Feeding My Fry

[jacksondaniels]

Hello, my molly gave birth a few days ago and I put several fry in a breeding net to keep them from being eaten. I feed them finely crushed flakes once a day. The problem I have is I go on holiday next Monday for 2 weeks. I had planned on buying those slow release food tablets for my mollys but what should I do for the fry as the food released wouldn't get through the net. If I broke some food tablet off & put it in the net would this work or would it not be fine enough? Please forgive my ignorance but I have never used those slow release food things before so I'm not in the know.

Also, at what age would it be safe to release the fry from the breeding net without them being eaten? My tank is all mollys. Thanks in advance.

 

[This Old Spouse]

I've never had luck with the "vacation" food. The last batch I got turned moldy in the tank.
 
Is there anyone who could come in to feed while you're away? It's a tough thing to try and take care of the fry for two weeks. Then again, they'll be nearly 2 weeks old when you leave, so maybe they'll be big enough not to be eaten and could be let out of the breeding net. I'm afraid if you put food in there it would just go bad and kill the fry.

 

[jacksondaniels]

Hey, I could possibly get someone to come around but I doubt everyday. How long would be acceptable for mollys & fry to be left without food. I currently feed them every evening.

 

[Joshwainwright]

Yeah, I don't really recommend the holiday blocks either - fish generally don't know what to do with them which leaves food decaying in your tank and the block itself can affect the chemistry of your water. Ideally, you're not going to want either of these while you're not around to test your parameters!
 
The best thing to do for your adult fish would be to get someone to come round and feed them or to buy an automatic feeder that can be scheduled to feed the fish at specific times. These can be quite expensive though and it's usually good to use it for a while while you're still around so that you can trust it won't dump the whole load of food all at once! Also, the food can become soggy and again, this can affect your water which you don't really want to be happening while you're not around.
 
For your fry, apart from asking a friend or family member to come round and feed them - I can't think of anything else to suggest apart from let them have their chances in the main tank
 
It should be much easier for them to find food as they're so small but there's the obvious risk of other fish.
 
It may seem like a bit of a weird thing to ask, but see if someone can help you out 

 

[This Old Spouse]

You really don't need someone to come over every day. Even 2-3 times a week should be plenty. Fish can be left for up to two weeks without food. It's the fry I'm concerned with. What kind of plants do you have in the tank? Anywhere the fry can hide? If they're big enough not to fit in the adult's mouths they might be all right.

 

[jacksondaniels]

I will ask some family members and see what they say. I can get someone to come around at the beginning so that leaves just 10 days to cover so 3 visits should cover it maybe?

My tank has a few plants in and some ornaments so plenty of places for them to hide. In fact I struggled to get them in the net originally as they were all laying low.

 

[Libpete]

Im sure I once saw a holiday feeder that had several little compartments and when fixed above your water it would open a section each day on a timer releasing the food you put in that compartment. May have been a dream, mind. Race to the patent office!!
 
Problem with that could be condensation. If you fixed it under the hood but out of the water it would get soaked when the lights are off, rendering that invention as bad as the other.

 

[This Old Spouse]

yes, they make them but I've heard they're unreliable. I'd go with the plan you have, Jackson.

 

[jacksondaniels]

Ok thanks for the advice guys.