Gourami's

[Kerryk]

Before mating I turned off the power filter attached to the breeding tank so the nest wouldn't be disturbed. After the fry become free swimming (or what size should the fry be) when should I turn on the small corner filter? I don't want to suck them up! Any help would be great.

 

[malangbaba]

put some sort of netting or clean pantyhose on the filter intake....

 

[Kerryk]

So when I turn off the power filter I can turn on my pantyhose corner filter right away? Do you think the bubbles would disturb the water surface too much?

 

[copeina]

It seems archaeic, but leave the filter off until they are a better size.

Do small, daily water changes using airline or other very small diameter tubing, feed them often, and watch them grow! With no filtration, baby brine shrimp are easier to feed, and the fry can chase them with less effort.

Once they are fully free-swimming and on to crushed flake or other 'large' food, then turn on your sponge filter, but keep up the small daily water changes.

Also, now would be a good time to run the sponge filter in another tank for at least a week until the bacteria become established. A new filter is almost as useless as no filter.

Good luck,
/Kris

 

[wuvmybetta]

You're going to have to turn the sponge/corner filter on as soon as they're free swimming to supply some source of oxygen in the water,tank and spawn size pending of course. They're not born with labyrinths

 

[Inchworm]

copeina is right, leave the filter off until the fry are large enough to swim on their own and fight the current that it will make. Your daily small water changes will remove fish waste products and uneaten food.

Besides, oxygen is absorbed into the water by the surface layer and the oxygen content in the water is rich there. Since that is where the gourami fry should be, they will do just fine without added water circulation.

After about a week, you will want to add an airstone set to just barely break the surface tension of the water. This will enable them to take their first breaths as their labyrinths develop.