Cichlid Fry

[Nigalius]

Hi... About 3 weeks ago I bought a pair of Cichlids (Archocentrus Cutteri), I think otherwise known as 'Blue Eyed' Cichlids and although they seemed to get on with each other there was no mating involved. The tank was getting rather dirty but I did not want to clean it incase it disturbed them, then one day I just had to clean the tank with 30% water change, glass inside and out, rocks and gravel. Then to my amazement the next day I noticed lots of eggs on one of the rocks and being guarded by the pair. They hatched about 2 days ago and are still being guarded by both parents. The swarm of live fish now slowly move about the tank and if they go out of bounds too much the parents encourage them back to a hollow in the gravel. I also have in the tank 4 Congo Tetras and 5 zebra danios... are they liable to eat my cichlid fry? I have a 36imp gallon tank with many rocks, a large piece of bogwood and many real plants. I dont have another tank to put the other fish in (tetras and danios). I do have a couple of nets that I could try to get some fry into, is that a good idea? If I just let nature take its course, what would be the odds of perhaps saving a few of the young? The Cichlid parents are still defending the young but will they continue to do so and should I turn the light off in the tank as if I do would the parents then be unable to see where the young are and then they would end up all over the tank and impossible to protect. Sorry for all the questions, ooooops, is finely crushed flake ok for food, I also have some liquifry for live bearers, is that still ok for egg layers? Thank You for your help.... Nigel.

 

[rvm]

I don't know about those specific fish, but my Archocentrus Sajica breed a lot, and have a batch of fry at the moment. If they are anything like mine, then they will defend the fry vehemently and the other fish you have will not be able to get anywhere near them or they'll most likely end up dead or severely beaten up!!
I've never had any fry live on as mine have always been kept with other big fish and the fry get picked off slowly but surely, but this is the first time they have bred in their new tank, so hopefully the'll be able to grow this time. I use liquifry for egglayers and crushed flake to feed them and they always seem to do well on that.
As far as I know the parents will defend the young until they breed again at which time they will probably turn on them so you may want to move them out by then.