Question about feeding fry

[dmccormick91]

HI Everyone,

Quick question, my Bolivian Rams laid eggs three days ago and today they hatched into wigglers!
Now I have never had eggs make it this far, besides the cory catfish that I had no clue they made it, so I'm unsure what next step is. I know from looking this subject up that they do not need to be fed until they are free swimming but how long does that take? Second, how to I get food to them since the parents hid them so well that I have to use a flashlight on one side of the tank and look under a log from the other side to even see the eggs?! Oh yea, what can I put on the filter intake so they do not get sucked up? I would feel so bad if that happened.

Just a little note,

I know a lot of people suggest to use a grow out tank but I just started a foam background in my spare tank so it will not be ready in time to use. Plus I'd rather keep the fry and parents together. It seems like the right thing to do (yea I love my fish and believe they have feelings like us lol ).

Thank you in advance!

 

[Jomolager]

I am not sure Bolivian Rams do it, but many fish have their fry for lunch or dinner. Check that out.

I keep my fry in a gallon bowl changing water frequently. How many babies did you get?

 

[dmccormick91]

Yea they got eaten last time. This time they are being GREAT parents so far. They have been chasing off the other tank mates. I'm not sure how many they have left since they are keeping them in pretty deep holes and keeping them well hidden. They have moved them three times today with two other holes ready to go. once they start swimming in about two days I'll be able to answer that.

 

[Jomolager]

Please keep us posted!

 

[Tolak]

You're looking at 6, maybe 7 days from spawning until you have swimmers. Fresh hatched baby brine shrimp is the best first food you can give them. Once they're swimmers the parents will be doing more herding than hiding, bbs disperses pretty good in a tank, and the parents will point them in the best direction for feeding.

Pick up an Aqua Clear sponge for the filter intake. Poke a hole in it with a sharp knife, slide it over the intake, this will diffuse the flow going in. Many people suggest using a bit of stocking or netting over the intake, this doesn't diffuse the flow, only keeps them from being sucked in. Sucked flat to the intake will kill them just as dead as being sucked in.

 

[hampalong]

Frozen lobster eggs is the best first food. Much easier than hatching brine eggs, and more nutritious, giving quicker growth.

 

[dmccormick91]

Thank you for all of the replies. Today is day two of them being wigglers so I don't think I will have the time to hatch brine shrimp this time. I have seen lobster eggs mentioned before but where do I get that. Maybe the grocery store?

 

[dmccormick91]

Ok everyone I have another question. Do these guy usually start digging up a huge bed area right before the little guys start swimming? Like I mentioned in my question, for about an hour now they have been digging up a huge hole about two inches long by about an inch, inch and a half long. I think I could see why they would be doing this, maybe to make a certain area for the fry to swim around? Any ideas on this? Again everyone, thank you for all of the help you have given me this far!

 

[dmccormick91]

Well my fry have become free swimmers today. Out of all days they start swimming around on Easter, how cool! Now here is my question, how in the world do I make sure they are eating, after all this is my first time with fry. I am using First Bites that I found at Petco since it was the only thing I could find in my area. Anything helps, I just want to make sure I am doing my part to help them survive.