outlaw

HELP!

Was going to do a tank clean today and was removing the fish. The last female was being a beast. Same corner I thought I had her trapped in last time and BLAH! out came about 60 fry... finally caught her and put in with the other fish for now and spit out about 15 more.. the 15 got eaten and I couldn't get all of them out because they can't fully swim yet.. So there was about 45 that we had and lost about 5 right away. I tried to create a fry tumbler but not sure if I am doing it right.

The fry squirm around but can't swim. I have very small hope for their survival but told my daughter we would try. Any help is appreciated on a fry tumbler.

I am currently using my siphon vacuum with a net between the adapter and actual tube, stuck an air stone in it and closed up the top with the other end of the vacuum. air can get between the top and air tube though. Is this ok?

Please help asap.. All the fish stores are closed so what I have around the house is going to have to work.

Thank you in advance for any fast replys!


Here is what I made (Sorry no camera, used paint)

outlaw

Update

I cut the tube down about 4" so the whole thing is under water and poked holes in the top for air bubbles. I was using THIS for reference. Anybody think they have a better chance then the slim to none I think they have?

Shawnie

talk about surprise!! not sure how the hose is working, but I got a breeder box that hangs over the tank..for about 10 bucks...I use the hose to suck up the fry and they go directly into the box...hope the lil critters are doing ok!! what kind of fry btw?

outlaw

Well I think this is good news. It look like most if not all are still alive! I used one of our kids nose suckers (don't worry, this one was never used) to suck them up. Does your breeder box work for fry this little? From what I understand of a fry tumbler is that it's suppose to keep the fish from sitting in any one spot so they don't get sores/sick, kinda like being stuck on bed rest for too long? lol They are Red Fins

The Male


The Female (The one in the middle)


The Fry are smaller then the last batch (The pic below is the last batch)


The other problem with these females (ours anyways) is that we/I can't even tell they are holding. They will swim like/with the others and eat the same as when not holding. If it was easy to tell, I would have to try and catch her, and that is usually when she will spit them out or eat them..

The third and final problem for now is that we still have the first batch of fry which is about 32, plus the new batch if they all make it is about 45-50(it looked like).

Thanks for the tip on the breeder tank

COBettaCouple

Good luck with them and I hope most or all make it.

Shawnie

there are a ton of breeder boxes..some where the fry can come n go n some where they cant go out ...and yes they would work ...I have convict fry who are soooo small but growing huge now...who knows what ill do with them ! LOL wasnt I just lucky to have a mating pair hahaha goodluck ..the pics are great!

outlaw

it's just my main concern is that they can't even swim yet, they try to but they just spin lol or lay there looking dead. They kind of bounce around to. Their bodies are 99% clear except for the brown sac.

Angela_96

im sorry to hear that, I hope they will be okay, I wish I knew more about the egg tumblers, but I don't.
I just know if they are able to swim they will be ok. (so I have heard) I was worried about my lab fry that was spat today, but they are at least bumping the bottom swiming and eating already.
I know I have seen the commercially made egg tumblers on ebay (of coarse you need one faster than that)

Shawnie

oh wow!! just really yungin's! I didnt put mine in until they swam...convict parent dont eat their babies so wasnt a big deal...sorry for my duh'ness!

Amnagrla

hahahaha cute.

Good luck with them!

Do you normally take your fish out to clean the tank?

outlaw

steveangela1- Thanks, but like you said, I needed it yesterday. I think the one I made will work.. I hope..

Shawnie- Don't be sorry. I couldn't think of how to word it in the original post to try and explain how small they actually are. They kind of look like a little brown bubble. lol

Amnagrla- No, I don't usually remove the fish unless I am doing a "full" tank cleaning where I stir the gravel, rearrange the decorations and the "under ground jets". There is only 4 fish but the smallest is about 3" long with the largest about 7-8" and they get in the way when I have to push the gravel around.

Amnagrla

I was just curious!!

outlaw

Just thought I would explain it a little bit so it would make more sense then just "no".

Allie

The other day my bf striped the wrong fish too early (didn't check with me first)and we had a bunch of hap ahli babies with yolk sack who couldn't swim. They all died. It was a blessing in disguise. We have most of our last batch of fry, 40-50 babies. The LFS doesn't want the haps just the mbuna right now. So we'll let these guys grow some more. They aren't popular around here at all. So they can breed all they want from now on. My bf won't be keeping their babies anymore.

outlaw

Well I still want to try since when I checked them this morning they were still flop'n. Do they need to be fed or is that what the yoke sack is for? At least you guys can catch the fish without them spitting them out. All I have to do is chase her a bit with the net and SPLAT! look at the babies! lol

Allie

Oh yeah still try especially if they are alive now.
Red Fin aren't aggressive at all (normally). Maybe are timid like our cobalts who swallow the eggs/fry over the tiniest thing.
LOL!!
I don't catch the fish. I don't have the patience to chase an African cichlid in a 120g. I get so cranky trying to get one.
betta and angels are slow and easy to catch...this I can handle.

outlaw

lol.. I don't like to especially when they get near the top of the tank, they like to splash and give anybody standing near it a shower. The Large Male has actually knocked himself "silly" lol then he's easy to catch. Hope they make it.. that would be cool to watch them go from little brown balls to an actual fishy.

outlaw

Good News! Just got home from work and all of them are still alive!!

Shawnie

AWESOME!!!! we can all do the happy nappy fry's alive dance!

outlaw

Yes we can! lol Also, we got the camera back and I will be posting the pics shortly.

outlaw

Here are the pics!

As clear as I can get with our camera. The first batch is in the front


Tumbler with Fry in it and 1st batch again.


Another shot.


Attempted close-up.


Another shot.


One Eyed Willy's house


1st batch of Fry


How the 46 was setup after removing as many fry as I could.

COBettaCouple

They look fantastic and I'm really glad to hear good news on them making it!

outlaw

Thanks, I am hoping they are going to be all good now. They are already getting color to their bodies and when I turned on the light this morning they started hoping like popping pop corn. lol

Shawnie

what in the world will you do with so many?? you have some amazing tanks btw!! adore the driftwood!

outlaw

Thanks, I donno.. my wife was hoping they would not make it for that reason.. where to put them all lol. The larger fry we could probably give/sell to one of the LFS's around here. If not.. we are going to have a lot of fishes in that tank.. its already over crowded by a few inches... 20Gal with 32 fish approx. 1" long + about 45 tiny fry..

You guys think the larger fry can be added with the adults or would they get eaten?


Thanks for the comment, and btw, that driftwood is fake

Shawnie

I think they would be a great snack...at least until they cant fit anymore in their mouths...fake? wow great lookin for fake....I have about a 100 convict babies so im in the same boat ....trade? LOL

outlaw

I would go for a trade. I don't know how they (kids and fish) would react though... lol

It came with the tank when we bought it. For what I seen they cost online, they better look real. haha

Shawnie

No I have my kids trained..not sure id like to trade them JK! im hoping our LFS will trade some babies for food etc that I need..if not, i have not a clue LOL

outlaw

I posted in the Buy, Sell, Trade section and it didn't seem like anybody wants mine, maybe you would have better luck.. I don't know much about yours, but I think it might be because ours can get upto 8"

COBettaCouple

Those little fry would sell pretty quick here.