Apistogramma Viejita, Possibly Guarding Eggs. Fry Questions.

[2101]

I decided i was looking for some dwarf cichlid but was not sure, after a browse at what the LFS had to offer i fell for the Apistogramma Viejita.
There were 3 in the tank, 1 male 2 female. I wanted to take all 3 but one of the females was guarding eggs, but they have said i can collect her once fry are ok on their own.

A week down the line and after making some make shift coconut caves after they had kicked my Zebra Loaches out of their hiding spot, i think they may be guarding eggs
The female is being very territorial over one of the two coconut caves and the male is guarding the area it seems.

My question is that if i do end up with successfully hatching fry.....i have 4 tiger barbs that are dumb as anything and even scared of 6 copper harlequins
I know they are really stupid / scared and are not interested in other fish. But what should i do if i do get fry?
I have no knowledge of breeding of this breed or how to raise fry.
Help needed. Thanks in advance

 

[moochy13]

i guess it depends if you want to keep them ?

you can let nature take its course, one or 2 might survive, they might all get eaten. you can get another small tank to raise them in, and sell them on. im not clued up on the intracacies of breeding, how you deal with the parents etc. but these are your 2 main options at a basic level. leave them be or actively breed them.

the only thing that could be a problem with leaving them is how protective the parents are if other fish decide they want a fry shaped snack ? im not sure about this, but could make for an unhappy tank.

 

[2101]

I think i would like to actively breed them.
If i wanted to do this would putting them in my fluvial shrimp nano be ok? It is cycled and currently has no fish in. Would i put the mother and the fry in there alone until the fry are of size to either sell/ move back to community tank?

 

[fluttermoth]

How big is your nano? I'd say you really need at least a 10g and preferably a 20g to properly raise fry.

The problem you have with small tanks, even though the fry are small, is that the fry produce a growth inhibiting hormone. Once that reaches a certain concentration in the water it stops the fry growing (which is, of course, where the insidious "fish only grow to the size of the tank" myth comes from), leading to stunted, unsellable fish.

You should be able to pick up a scruffy 10 or 20g tank fairly cheaply second hand, even new they're quite cheap. A large plastic storage box from a DIY shop would do if you're really strapped for cash. If not, then you'll need to do massive daily water changes to keep the fry growing.

 

[2101]

Yeah it is 10gal. I see what your saying, do you think they would be ok in the community tank if the female protects them well?

Also like i say they are guarding a coconut cave i made of them, i can not see inside or the roof of it, if i was to carefully put my hand it and lift to have a look to confirm if they have got eggs.
Am i at risk of scaring her off from protecting them / stressing her / moving the eggs?

 

[fluttermoth]

I'd be inclined to leave them be for the moment and move the fry into the 10g once they're swimming about.

 

[2101]

Would it be ideal to put the female with them in the 10gal once they are swimming? Also any idea on hatching time?
cheers