Any ideas on how to move fry from sump?

An explanation of my situation before I get to my predicament.

I have 3 Dwarf Puffers in a heavily planted Fluval Flex 57, they've been in there in since the start of October 2019 and they were tiny when I got them. Wasn't quite expecting Puffer babies quite so soon or even at all, tbh. Spotted a fry at the end of Jan and the next day spotted fry number 2, didn't see either for a couple of days and then spotted 1 fry in the main tank. I didn't even occur to me to put any foam or floss into the intakes because them breeding seemed unlikely from things I had read.

So roll forward to now, I have 1 peppercorn sized fry in the main tank that shows up every now and again, obviously feeding well because it's a chubby little thing. However, I also have 3 sesame seed-sized fry and about 3/4 even smaller fry in the back/sump compartment of my tank. Their safe in there, but obviously can't live there forever and I have a QT/Nursery tank that I'm going to set up as a temp grow out tank, but I'm unsure on how to move them safely from the compartment, mainly because they're tiny and because you can't really net puffers like you can other fish.

Would love to hear some suggestions from you clever lot.

 

Get a clear cup and when you see them dip the cup and the suction will usually pull them into the cup do it at a bit of an angle so it doesn't rush them in too fast. good luck! pics to follow hopefully!!

 

1/2 or airline tubbing, make a suction and siphon them out, quick, painless and they always are in water.

 

I'd use a big net but don't remove it from the water, use a cup to scoop it out of the net.

 

I'd use a big net but don't remove it from the water, use a cup to scoop it out of the net.

That was my first thought, but there just isn't enough room in the back compartment for that, the chamber they're in is about 2 inches by 4 inches.

For reference this is what we're dealing with:




They're in the first chamber with the inlets.

 

one other thought is a turkey baster. Catch them in it then squirt it into a cup and relocate that way.

 

May be a super dumb question but is there no way to just dump the sump into the tank. Like just pick it up and turn it upside down.

 

May be a super dumb question but is there no way to just dump the sump into the tank. Like just pick it up and turn it upside down.

Sadly not, it's part of the tank, it's a shame because that would make the whole thing so much easier.

 

I think the air-line or turkey baster idea is the way to go.

I've got to get the grow-out tank prepped first and then I'll move them as soon as it's ready.

 

Well, they seem to be all making their way into the main tank bit by bit now, either that or there's more in there than I thought

Not sure if that makes life easier or not, ha ha ha.

 

Totally forgot to update this thread.

I went the turkey baster route in the end and collected about 7, then 8 and then 9, annnddd then realised they were swimming back in again . I think the actual total was 7. Due to some other issues, I had to put them in the tank with the adults rather than a separate tank as planned, but they seem fine in there. I see the 3 biggest most days and they've even started stealing bloodworms from under the adults' noses.