Convict Fry

[LiveLifeGoJump]

Yepee

Another batch of convict fry. First batch 375, second batch looks to be well over 200.

I'm going to leave the second batch with mum a bit longer than I did with the first. How long before she gets sick of tending to then and starts eating them instead?

 

[ox5477]

I have an interesting theory about parent fish. Yes, the parents will usually eat the whole clutch of eggs the first (and prob the second) time because they are unsure of whats going on and just see food. And alot of people will say that this is their fourth or fifth time breeding and they still eat some of the eggs or the fry.

I have a theory that this is actually quite benificial to both your tank and to the species of your fish in general. I think maybe the parents notice a fry that is malformed or sick and eats them to take them out of the gene pool and out of your tank. The eggs are the same way. Aftter a few breedings, they will realize what eggs are fertilized and what arnt and may eat the eggs that arnt before the others hatch because they know they arnt going to hatch. This is just a theory and I may be giving the fish more credit for awareness of their surrounding then they really should get, but just from what I've heard and seen, this seems to be somewhat true.

Anybodies thoughts would appreciated

Yepee

Another batch of convict fry. First batch 375, second batch looks to be well over 200.

I'm going to leave the second batch with mum a bit longer than I did with the first. How long before she gets sick of tending to then and starts eating them instead?

So to answer your question, I don't think she'll get sick of them, but she will simply eat the ones she feels are sick or malformed. So don't be concerned if some are eaten


EDIT: Spelling and Grammar

 

[SamUK]

she wont or shouldnt eat any.


convicts are awesome at guarding there young and she wont stop guarding them till they decide there ready and start to leave her.


one thing u gotta ask tho.


where can you get rid of 200+ convicts?

there pretty common and most LFS refuse to take them.

 

[LiveLifeGoJump]

where can you get rid of 200+ convicts?

And the 375 from her first batch

lfs will take some but not all, I've not seen many locally, just in the one so hoping other lfs will be interested as well.

I'm not expecting them all to survive but will try not to loose too many. See how it goes but at this rate I'll flood the markey. Seens a shame to split a breeding pair.

 

[Nevergone815]

here's a solutuion but it may sound cruel. but why niot feed the fry to other fish. i'm sure other fish would eat them and you won't have 575 convicts ot get rid of.

jsut a suggestion, please don't hang me people...

but too bad you were in england or i would have taken a couple

 

[ox5477]

here's a solutuion but it may sound cruel. but why niot feed the fry to other fish. i'm sure other fish would eat them and you won't have 575 convicts ot get rid of.

jsut a suggestion, please don't hang me people...

but too bad you were in england or i would have taken a couple

I agree, it could be a good foodsource for any other fish you may have. Free food....no effort on your part....Win-Win Baby!

 

[Nevergone815]

here's a solutuion but it may sound cruel. but why niot feed the fry to other fish. i'm sure other fish would eat them and you won't have 575 convicts ot get rid of.

jsut a suggestion, please don't hang me people...

but too bad you were in england or i would have taken a couple

I agree, it could be a good foodsource for any other fish you may have. Free food....no effort on your part....Win-Win Baby!

exactly and how i also look at it is this...

if the convicts or any other fish for that matter was in it's natural environment, do you honestly think they would pass up a smaller fish that would fit into it's mouth? the other fish would gobble up the fry like no tomorrow.

i don't want to start a live food debate, but that's what i would do. like ox5477 said... it's win win. you get rid of some of the babies and have a cheap mass produced food source for your fish. i wouldnt recommend breeding them to sut do that as fish need other foods too, but it will limit your convicts you have ot get rid of, save you some money for a little while and it will definately be less work on your part to scoop out som fry out of the fry tank and feed to your other fish, then to rn to the petshop and get some food or put food into the tnaks by crushing up some flakes or whatnot.

 

[LiveLifeGoJump]

I know I'll not be able to sell/give all the fry to lfs so anyone in county Durham area who can collect can have some (to raise not to feed to other fish, PLEASE) now. There are small (4-6mm) but doing fine & are mostly on baby power now. If you wait till they are bigger then they will be for sale quite cheap.

Let me know by PM if you are interested.