How much room do fry need?

[Patrick]

I have two expecting mothers and would like to save as many fry as possible. I am thinking about picking up a second tank to use as a maternity tank and I was wondering how many fry you can have per gallon (US please). Ideas/suggestions would be great on the setup (filter, decor...)

Any info would be great!

Thank you,
Patrick

 

[snowyangel]

Since fry grow at at different rates and will be growing quite fast in the first 4months, it's hard really apply the 1inch of fish per gallon rule when they're still newborns. The best bet would be to go for the biggest tank you can afford(5 gallon being the smallest for a good fry tank) so the fry can grow out in it and you can also have extra space for more fry(which I'm sure you'll have). right now my breeding setup is, newborns(one day to one month olds) stay in a 5gallon with only a heater(fry require warmer temps than the adults, at 78-79F) and some live moss for a snack. Right now my 5 gallon holds about 30 newborn fry to give you an estimate. When they hit 1-1.5 months old they get moved to the 10 gallon tank(filter and heater now). When they hit 3 months in 10g, they get reintroduced back with the parents because they are now atleast one a inch and half in length. In the 10 gallon there's usually about 30-40 fry(more fry because of filtration included).

 

[Patrick]

Thank you very much for the detailed information!!!

Am I correct in reading that you do not use a filter in the 5gal tank?

What would be the maintenance program for both tanks?

Sorry for all the questions, just want to do it right the first time!

Thanks for all your help!!!

Patrick

 

[snowyangel]

No problems with asking questions, we're all here to learn!
You are right in assuming the 5 gallon doesn't have a filter and I'll tell you why. I find fry are very scared, insecure, fragile, and small. Adding a filter will only blow them around the aquarium, stress them and possibly suck them up and send them off to heaven. In a non filtered area they can move at their own pace, hide in the moss and rest if need to. For their oxygen i do daily(or every second day) water changes of 20-35% since fry are much messier than their parents(especially when you need to feed them 3-4x a day) and require stricter surroundings. Since the 10 gallon has a filter I do weekly(sometime 2x a week) 20-35% water changes because they have a source of oxygen now. I also reduce the feedings down to 2x a day(about the same as their parents) at this stage and bring the temperature down to 76F. This process helps them advance going to the bigger adult tank where there's stronger filtration and less feedings.

 

[Patrick]

Thx a bunch snowyangel, I appreciate all your help!!

Patrick

 

[snowyangel]

It's no problem Patrick, you seem like a smart guy. You'll figure it out in no time.

 

[plysha]

I have 63 fry in a 10 gallon tank.... 22 are half an inch long and the rest are new borns bad or good ?? have a good filter .....how many water changes should I be doing on them sice there are so many I have two 10 gallon tanks but the one tank is being treated with melafix for finrot so don't want to put any baby fish in that tank.....

Thanks
Erin