Fry "mats"

[mewhorse]

Just bought Monday a big green square plastic short fake grassy plant mat (not sure exact name) to decorate my tank and the tag says it is good for fry to hide in...anyone see one of these before? The corycats have trouble working around it but seem to like to stop and rest on/in it....never saw one before today....must be a little newish....any thoughts about how they work for say, guppy fry? Thanks...

 

[VidVid]

i think ive seen one of these mats before at the lfs....it does make good cover from other fish according to what i seen at the lfs since fishdont eat fake plants....i can suggest you some java moss as it gives out oxygen as well as cover for fry.....fish dislike the taste of java moss and are oftenly used in cichlid tanks and breeding tanks for fry cover.....from what i heard, the moss grows easily and can provide microscopic food for newly hatched fry to live on..... the moss will be safer for fish as some plastic plants are often known to harm some fish and silk plants are now on sale....this is only a suggestion but if you choose not too, your fake plant will do for cover....

 

[mewhorse]

I do not touch java moss anymore - grows too well for me! I bought a bit for my brothers 10 gallon and it ended up taking over the tank! I would chop out a bunch and discard it but it grew like crazy and ended up getting worse and worse! Fry probably would have been lost in it and starved to death I bet!

 

[jayjay]

Java moss clumps are good for fry but you don't want it so my other suggestions are any bushy plants really maybe floating plants like salvinia aswel.

 

[Inchworm]

Hi mewhorse

Please pay careful attention to the condition of your corys' barbells. If the surface of the mat is at all rough or sharp, it could cause damage to them. Barbels are sensory organs that the corys use to find their food and if they are eroded or become infected they could be in serious trouble.

You will also want to take care not to let uneaten food lodge in the mat and spoil. This could be a breeding ground for harmful bacteria and so become a health hazard for all the fish in the tank.

 

[mewhorse]

Don't think mat will hurt the corybrats - pretty soft...if it was pokey I would have passed it up for another reason - I don't really need to get stabbed a billion times trying to plant it in the gravel! I am always keeping the tank clean and will make sure at least once a month to give the mat a "power sucK" - I take big end off gravel vac and only use the hose - works way more powerful that way and fits into tight spots too... thought one of my new baby green corycats had died in the mat last night - he was motionless for more than two hours right inside fake grassy stuff - just sleeping soundly I guess - he is alive and well now! A baby peppered cory joined him for almost an hour too...must be a comfy new bed or something...

 

[fishluvr93]

i have 7 conected together they work great for all fry!!