More babies than I expected! Suggestions?

Didn't expect to be asking this question!

Last fall I purchased 7 adult pandas for my 20 long. It has pandas and nerites only, and is my only tank. I figured I might see a baby just every so often as I'm doing nothing to save eggs, and the numbers would grow slowly enough that I wouldn't overpopulate the tank.

Well I was wrong. In December I saw a baby, which was SO EXCITING and sweet. My kids loved it too. And long story short, I have at least 17 pandas as of right now. They're still adorable and so sweet, and I'm glad they are happy enough to breed, but this is happening at a much faster rate than I expected!

The good news is I talked to one of my locally owned LFSs and they said they would be happy to take any pandas I would like to give them. (Free stock right?) But the ideal solution would be to slow things down. Ideas?

(1) I don't expect the breeding to slow down. I'm thinking more of reducing the number of eggs that successfully hatch.

(2) If they laid them on the glass I could get them and dispose of them, but they almost never use the glass. The ladies are mostly depositing them on my plants. I tried at one point to gently scrape my plants (anubias and java ferns mostly) but I was causing tiny bits of damage so it doesn't seem like a good long-term plan.

(3) If I feed them less would that force them to forage for the eggs? They're obviously getting a lot of them now, since I'm only seeing one baby every 1-2 weeks. I see the juveniles foraging on the leaves occasionally but almost never see the adults on the leaves (unless a female is depositing eggs). I want to make sure the pandas get enough to eat, but I guess I could just watch their size.

(4) I've only had one nerite in the tank but recently got 3 more. Will they eat the eggs?

(5) Is there a peaceful fish I could get that would go after the eggs, particularly the tops and undersides of leaves? I obviously don't have room to add much.

The first pic shows several of the babies!

The 2nd pic is my current set up. I took the small bridge out as that seemed to be where I typically saw the tiny babies. I replaced it with a 2nd large bridge as it seems to be the adults favorite hiding spot.

Any suggestions are appreciated!

 

Didn't expect to be asking this question!

Last fall I purchased 7 adult pandas for my 20 long. It has pandas and nerites only, and is my only tank. I figured I might see a baby just every so often as I'm doing nothing to save eggs, and the numbers would grow slowly enough that I wouldn't overpopulate the tank.

Well I was wrong. In December I saw a baby, which was SO EXCITING and sweet. My kids loved it too. And long story short, I have at least 17 pandas as of right now. They're still adorable and so sweet, and I'm glad they are happy enough to breed, but this is happening at a much faster rate than I expected!

The good news is I talked to one of my locally owned LFSs and they said they would be happy to take any pandas I would like to give them. (Free stock right?) But the ideal solution would be to slow things down. Ideas?

(1) I don't expect the breeding to slow down. I'm thinking more of reducing the number of eggs that successfully hatch.

(2) If they laid them on the glass I could get them and dispose of them, but they almost never see any on the glass. The ladies are mostly depositing them on my plants. I tried at one point to gently scrape my plants (anubias and java ferns mostly) but i was causing tiny bits of damage so it doesn't seem like a good long-term plan.

(3) If I feed them less would that force them to forage for the eggs? They're obviously getting many of them now, since I'm seeing one baby every 1-2 weeks. I want to make sure the pandas get enough to eat, but I guess I could just watch their size.

(4) I've only had one nerite in the tank but recently got 3 more. Will they eat the eggs?

(5) Is there a peaceful fish I could get that would go after the eggs? I obviously don't have room to add much.

Here's a pic of some of the babies!

I recently got rid of the smaller bridge as that seemed to be where the babies were hanging out and put in a 2nd large bridge, and moved some things around. The lights are on brighter than normal in both of these pics. Here's the current set up:

Any suggestions are appreciated!

Most fish would go after the eggs and fry. You could give some to the store to make room, keeping 8 or so.

 

Most fish would go after the eggs and fry. You could give some to the store to make room, keeping 8 or so.

Any specifc fish that would get along with cories (both parameters and temprament) and would go after eggs on the tops and undersides of plant leaves? Thank you!

 

A store should at least give you store credit, and maybe cash. I'd at least ask, and if one says no try another one.

 

my bettas, neon tetras, black tetras, skirt tetras and sparkling gourami all eat cory cat eggs

I've only had 1 birth in last 18 months

the fish all eat the cory eggs

I have not seen snails do much but go over them while marching along in the tank.

 

A store should at least give you store credit, and maybe cash. I'd at least ask, and if one says no try another one.

ProudPapa, I agree. But I'm fine with giving them a few for free because they don't know me that well. We have two good quality LFSs and with only one tank I don't visit the store much and go back and forth between the two... They probably recognize my face but that's it. I figure if I give them some they can see that they are healthy and if it seems like it will be a regular thing I'll approach them about store credit. I do appreciate the encouragement!

 

Not sure where you live, maybe there are some forum members that would be happy to take them off your hands. Do you live in or close to Utah?

 

ProudPapa, I agree. But I'm fine with giving them a few for free because they don't know me that well. We have two good quality LFSs and with only one tank I don't visit the store much and go back and forth between the two... They probably recognize my face but that's it. I figure if I give them some they can see that they are healthy and if it seems like it will be a regular thing I'll approach them about store credit. I do appreciate the encouragement!

That sounds like a good plan. If you don't mind shipping you might also consider posting them at Buy, Sell, Trade, Free Forum. I'd be surprised if you don't find someone who would be happy to take them if you don't price them too high.

 

ProudPapa, I agree. But I'm fine with giving them a few for free because they don't know me that well. We have two good quality LFSs and with only one tank I don't visit the store much and go back and forth between the two... They probably recognize my face but that's it. I figure if I give them some they can see that they are healthy and if it seems like it will be a regular thing I'll approach them about store credit. I do appreciate the encouragement!

I have a local fish store but it's not THAT local (25 miles) that I've been
dealing with I gave them a boat load of my guppies a few years ago
when I decided to close it down & got 4 1/2 sized common goldfish.

Then this year I just bought me a 75 gal tank from them for 250$ & lid
that totaled the bill to 300$ & I had a good conversation with 1 of the
main workers about plant's cause that's why I bought the tank off them.

He told me that they could use crypts & swords & stem plant's, so if I
can get a good start with what they need that will be a +Plus for me
rather it's store credit & maybe make some $ on the side I won't mind.

 

That sounds like a good plan. If you don't mind shipping you might also consider posting them at Buy, Sell, Trade, Free Forum. I'd be surprised if you don't find someone who would be happy to take them if you don't price them too high.

I don't think I've ever even looked at that part of the website and forgot it was there...I'll have to check it out! Maybe I could find someone close to me. Thanks!

Not sure where you live, maybe there are some forum members that would be happy to take them off your hands. Do you live in or close to Utah?

I don't. I'm in East Tennessee, but I think I'll check on the Buy/Trade forum ProudPapa suggested to see if I can find anyone local. Thank you for asking about it! It would be great to see them go to fellow Fish Lore folks because I know we all have access to great information here.