strain them through a coffee filter.....
If you can't get the eggs in time most fish stores sell the freshly hatched BBS.....Also you may want to consider putting some java moss in there....They will pick off of that for the 1st couple of days..... | |
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November 11th, 2009
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| | Fish Helper
| i have some java moss in both my big tanks at moment so i will put that in when they hatch. i know the shops near me sell the eggs so will be there after work tomorrow. what type of salt do you use? | |
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November 11th, 2009
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| | Fish Keeper
| Wow, congrats on getting that far! From the looks of the daddy, they will be lovely babies!  | |
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November 11th, 2009
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| | Fish Master
| I use salt for salt water aquariums (Instant Ocean)....Seems to work the best for hatching... | |
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November 11th, 2009
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| | Fish Mentor
| Hikari First Bites is a great food for newborn fry. I recently fed my Firemouth babies with it (by pouring a bit over their parent's territory). They are now eating usual fish food.
If you keep your brine shrimp hatchery temperature around 82F, they could hatch in 18 hours, maybe less.
Pepetj
Santo Domingo | |
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November 12th, 2009
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| | Fish Helper
| off to the pet shop now for my eggs and salt | |
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November 12th, 2009
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| | Fish Mentor
| Hi Socks,
Congrats on the babies. You must be so proud. Hope everything works out with the food details. Good luck!  | |
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November 12th, 2009
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| | Fish Helper
| got my salt and brine shrimp eggs. just going to sort out the hatchery and my microworms wil be here tomorrow.
little question regarding my male, he is guarding the nest, keeps arranging the eggs, and then just hovering underneath....well what do i do with feeding him?
i have offered him some blood worm and brine shrimp but he won't move from his nest. is this normal? do i need to worry about him?
oh and the petshop have just got 10 male crowntails in for only £4.50 i know i dont know their background, but i am going back tomorrow to get one..wooohoooo
Last edited by socks2009; November 12th, 2009 at 03:00 PM.
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November 12th, 2009
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| | Fish Master
| Most males refuse to eat while tending to the nest.....He'll eat once you remove him....He needs to come out as soon as the fry are free swimming.... | |
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November 13th, 2009
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| | Fish Helper
| well i have a busy male at the moment, lots of little wiggly tails in the nest, he's doing his job picking them up and putting them back in.
my microworms are here. a live full culture with the set up for a new one.
No sign of any bbs yet though. fingers crossed they start soon | |
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November 13th, 2009
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| | Fish Master
| Oh my........Get ready! You are going to have your hands full! lol Great photo.... | |
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November 13th, 2009
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| | Fish Keeper
| Oh how exciting! You lucky thing!  | |
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November 13th, 2009
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| | Moderator
| Great pic! Look at those little tails! | |
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November 14th, 2009
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| | Fish Helper
| well i have just requested a blog. so i am going to keep a bit of a diray in here until i get a blog. then i will start everything in there.
Well here are the babies day 3 after spawning | |
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November 15th, 2009
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| | Fish Helper
| well they have spread from the nest, all over the tank now. i have removed the dad. he is now in his own tank, eating, sleeping and i am assuming relaxing.
I have my microworms, which i added a small amount, well i thought it was a small amount until they started to spread accross the bottom. had a look at the hiakri first bites, and even though it is more like powder than i thought, it still seems too big for their tiny mouths.
No sign of any bbs hatchlings, fingers crossed tomorrow their will be some. i also have boiled an egg and made a paste out of the yolk and added a tiny bit of that to the tank, which seemed to draw a few babies to it.
I am just hoping that they are eating and that they will survive.
Does anyone have any further advice to help my little brood of babies?
I am going to slowly top the tank up over the next week or so. Is that ok? before i start to take any water out. the tank is only at about 5inch full of water with a height of 12inch.
Any advice on how to remove the remainder of the bublenest? (last time i left it to disperse....is that ok?)
Oh also am i ok to move the java moss straight from my other tanks?
Sorry for all the questions, i just am nervous now. i have the time and patience (i lost about 45 mins today just staring into the tank) and really want to get a good success rate. Thanks in advance | |
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November 15th, 2009
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| | Moderator
| What a great pic! Sorry, I can't help with your questions.
I'm sure MM can. | |
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November 15th, 2009
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| | Fish Keeper
| I don't have any advice to give, but I wanted to say I LOVE the picture with all the little tails!
Soooo cute! | |
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November 16th, 2009
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| | Fish Helper
| thanks, the pic was a lucky shot. i just keep getting blurs now they are all over the tank and there is nothing for my camera to focus on.
well i managed to hatch my bbs. finally with great relief.
after feeding tonight microworms, i have managed to see a few of the babies eating them, so i feel more relaxed about them getting grub. | |
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November 16th, 2009
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| | Fish Master
| Leave the bubble nest in....It will do no harm...Java moss from a tank you trust will be fine.....I wouldn't use the egg yolk as it fouls the tank.....The micro worms will be fine until your BBS hatch...It should not take more than 24 hours for a hatch by the way....
Sounds like things are right on track....Don't worry, they'll be fine.... | |
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November 17th, 2009
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| | Fish Helper
| i haven't put any more egg in, thanks.
i have seen them eating the microworms and pooping. so feeling much better about it. the moss has been in my tanks for about 6 months now so i trust it. i will pop it in tonight. i cant stop watching them. they have little alien heads and they look like they are watching me watching them.
i have some more brine shrimp eggs waiting to hatch again.
thanks for the reassurance about the nest it has pretty much disperssed now. | |
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November 18th, 2009
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| | Fish Helper
| two successful hatches of brine shrimp. yey!
i love watching these tiny little heads focusing in on some food then gulp....and its gone. i now think its is going to be a lifelong addiction.
Martinismommy i thank you very much for your advice so far and hopefully any i receive in the future. And also anyone else who has offered advice on any subject i have asked/discussed on this site. | |
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